Ten Dota 2 teams from South America started their regional qualifier on June 15, each chasing the same prize: one slot at The International 2026. That’s ten rosters, five days of competition, and a single invitation to the most prestigious event in the game.

The qualifier runs through June 19 in a double-elimination format, meaning every team gets at least two chances before their TI dreams end. But only one squad will book a flight to Shanghai for the main event scheduled August 20-23.

How the bracket works and what’s at stake

The ten teams competing earned their spots through a prior open qualifier phase that began June 9. That earlier stage saw 45 teams enter single-elimination rounds. Open Qualifier #1 ran June 9-10, with subsequent rounds following in the days after.

Forty-five teams became ten. Ten will become one. And that one team joins a field of 16 at the main event in Shanghai, where they’ll compete for the Aegis of Champions, Dota 2’s most coveted trophy.

PGL, the tournament organizer handling the South American qualifiers, has structured the regional competition around the continent’s strongest Dota 2 markets: Peru, Brazil, and Argentina.

South America’s uphill battle on the global stage

Compared to regions like China and Europe, South America typically receives fewer direct qualification slots to The International. One spot for an entire continent is a stark reminder of where the region sits in Valve’s competitive hierarchy.

The road to Shanghai

The International 2026 marks a return to China for the main event, the first time in several years the tournament has been held there. Shanghai will host 16 teams across four days in August, blending direct invites with regional qualifier winners from around the world.

The International remains the annual world championship for Dota 2. Prize pools at TI have historically dwarfed those of other Dota 2 tournaments, making it both the competitive and financial pinnacle of the professional circuit.

The qualifier wraps up June 19, and by then, nine teams will have been eliminated.