With The International 2026 just around the corner, here is a breakdown of all 16 teams, their current form, and what to expect on the biggest stage.
The International (TI) 2026 is finally upon us. The fifteenth edition of the Dota 2 world championship is set to take place in Shanghai, China, from 13 to 25 August, featuring 16 of the world's best teams. Among the lineup, seven received direct invitations from Valve, while the remaining nine secured their places through the regional qualifiers.
The directly invited teams are 
Team Yandex, Boom Boys (also known as 
BetBoom Team), Iron Wing (also known as 
1w Team), 
Aurora Gaming, 
Team Falcons, 
Team Liquid, and 
Xtreme Gaming. The teams that qualified through the regional qualifiers are 
OG, 
GamerLegion, 
LGD Gaming, 
Team Resilience, 
Vici Gaming, 
Team Spirit, TEAM VISION (also known as 
PARIVISION), 
Nigma Galaxy, and HULIGANI (also known as 
L1GA TEAM).
For those who haven't been keeping up with the competitive scene, want a quick overview of each team's prospects, or need a little help with their TI 2026 Compendium Predictions, we've got you covered. Below is our breakdown of all 16 teams, highlighting the favourites, top contenders, dark horses, wildcards, and underdogs heading into The International 2026.
Our rankings take into account tournament results throughout the season, from November 2025 through to the Dota 2 Esports World Cup in July, as well as the final events before TI–1win Essence II and Games of the Future–which concluded on 5 August. Greater weight has been given to performances over the past three months, while also considering the pedigree and experience of each team's players. Dive in!
The International 2026 favourites: TEAM VISION, Team Yandex, and BoomBoys
TEAM VISION
Top achievements this season:
- 3rd at DreamLeague Season 27 | December 2025
- 4th at ESL One Birmingham | March 2026
- 1st at DreamLeague Season 29 | May 2026
- 1st at Dota 2 Esports World Cup | July 2026
TEAM VISION are the obvious leading contenders for The International 2026, and many would agree given their unmatched form at the Dota 2 Esports World Cup. The team are spearheaded by prodigious carry 
Alan “Satanic” Gallyamov, who is widely regarded as the best carry player in Dota 2 right now. The statistics support that claim to an extent, with him recording the highest average GPM by a considerable margin at the EWC.
Having emerged as one of the game's brightest rising stars in recent years, Satanic has now grown into a truly formidable force, backed by the experience of 
Volodymyr “No[o]ne” Minenko and complemented by the exceptional talent of Evgeniy “Noticed” Ignatenko, Andrey “Dukalis” Kuropatkin, and Naltakyan “9Class” Edgar–all eyeing for their first Aegis. The squad boasts remarkable versatility and chemistry, further strengthened by the guidance of TI1 champion and pioneer 
Clement “Puppey” Ivanov as head coach.
For much of the first half of the season, TEAM VISION were not discussed enough. The team had few strong showings and missed several tournaments in what is likely a deliberate strategy to pace themselves towards the end of the campaign–and that have resulted in no direct invitation for the team. But victories in the end-season events, DreamLeague Season 29 and the Esports World Cup, have now firmly established them as the utmost favourites. TI is a title they will be desperate to claim after narrowly missing out last year, finishing third despite being the most commanding team throughout the season.
Team Yandex
Top achievements this season:
- 3rd at FISSURE PLAYGROUND 2 | November 2025
- 2nd at BLAST Slam V | December 2025
- 1st at DreamLeague Season 27 | December 2025
- 3rd-4th at BLAST Slam VI | February 2026
- 1st at PGL Wallachia Season 7 | March 2026
- 2nd at ESL One Birmingham | March 2026
- 1st at BLAST Slam VII | June 2026
- 3rd at Esports World Cup | July 2026
Team Yandex are a very close second in the race for the Aegis, with some even considering them the outright favourites this season. They have put together arguably the most decorated and consistent campaign of any team heading into The International, highlighted by the many podium placements earned.
Formed at the start of the season, Yandex enjoyed one rapid rise to the top of the competitive scene, in major courtesy to TI champion 
Martin “Saksa” Sazdov. The veteran support had surprisingly left Tundra Esports last year in what seemed as a pivot to build his own squad, and that gamble has paid dividends.
Saksa adeptly enables talents on the team–
Arman “Malady” Orazbayev, Ilya “CHIRA_JUNIOR” Chirtsov, Dmitry “DM” Dorokhin, and Alimzhan “Watson” Islambekov to thrive. While each player had already established themselves at a high level, none had previously achieved the sustained success they are experiencing now.
Yandex's greatest strength lies in their well-rounded approach. No single player overshadows the others, with the team prioritising disciplined play, excellent drafting, and outstanding teamwork. Although their form has dipped slightly at times throughout the season, their performance at the Esports World Cup reinforced the belief that they remain a cut above almost every other team. The only exception is TEAM VISION, who continue to be their biggest rivals heading into TI. While Saksa is chasing his second Aegis of Champions, the rest of the squad are still seeking their first taste of victory at The International.
BoomBoys
Top achievements this season:
- 4th at PGL Wallachia Seaosn 6 | November 2025
- 3rd at PGL Wallachia Season 7 | March 2026
- 1st at PGL Wallachia Season 8 | April 2026
- 3rd at BLAST Slam VII | June 2026
- 2nd at Dota 2 Esports World Cup 2026 | July 2026
BoomBoys Team have been one of the competitive scene's consistent heavyweights for years, but this iteration somehow looks even more well-rounded. Much of that is down to their improved discipline and, of course, their runner-up finish at the Esports World Cup, which firmly cemented their status as one of the favourites heading into The International.
Eyebrows were raised when the team filled Pure's vacant spot with Kiritych early in the season, as he did not carry the same reputation as his predecessor. Yet the move has arguably made BoomBoys even stronger. A squad once notorious for throwing away leads has become far more vigilant, and without that flaw, BB stands tall among the elites.
With Danil “gpk” Skutin and 
Vitalie “Save-” Melnic leading the campaign, two players widely regarded as the best in their respective roles, BoomBoys look built for the biggest stage. At the very least, anything short of a podium finish would be a disappointment.
The International 2026 top contenders: Falcons, Spirit, Aurora, Liquid, and Iron Wing
Team Falcons
Top achievements this season:
- 1st at FISSURE PLAYGROUND 2 | November 2025
- 2nd at BLAST Slam IV | November 2025
- 3rd at PGL Wallachia Season 8 | April 2026
- 4th at DreamLeague Season 29 | May 2026
Team Falcons enter The International as the defending champions after lifting the Aegis in 2025, and they have retained the same roster ever since, making a title defence all the more compelling. They also boast the most decorated line-up in the tournament in terms of combined Aegis count, with even coach 
Kurtis “Aui_2000” Ling owning multiple titles himself.
The team's biggest strength lies in their dynamic young core of 
Ammar “ATF” Assaf and Stanislav “Malr1ne” Potorak, who are often praised as the side's fearless playmakers. 
Oliver “Skiter” Lepko's willingness to make sacrificial plays and create space ties the line-up together, allowing his vigorous teammates to flourish. While Falcons may not be the most versatile team in the field, they are masters of their comfort heroes and know exactly how to maximise their strengths. On paper, they remain one of the strongest teams in the tournament, although their campaign this season has been less convincing than many expected.
Falcons spent much of the season rediscovering their footing after hoisting the Aegis last September, only returning to the podium seven months later with a third-place finish at PGL Wallachia Season 8. Their results have generally trended upwards in recent months, though a disappointing Top 8 finish at the Esports World Cup tempered expectations heading into TI.
That said, the defending champions deserve the benefit of the doubt. Falcons have repeatedly shown great performances, and their encouraging display at the final pre-TI event, 1win Essence II, suggests they are warming up well.
Team Falcons will not only be chasing glory and prize money, but also the chance to make history. Should Falcons successfully defend their title, they would become the first team since OG in 2018 and 2019 to win back-to-back Internationals. It would also see 
Jing “Sneyking” Wu and Skiter become the first players in history to lift the Aegis three times.
Team Spirit
Top achievements this season:
- 2nd at PGL Wallachia Season 6 | November 2025
- 2nd at DreamLeague Season 27 | December 2025
- 4th at PGL Wallachia Season 7 | March 2026
- 3rd at DreamLeague Season 29 | May 2026
Team Spirit being ranked this high might be a hot take, but they are Team Spirit after all. Regardless of how unstable their year has been, it is difficult to overlook their known ability to show up when it matters. The team possess a remarkably strong mentality, allowing them to fight their way out of seemingly impossible situations–especially on the biggest stages.
Admittedly, Spirit have had very few top finishes this year, but the team also endured a turbulent period of roster changes. 
Nikita “Panto” Balaganin replaced Yaroslav “Miposhka” Naidenov last October, Silent stepped away in January, Alexey “not me” Kosminyn took over from panto in May before swapping positions with Aleksandr “rue” Filin, and Miposhka eventually returned in July as the new coach. With everything now set in stone, the team could work toward moulding their strategies and tactics better.
Their recent results also offer reasons for optimism. A third-place finish at DreamLeague Season 29 is promising, and the team followed it up by securing their place at TI through qualifiers before finishing in the Top 8 at the Esports World Cup, where they were eliminated by tournament favourites Team Yandex.
While their results may not be as concrete, Spirit have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to adapt, innovate, and find a way forward. Realistically, a Top 6 may be what Spirit could achieve at best at TI 2026.
Aurora Gaming
Top achievements this season:
- 2nd at DreamLeague Season 28 | March 2026
- 2nd at PGL Wallachia Season 8 | April 2026
- 2nd at DreamLeague Season 29 | May 2026
- 4th at BLAST Slam VII | June 2026
Aurora Gaming are another team that look extremely well-rounded. Much like BoomBoys Team, Aurora boast plenty of notable talent but initially struggled to find consistency after their formation. However, things have been positively different this time around.
The team have been difficult to break down, with great resilience and discipline in playstyle. Some have even labelled Egor “Nightfall” Grigorenko as the most improved carry player this year, with the Russian star showcasing a much more composed late-game approach compared to his more reckless performances in previous seasons. Of course, this success is also supported by 
Rafli Fathur “Mikoto” Rahman's aggressive playmaking, 
Chung “Ws`” Wei Shen's reliable offlane presence, and the cohesive support pairing of Miroslaw “Mira” Kolpakov and Oleh “Kaori” Medvedok.
While Aurora are not outright dominant, they are more than capable of stepping up when their backs are against the wall. In one of their three grand final appearances this season, Aurora came agonisingly close to securing a tournament victory, falling 3–2 to TEAM VISION in the grand final of DreamLeague Season 29. Pushing TEAM VISION to the limit was a statement in itself, and despite falling short, the result added yet another podium finish to Aurora's impressive mid-season run.
The team did suffer a rough outing at the EWC however, finishing 9th–12th, which slightly lowered expectations heading into TI. However, they remain one of the tournament's biggest threats.
Team Liquid
Top achievements this season:
- 4th at FISSURE PLAYGROUND 2 | November 2025
- 3rd at PGL Wallachia Season 6 | November 2025
- 1st at BLAST Slam VI | February 2026
- 3rd at DreamLeague Season 28 | March 2026
- 2nd at PGL Wallachia Season 7 | March 2026
- 4th at PGL Wallachia Season 8 | April 2026
Team Liquid are certainly not a team to underestimate. The two-time TI-winning organisation have weathered difficult periods and consistently found ways to bounce back season after season. While this iteration may not be the flashiest, Liquid have built one of the more solid track records throughout the year.
When the team first joined forces with former Gaimin Gladiators duo 
Erik “tOfu” Engel and 
Marcus “Ace” Hoelgaard, Liquid took their time to find their footing, enduring a difficult start to the campaign. However, things gradually began to click. That turnaround resulted in back-to-back podium finishes, including a first-place trophy in February.
Unfortunately, Liquid could not maintain the strong form showed earlier in the year, with their recent performances looking less convincing. The team feels like they have the basics covered to survive the first stages of the tournament, but lacks the firepower to really battle the top teams and make deeper runs.
Iron Wing
Top achievements this season:
- 1st BLAST Slam IV | November 2025 [as Tundra Esports]
- 1st BLAST Slam V | December 2025 [as Tundra Esports]
- 1st DreamLeague Season 28 | March 2026 [as Tundra Esports]
- 1st ESL One Birmingham | March 2026 [as Tundra Esports]
Iron Wing, formerly the roster of 
Tundra Esports, have fallen well behind the leading teams but have a strong pedigree that can’t be overlooked. It is one of the greatest mysteries of the season. The team collected numerous trophies early in the campaign–and still boast the most Tier 1 titles this season–but have since suffered a dramatic decline, unable to finish in the top half in recent events.
The downturn began in April when the team crashed out of PGL Wallachia Season 8 in last place. What initially seemed like an isolated poor performance soon became a worrying trend, with disappointing finishes continuing in the tournaments that followed.
Iron Wing may be the weakest of the top contenders on current form, but there is still plenty of faith in the squad, largely because of its prominent roster. With 
Neta “33” Shapira at the helm, much of the team's play revolves around him. However, when he gets off to a poor start, Iron Wing often struggle to establish their rhythm–a recurring pattern in their losses.
Perhaps the new patch will give Iron Wing the opportunity to innovate and rediscover their form. But based on their run in 1win Essence II, it’s hard to stay hopeful. A Top 8 finish appears the best possible outcome for the team.
The International 2026 wildcards: Xtreme Gaming, Vici Gaming, and LGD Gaming
Xtreme Gaming
Top achievements this season:
- 4th at DreamLeague Season 27 | December 2025
- 4th at DreamLeague Season 28 | February 2026
- 3rd at ESL One Birmingham | March 2026
Xtreme Gaming truly are unpredictable. The team are widely considered the strongest representative from China, and their results have largely reflected that, but their inconsistency has been incredibly frustrating to follow.
They have a tendency to peak at major events, secure impressive finishes, then suddenly fall off to concerning levels before repeating the cycle. Recently, Xtreme have even been overshadowed by their regional peers–finishing below Vici Gaming at the Esports World Cup and suffering a series loss to Resilience at Games of the Future. These are certainly discouraging results for China's leading contender. Their playstyle has also left much to be desired, often lacking vigour and appearing overly passive in crucial moments.
However, Xtreme have found themselves in this position before and still surprised the scene. They entered last year's TI far from being considered one of the favourites, only to blow expectations out of the park and secure a narrow runner-up finish, falling just one map short of the championship.
The team also possess a wealth of pedigree, with stars such as 
Wang “Ame” Chunyu, Xu “fy” Linsen, and Jing “Xxs” Lin on the roster, now guided by decorated veteran coach Zhi Cheng “LaNm” Zhang. Xtreme's placement here comes merely from the faith that the team can potentially turn up at TI once again, especially with the home soil buff.
Vici Gaming
Top achievements this season:
- Top 8 at PGL Wallachia Season 7 | March 2026
- 4th at Esports World Cup | July 2026
Trailing closely behind Xtreme Gaming are their fellow Chinese representatives, Vici Gaming, a team boasting an equally star-studded roster. Some would place them higher in expectations following their impressive run at the EWC–and it is easy to see why. Vici Gaming appeared stronger in the drafting, displayed greater versatility, and showcased a much higher-tempo style of play compared to Xtreme.
However, Vici only returned to the scene last year and had not achieved any significant results prior to the EWC. During the event, they delivered strong upsets against top teams, but followed those performances with demoralising defeats in consecutive matches, highlighting their volatility. There are not many concrete results to justify placing Vici Gaming above their current expectations, and their recent underwhelming outing at Games of the Future only reinforces that concern.
Much like Xtreme Gaming, Vici Gaming will also benefit from the home-soil advantage at TI 2026, which could provide the extra motivation needed to deliver on the biggest stage.
LGD Gaming
Top achievements this season:
- Top 4 at BLAST Slam IV | November 2025 [as HEROIC]
- Top 6 at BLAST Slam VI | February 2026 [as HEROIC]
- Top 6 at PGL Wallachia Season 7 | March 2026 [as HEROIC]
- 2nd at BLAST Slam VII | June 2026
LGD Gaming are the only South American representatives, and they have plenty to prove, especially while carrying the name of one of the most decorated organisations in Dota 2. Their campaign (as LGD) started brilliantly, with a second-place finish at BLAST Slam VII, but the squad failed to turn that momentum into sustained success at later events, suffering early exits at the final stops of the season, 1win Essence II and Games of the Future.
It is difficult not to believe in this team, however. The roster looks highly promising, led by the young prodigy 
Santiago “TaiLung” Agüero Gustavo, who has created new metas and showcased his own unique flair in the game–touted a major influence behind the recent Divine Rapier nerf. Supported by a committed lineup, LGD Gaming possess many of the qualities expected from an elite team. However, they still lack the consistency and confidence needed to establish themselves among the tournament favourites.
The International 2026 dark horses: OG, Nigma Galaxy, and Team Resilience
OG
Top achievements this season:
- Top 6 at PGL Wallachia Season 6 | November 2025
- Top 6 at BLAST Slam V | December 2025
- Top 6 at DreamLeague Season 27 | December 2025
- Top 4 at BLAST Slam VI | February 2026
OG started the season with a stellar run of consecutive Top 6 finishes and appeared to be peaking into the new year, but patch changes and roster adjustments saw their momentum crumble dramatically. The team managed to recover late in the season by bringing in 
Marc Polo Luis “Raven” Fausto to the offlane, a move that likely helped them secure Southeast Asia's lone TI slot.
The all-Filipino roster undoubtedly has strong chemistry and synergy, but many have questioned their strategic approach, particularly their drafting decisions. At the EWC, OG were the only team apart from TEAM VISION to take a map off Team Yandex–the only team in their group to achieve the feat. They also pushed 1win to a draw in their series. However, just when they showcased their highest-quality performances, they fell short against a lesser-favoured 
Virtus.pro right after, resulting in an early elimination.
In short, OG are incredibly inconsistent and it makes the most sense to place them among the dark horses heading into TI 2026. The team have proven they can topple tournament favourites, and if they can find a way to replicate those performances consistently, OG could truly return to the top. Their strong showing at 1win Essence II also suggests the team are building momentum at the perfect time before the championship.
Nigma Galaxy
Top achievements this season:
- 2nd at PREMIER SERIES (Tier 2) | April 2026
- 4th at 1win Essence I (Tier 2) | May 2026
- Top 8 at Esports World Cup | July 2026
Nigma Galaxy mirror OG in some ways, with their performances proving highly unpredictable throughout the season. The team failed to produce any meaningful results for much of the season until they made roster changes, bringing back star player 
Syed Sumail “SumaiL” Hassan in the carry position and adding Artem “Lorenof” Melnick to the midlane. The combination immediately clicked, allowing Nigma to qualify for TI 2026 with relative ease before securing a Top 8 finish at the Dota 2 EWC. But with a team like Nigma, you can never place hopes for too long. They recently stumbled once again, suffering a poor run at 1win Essence II.
However, many would still believe in Nigma's ability to perform on the biggest stage. Last year, Nigma secured a Top 6 finish despite enduring a similarly underwhelming campaign throughout the season. Whether they can recreate that magic remains to be seen, especially with SumaiL potentially competing at his final TI.
Team Resilience
Top achievements this season:
- 2nd at ESL Challenger China Season 3 x ACL 2026 (Tier 2) | May 2026
Team Resilience are the newest team in the field, reaching TI shortly after their formation in April this year. With names such as Shaohan “Erika” Yang, Kongbo “Niu” Li, and Hao “plAnet” Lin on the lineup, the team possess the experience and pedigree to make waves on the biggest stage.
Resilience was not initially part of the conversation when discussing potential TI qualifiers from China, overshadowed by 
Yakult Brothers, 
Team Refuser, and, of course, Vici Gaming. Yet they proved to be the strongest of the bunch, sweeping aside the competition to secure the region's first TI berth.
Their form remains difficult to evaluate, however, as the team have yet to compete in a major global event. Still, Resilience's showing at Games of the Future offers a promising glimpse, with the team defeating Xtreme Gaming during the tournament. They could potentially even outperform OG or Nigma Galaxy, but there simply is not enough data available to make a confident comparison.
The International 2026 underdogs: GamerLegion and HULIGANI
GamerLegion
Top achievements this season:
- 4th at PREMIER SERIES (Tier 2) | April 2026
As with many North American representatives, GamerLegion typically find themselves trailing behind the top teams. They usually secure their tournament spot through regional qualifiers, only to struggle at all of the global events this year. While the addition of prominent carry Daniel Chan “Ghost” Kok Hong added hope to the team, they have yet to find any improvement in results.
At times, it feels like GamerLegion only need a boost of confidence to find their rhythm. Hopefully, they have discovered that spark heading into the championship, although there is little pressure on them to deliver.
HULIGANI
Top achievements this season:
- Top 6 at PREMIER SERIES (Tier 2) | April 2026
- Top 8 at 1win Essence I (Tier 2) | May 2026
HULIGANI have the least experienced roster in the entire tournament, and they were likely even caught off guard by their own qualification to TI after taking down two heavily favoured teams in 
Natus Vincere and Virtus.pro.
The team had very little Tier 1 tournament experience before their breakthrough, and since entering global competitions, they have understandably struggled to make an impact. They finished in last place at both the EWC and the recent Games of the Future, leaving little optimism heading into TI. HULIGANI could potentially steal a map or two from stronger opponents, but they enter the tournament as the biggest underdogs and are the most likely team to bow out without a win.
What is The International 2026?
TI 2026 will be this year's iteration of Dota 2's annual world championship tournament, taking place in August in Shanghai, China. As with previous iterations of the tournament, TI 2026 will feature a total of 16 teams that earn their spots in the tournament by receiving direct invites or earning slots through regional qualifiers.
The list of directly-invited teams to TI 2026 includeAurora Gaming, BetBoom Team, Team Falcons,Team Liquid, 1w Team, Xtreme Gaming, and Team Yandex. Meanwhile, the teams that earned their spots through the regional qualifiers include European qualifier winners Team Spirit, 
TEAM VISION (aka PARIVISION), 
HULIGANI, and Nigma Galaxy, North American qualifier winner GamerLegion, Southeast Asian qualifier winner OG, South American qualifier winner LGD Gaming, as well as Chinese qualifier winners Vici Gaming and Team Resilience.
TI 2026's main event will be hosted in the Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai. Valve first announced that Shanghai will host TI 2026 during last year's world championship tournament, where Team Falcons claimed the Aegis of Champions after defeating China's Xtreme Gaming in the five-game grand finals.
This will mark the second time that Shanghai will host TI after TI 2019, where Western Europe's OG became the first-ever two-time TI champions after defeating Team Liquid in four games to claim the grand prize of US$15.6 million, out of the US$34.3 million prize pool.
TI 2026 will be split into two phases: the ‘Road to The International’ and ‘The International’ main event. The Road to The International will be a Swiss-style Group Stage from 13 to 16 August, where the 16 teams will be cut down to the final eight that will play in the game's biggest stage from 20 to 23 August in Shanghai's Oriental Sports Center.
While Valve have yet to reveal the details on TI 2026's prize pool, the tournament is expected to follow last year's prize pool format with a US$1.6 million base prize pool. The prize pool will then be boosted through sales of the TI 2026 Compendium.
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