The massive and controversial Esports World Cup taking place this summer will not have VALORANT in its lineup due to scheduling issues, though professional teams are reportedly pushing Riot Games “hard” to include the game.

According to James Fudge for the Esports Advocate, VALORANT was “seriously considered” for the Esports World Cup, but there is no flexibility in the schedule that would allow professional teams to compete at the event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which runs from July 4 to August 25. Riot’s other titles, League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics, will be featured at the event, with League scheduled for week one and TFT scheduled for week six.

This period from early July to late August is the busiest and most important part of the VCT 2024 schedule. The start of the Esports World Cup will take place in the middle of the second phase of the VCT 2024 season, with the first half of the event taking place during the last two regular season matches and the all-important play-off bracket that will determine who goes to Champions. The second half of the Esports World Cup will take place during Champions itself, with both events concluding on Sunday 25 August.

With the current VCT schedule, there simply isn’t a window for teams to also compete in the Esports World Cup, though that could change as early as next year. Riot Games has already confirmed that it will be changing the 2025 VCT schedule by staggering events, which could open a window for VALORANT teams to compete in next year’s Esports World Cup. Fudge reports that Riot “has signed a one-year contract with the Esports World Cup Foundation” and is “taking a wait-and-see approach” when it comes to continuing that partnership.