I do think we might have more partner team in 2027, since you can have way more partner without making the format way longer, I see no reason to drop a trustworthy org, and many reason to promote promising partner. Also, it would be weird to have some T2 region with 0 or 1 partner team, thats why ZETA is probably saved (But could be replace by Varrel). Take Japan for exemple, it would be weird to have a closed qualifier with 7 team from open qualifier and 1 partner team, 7 is a lot for Japan and 2-6 sound a little bit more balance (even if 6 might be too mush.)
EMEA :
- KOI (the way they got drop to save M8 was unfair)
- Fokus (Need a DE org)
- MDR (Best T2 team in terms of viewer backed up the big boss of the French streamgame, the guy that decide who will go to the biggest event of the year)
- Falcon (Mena region need at least 2 teams)
- Twisted Mind (Mena region need at least 2 teams)
- Free Space : Acend could have a shot ? Eternal Fire ? An team representing Cape Player in MENA ?
APAC :
- Revenant or S8UL (Need a 2nd India team)
- NS (Master winner, reliable org)
- Fly Quest Oceania (With the death of OCE region, they NEED a slot, region is on the verge of dying)
- GAM or FU (To maintain the balance between SEA T2 subregion, VN need 1)
- Mongolz or Trinity (Same for Mongolia)
- Free Space : Varrel ? KT Rolster ? Motiv ?
AMER :
- 2G (They have the most viewer and show they where reliable by picking a GC team and a Aca team)
- G2 (Obvious)
- ENVY
- SR (Invested a lot even if not a T1 team)
- LYON (LAN need a team, with the fusion with 6K they are amazingly reliable)
- Free Space : For this one I dont know, 8 for NA is enough, M80 could make the cut, a 5th BR could be a thing if the closed qualifier is 16 teams, maybe a 4th LA team, 9z is really decent
