Fresh meat: Eight players enter The International for the first time in 2026

The International is the pinnacle tournament of the Dota 2 year, where seasoned professionals within the game gather, ready to stamp their spot in the history books. Over time we have seen many champions crowned, those that have dedicated their time and lives to become the best. Now, as the 15th iteration of the event approaches, the players prepare once more. But, while there are many that have stood upon the stage before, there are a handful who will be there for the first time.

TI is no stranger to debut players, and this year, there are eight that will be searching for a chance to reach the top within their respective teams.

The International 2026: Fresh meat

Over the years, the spectacle of TI has always been something that players prepare for. We have seen first time attendees lift the Aegis of Champions, as well as those that have battled for years finally achieving their goal. With eight players heading into TI for their first experience on the grandest Dota 2 stage, they will be hoping that their battles begin with a massive win – rather than their legacies fading into the background.

The HULIGANI dream

A surprising qualifier to TI 2026, HULIGANI aka L1 Team, enter the tournament with three players set to make their debut. Having conquered a stacked European Qualifier, taking down Virtus.pro and Natus Vincere along the way, HULIGANI beat out the likes of MOUZ to secure a spot at TI. For two of their players, this will not be the first time at the grand event, using their experience to guide the young team forward.

• Ilya “ssnovv1” Kondrashov
• Ivan “Vazya” German (aka corrupted)
• Miras “Mirage`” Mutanov

When it comes to Tier 1 events, these three players do not have a ton of experience under their belts. In actuality, their first ever Tier 1 event was at the recent Esports World Cup 2026, which did not pan out in their favour. But, having powered through the qualifiers together, and found themselves with a better understanding during their recent tournament, HULIGANI could be one of those unlikely teams that causes chaos at TI.

Malady’s rough journey

Arman "Malady" Orazbayev’s journey to TI has been a rough one, as this should technically be his second event. Unfortunately, as many of us remember, last year would see Gaimin Gladiators withdraw from the tournament after receiving a direct invite. This left Malady to move to Team Yandex, sticking with Alimzhan “watson" Islambekov and now making some serious waves in the scene.

Since his move, Malady has helped Yandex to many victories, including a stellar DreamLeague Division 2 Season 1 win – which converted into a DreamLeague Season 27 win. 2026 has continued a fantastic showing from the player and his team, with wins at PGL Wallachia Season 7 and BLAST Slam VII, with a solid third place finish at the recent EWC. In a few weeks, Malady will finally grace the stage at TI 2026, ready to show exactly what he can do when let loose at the event.

Team Spirit’s newest addition

Alexey "not me" Kosmynin has quickly made a name for himself in the Dota 2 world ever since joining Team Spirit. It was only in May of this year that the team decided to make the change, bringing hm on board. Without much experience beyond a Tier 2 tournament with Yellow Submarine earlier in the year, not me had big shoes to fill.

With a third-place finish in his first Tier 1 tournament, DreamLeague Season 29, he went on to help Spirit qualify to TI 2026 in a tough EU qualifier. Although their performances have been hit or miss recently, not me hopes to make his debut TI one to remember, alongside teammates that are going in search of their second or third Aegis of Champions.

Resilience will be required

With TI returning to Shanghai, China, in 2026, there is a lot to be said for Chinese teams in the tournament. As the only player from the region making his debut, Xu "Echozz" Ziliang may feel pressured to perform well in front of his home crowd. Echozz is no stranger to the topflight of Dota 2, having played for teams such as Tearlaments, Team Aster, EHOME, CDEC Gaming, Keen Gaming, and even Team Tidebound during their victory at DreamLeague Division 2 Season 2 in 2025.

With a fantastic history of teams and results under his belt, Echozz brings in a wealth of experience, but TI has eluded him – until now. 2026 could prove to be the year that the Aegis of Champions returns to a Chinese team, and Echozz will be hoping that he can lift it alongside Team Resilience.

OG’s faithful

When it comes to Southeast Asian Dota 2, we have seen a major lapse in the prevalence of the region. Once a powerhouse, now a desolate scape of few teams championing the cause. John Anthony "Natsumi-" Vargas holds strong within one such team, one that has struggled for quite some time – OG. While the rest of the team around him have all been to TI previously, Natsumi has constantly missed out with various teams over the years.

But, Philippines Dota has that “never say die” attitude, and for this new-look OG roster, they have had their chances to reach the top. Although it has not quite clicked for the team, TI 2026 gives Natsumi a chance to debut into what could be a historical win for SEA.

A champion in the making

There is not a whole lot to say about Santiago Olivos “TaiLung” Agüero Gustavo that has not been said before. The Peruvian pubstar that has shot to fame has only recently turned 17 and will be entering his first TI tournament. As the youngest player on the rosters for 2026, TaiLung has already proven that his experience extends far beyond his age. While he did not make it to TI previously, he has come close with OG.LATAM in 2025, but now that he has a brilliant South American squad behind him, the sky could be the limit.

LGD Gaming has already produced some great results recently, with TaiLung’s mid-lane performances constantly a talking point. As a young player, entering TI could be a daunting experience, but we could see some major sparks if he’s able to get the ball rolling.

The one thing that is always apparent when it comes to The International is that it does not matter if you’ve been on the grand stage once or ten times, your mind is focused on only the Aegis of Champions. Many have lifted it before, but 2026 brings the tournament’s 15th anniversary, and it could come with a special ending for a TI debut player once again.