So are they going to have to wait 4 years to get in or what
yeah so, how this works is:
10 teams get partnered for 4 years, after that period the contract is revisable. Also in 2023 a team will ascend with a 2 years contract making the league be 11 teams, in 2024 another team will ascend making the league 12 teams, in 2025 2 teams will ascend and the 2023 team will finish their contract and go back to VRL independently of their VCT results, this leaves the league with 13 teams, in 2026 2 teams will ascend and the 2024 team will descend, making the league 14 teams.
2027 being the final year of this process where 2 more teams will ascend and 2 descend from that year on, it also coincides with the year where partnered teams are revised, so if Riot actually like any of the teams that have ascended during those years that will be the moment to make the swap.
I hope it's clear enough, kinda hard to explain