Culture - Sports

Southeast Asia launches national team-level esports competition

According to the Vietnam Recreational and Electronic Sports Association (VIRESA), the system, named the SEA Esports Nations Cup (SNC), represents the first regional esports tournament designed specifically for national teams in Southeast Asia.

Vietnamese esports focuses on strong disciplines at ENC 2026 (Photo:cand.com)
Vietnamese esports focuses on strong disciplines at ENC 2026 (Photo:cand.com)

Hanoi (VNA) – Southeast Asian countries have jointly established a national team-level esports competition system with unified structure and standards, marking a new step from regional cooperation toward the co-creation of a shared development ecosystem.

According to the Vietnam Recreational and Electronic Sports Association (VIRESA), the system, named the SEA Esports Nations Cup (SNC), represents the first regional esports tournament designed specifically for national teams in Southeast Asia.

The SEA Esports Nations Cup was initiated by the Southeast Asia Esports Federation (SEAEF) and officially launched with the participation and support of esports federations from across the region. The tournament is the result of coordinated efforts aimed at building a long-term development platform for esports in Southeast Asia.

Do Viet Hung, President of VIRESA and President of SEAEF, said the SEA Esports Nations Cup is not merely a competition but also a strategic step for Southeast Asia to define esports as a shared regional space with a unified structure, standards and international voice.

He said hosting the SEA Esports Nations Cup offers Vietnam an opportunity to contribute to a common regional initiative, where countries cooperate to build a long-term esports competition system. The core value of the tournament lies not in a single country but in the collective participation and contribution of the entire Southeast Asian region.

The development and implementation of the SEA Esports Nations Cup has received active contributions from national esports federations in the region, reflecting increasingly close cooperation among Southeast Asian countries in building a shared esports ecosystem.

The tournament is positioned as part of a multi-tier competition system that will help shape the pathway for esports development from regional to continental and global levels, alongside major sporting events such as the SEA Games and the Asian Games (ASIAD).

The inaugural SEA Esports Nations Cup season will be held in Ho Chi Minh City on May 8–9, as part of the Vietnam GameVerse 2026 event.

As the host, VIRESA and its domestic partners will oversee the organisation and operation of the competition in accordance with standards and structures agreed upon at the regional level.

The first season will feature five game titles – PUBG Mobile, Teamfight Tactics, Crossfire Legends, Total Football, and Audition – with a total of nine medal events.

The selection of competition titles was made through consultation and consensus among regional stakeholders to ensure a balance between competitiveness, popularity, and representation within the Southeast Asian esports ecosystem.

The SEA Esports Nations Cup is expected to be held regularly in the coming years, with plans to expand in scale, improve quality, and gradually strengthen Southeast Asia’s position as a dynamic and influential region within the global esports ecosystem./.

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