Ho Chi Minh City, 3 April 2026 – The inaugural SEA Esports Nations Cup will take place in Ho Chi Minh City on May 8 and 9 as part of Vietnam GameVerse 2026.
The tournament is initiated by the Southeast Asia Esports Federation (SEAEF) with support from member federations across the region. It aims to shift esports in Southeast Asia from simple connections to collaborative creation, from isolated efforts to a structured system, and from fragmented growth to a shared regional ecosystem.
According to Do Viet Hung, President of SEAEF and also head of the Vietnam Recreational and Esports Association (VIRESA), the SEA Esports Nations Cup (SNC) will serve as a foundation for long-term development in the region. “This is a step toward shaping a structured esports landscape in Southeast Asia, with standards, a unified voice, and sustainable growth on the international stage,” he said.
The SNC is expected to play a key role in building a development pathway for esports from the regional level to continental and global stages, alongside major sporting events such as the SEA Games and the Asian Games. The tournament is planned to be held annually.
The first edition will be hosted by VIRESA at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center, with a total prize pool of 41,000 USD (over 1 billion VND).
Five game titles featuring nine medal events will be contested: PUBG Mobile, Teamfight Tactics, Crossfire Legends, Total Football, and Audition.
Before the introduction of SNC, the biggest stage for national esports teams in Southeast Asia was the SEA Games, where esports was first included in 2019 in the Philippines with seven titles. By December 2025, six official esports events, along with four demonstration titles, were included in the competition program of the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand.
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