Vietnam to host SEA Esports Nation Cup for first time
VOV.VN - Vietnam will become the first country to host the SEA Esports Nation Cup (SNC), a national team–based regional championship owned and developed by the Southeast Asian Esports Federation (SEAEF), marking a milestone in Southeast Asia’s efforts to elevate esports onto the global stage.
The inaugural SEA Esports Nation Cup is scheduled to take place within Vietnam GameVerse 2026, positioning the tournament as a key step in shaping Southeast Asian esports into a structured, standardised and internationally recognised competitive space.
More than a new competition, the SNC represents a strategic shift for the region, from loosely connected national markets to a more unified esports ecosystem with shared standards, governance and collective international representation.
According to SEAEF President Do Viet Hung, the SEA Esports Nation Cup is designed as a platform to standardise competition formats, organisational processes and operational benchmarks across the region.
“The SEA Esports Nation Cup is not merely a tournament, but a strategic step for Southeast Asia to, for the first time, define esports as a common space—with structure, standards, and an international voice,” he said.
The SEAEF’s decision to select Vietnam as host for the first edition holds broader significance. Beyond providing the venue, Vietnam is seen as an integral node in the emerging regional esports architecture, reflecting the country’s organisational capacity, readiness and growing credibility within Southeast Asia’s esports ecosystem.
The move also signals Vietnam’s transition from an active participant to a shaper of regional esports development, SEAEF officials said.
By aligning with Vietnam GameVerse 2026, the SEA Esports Nation Cup will be embedded in an open platform that connects esports with players, businesses, policymakers and international partners. In return, the presence of the SNC is expected to further elevate GameVerse, in line with its 2026 theme, “Do Local. Go Global.”
The SEAEF expects the SEA Esports Nation Cup to become a regular fixture, linking national esports systems across Southeast Asia and laying the groundwork for the region’s long-term, sustainable esports development.
Vietnam officially confirmed as host of the 2026 Asian Esports Games
VOV.VN - At the recent Asian Esports Forum in Thailand, the Vietnam Recreational and Electronic Sports Association (VIRESA) and the Asian Esports Federation (AESF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) confirming Vietnam as host of the 2nd Asian Esports Games (AEG) in 2026.
