Esports 

Vietnamese GAM Esports will compete at the Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC 2026) which will be held in July in France.

HÀ NỘI — GAM Esports will represent Việt Nam against strong opponents at the 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC 2026), which will be held in Paris, France from July 6 to August 23.

EWC 2026 will feature more than 2,000 esports players from more than 200 clubs in over 100 countries and regions.

This massive seven-week festival includes 25 tournaments at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, with players all fighting for a historic prize pool of more than US$75 million.

GAM Esports will take part in the League of Legends competition against 15 top-tier international clubs from July 15 to 19.

After that competition, they will play 23 other teams in PUBG Battlegrounds under the name GAM x TE 'The Expendables' from July 21-26.

Both League of Legends and PUBG Battlegrounds are highly competitive titles that bring together many of the world's strongest clubs and players. 

The presence of Vietnamese athletes in these disciplines reflects the years spent accumulating international experience, developing a talent pool and steadily enhancing the professional capabilities of Việt Nam's esports, according to the Việt Nam Recreational and Electronic Sports Association (VIRESA).

"We acknowledge and commend the efforts of the clubs, athletes, coaches and partners who have helped establish an increasingly prominent presence for Vietnamese esports on the international stage," said VIRESA President Đỗ Việt Hùng.

"Việt Nam's participation in the EWC 2026 marks an encouraging milestone, demonstrating the potential, resilience and global integration of the country's esports industry. We hope the athletes will compete with a strong sense of responsibility, a commitment to excellence and pride in representing the Vietnamese esports community."

Aside from competition preparations, the unveiling of GAM Esports' 'RISE REBORN' jersey for the 2026 season is seen as part of a broader effort to build a more professional image for Vietnamese esports clubs.

Design elements inspired by Vietnamese cultural symbols, including the chim lạc (mythical bird), the Đông Sơn bronze drum and the golden star, not only embody national pride but also reinforce the idea that esports is more than just competitive gaming. It has become a platform for showcasing Việt Nam's identity, culture and image worldwide.

Việt Nam have recently earned remarkable results in several competitions, such as the SEA Games and Asian championships, raising the reputation of the country and its esports clubs internationally.

VIRESA said apart from winning medals for Việt Nam and showcasing images of the country, people and culture to the international community, esports also plays a major role in the development of the digital sports economy, the digital content industry, interactive media, event tourism and brand commerce.

The association plans to collaborate with organisations, clubs, athletes and partners to build a professional, long-term esports environment, thus helping to elevate the stature of Vietnamese esports, develop young talent and drive the digital sports economy in this new era. — VNS