Esports 

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam's national esports team will test their skills on the international stage at the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), a global esports tournament taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2 to 29.

The event marks a significant milestone in the international integration of Vietnamese esports. It will be the first time that Vietnamese players will compete under the national team flag in the global arena.

"Previously, Vietnamese players competed in international events under their club management. The first major competition for the national team is a turning point in our esports development, following the national orientation for professional and international integration," said Cao Thị Thu Phương, secretary general of Việt Nam Recreational and Electronic Sports Association (VIRESA).

"The participation of the national team at the ENC is also a step towards a comprehensive assessment of professional capabilities, operational systems and the development of the Vietnamese esports ecosystem."

Việt Nam will compete in 10 titles, focusing on teams with strong international performances, including PUBG Mobile, VALORANT, League of Legends, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Teamfight Tactics and PUBG, among others.

These titles reflect both Việt Nam’s proven competitive track record and its strong talent pipeline, forming a solid foundation for competing with leading esports nations worldwide.

In recent years, professional Vietnamese esports gamers have increasingly asserted their presence on the international stage, as members of the national team and through participation in professional clubs across the region and globally.

Many players have competed in top-tier tournaments, holding their ground against elite opponents and gradually strengthening the world standing of Việt Nam’s esports talent pool.

Among the team's achievements were a championship title at PUBG Mobile Super League – Southeast Asia Fall 2025, victory at the PUBG Nations Cup 2025 and a top-four finish at the Asian Games 2022's League of Legends and Arena of Valor, along with several gold medals at regional SEA Games events.

 

According to VIRESA, these results reflect the rising competitive standards of Vietnamese players and demonstrate the development of the domestic esports ecosystem.

Việt Nam has gradually built an environment capable of producing high-quality esports talent for the international market, providing a strong foundation for the continued development of national teams.

The Esports World Cup Foundation has announced that Việt Nam will take part in several competitions at the first-ever ENC, which will award millions of dollars to high-ranking teams in each event.

PUBG and PUBG MOBILE

Thirty-two teams made up of 128 elite players will compete in squad-based PUBG MOBILE action from November 3 to 8, battling for ENC gold and international recognition. Across six days of competition, teams will fight for survival in a format where every decision can define a tournament run.

In the opening stage, the teams will be split into four round-robin groups of eight. The top four teams from each group advance to the final stage, with 16 teams competing in the grand final in up to 18 matches using the smash rule point system to determine the champion.

The PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS competition will be held for the first time at the ENC from November 9 to 15.

Twenty-four national teams will compete on PC in Battle Royale play for a share of a US$1,120,000 prize pool, with national pride on the line across seven days of elite competition.

The battle will begin with a group stage featuring three groups of eight teams, with each group playing five matches to determine advancement. The top 16 teams will progress to the finals, where 10 matches will decide the champion based on overall performance and consistency. 

VALORANT and League of Legends

VALORANT is set to make its ENC debut from November 8-15, bringing the world’s premier tactical shooter into a nation-based competitive format.

Thirty-two teams will compete on PC in 5v5 play for a share of a $1,500,000 prize pool, with national pride on the line.

The competition will begin with a group stage featuring four groups of eight teams, playing a round-robin format with best-of-one matches to determine advancement. The top 16 teams will then progress to a single-elimination playoff bracket, where every series is a best-of-three and every round can decide a nation’s fate.

Every round will carry weight as squads will fight to advance through groups and playoffs in one of esports’ most strategy-driven formats.

Meanwhile, League of Legends will bring the world’s most iconic multiplayer online battle arena into a premier nation-based competitive format.

Top national teams will compete through a multi-stage format in 5v5 play on PC for a share of a $1,500,000 prize pool from November 21-29. 

Every match will unfold on Summoner’s Rift, where precise execution, coordinated team fighting and objective control will define success at the highest level.

The stage in Riyadh will bring together the world’s top talent in a format where preparation, coordination and execution will decide outcomes, setting the foundation for new rivalries to emerge. — VNS