On July 8, 2023, the Asian Olympic Committee (OCA) officially announced electronic sports that will appear at the Asian Game 2026. After that in November 2024, OCA had intended to eliminate eSports but eventually confirmed that this content would be played at the largest sporting event in Asia. On February 22, the organizers officially announced 13 subjects appearing at this event.
Accordingly, 13 subjects include:
1. Antagonist martial arts include 3 subjects:
– Street Fighter
– Tekken
– King of Fighter
2. Pokemon Unite
3. Honor of Kings
4. League of Legends
5. PUBG Mobile (Asian Games version)
6. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
7. Identity V (Asian Games version)
8. Naraka: Bladepoint
9. Gran Turismo 7
10. Efootball
11. Puyo Puyo Champions
Among these subjects, most of them are familiar eSports such as League of Legends, Mobile Legends or PUBG Mobile. In addition, the Japanese host also added some “strengths” such as antagonistic martial arts, Pokemon Unite or Puyo Puyo Champions, the subject is quite similar to Tetr.io.
The Asian Games 2026 event is the third time of electronic sports appeared at the Asian Games. In particular, this event marked the first time the Organizing Committee hosted over 10 competitions. Earlier in 2018 and 2022, two hosts Indonesia and China held only 6 and 7 subjects respectively. More notably, League of Legends will be the only subject that appears in the three congresses, including the Asian Games 2026.
In the Asian Games 2018, Vietnam has achieved 4 bronze medals but to Asian Games 2022 could not win any medals. With the published subjects, the Vietnamese team will almost certainly participate in League of Legends, PUBG Mobile aims to achieve medals. The official information about the selection of Vietnamese representatives attending the Asian Games will be announced, expected in 2025.
