Esports returns to Korean soil for an international showdown. The 'Esports Championships Asia 2026' (ECA 2026) will be held over three days from Friday, April 24, to Sunday, April 26, at the Jinju Indoor Gymnasium in Gyeongsangnam-do. Featuring national representative teams from seven Asian countries—South Korea, China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Mongolia—this tournament serves as a crucial dress rehearsal ahead of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games this September.

Hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and co-organized by the Korea e-Sports Association, Gyeongsangnam-do, and Jinju City, ECA 2026 began in 2021 as a Korea - China - Japan tournament before expanding to cover all of Asia last year. This year’s event marks the largest in its history with seven participating nations, cementing its status as a premier Asian esports competition. Approximately 150 athletes and officials are expected to gather in Jinju on the 24th.

Experience Every Match Live on Disney+!

Disney+ joins ECA 2026 as the official broadcaster, bringing all tournament matches to a global audience. Disney+ will provide exclusive global live coverage for four of the six official titles: Street Fighter 6, The King of Fighters XV, Tekken 8, and the eFootball series (PC/mobile). PUBG Mobile and Eternal Return will also be broadcast live on the platform. With Disney’s sports brand, ESPN, contributing to the production and event experience, viewers can expect a broadcast quality that sets it apart from standard game streaming.

The first day, April 24, is dedicated to 'fighting games' and 'eFootball.' Street Fighter 6, The King of Fighters XV, Tekken 8, and the eFootball series will all be played, with these four titles available exclusively on Disney+. On April 25 and 26, PUBG Mobile (PUBG M) and Eternal Return will take center stage. Fans can look forward to two days of intense battle royale action featuring five Asian nations, as well as the international debut of Eternal Return as an official tournament title.

PUBG M and Eternal Return matches can be viewed via the official Disney+ broadcast, as well as on the official YouTube and SOOP channels of the Korea e-Sports Association.

April 24 - Street Fighter 6 / The King of Fighters XV / Tekken 8

The opening day is headlined by fighting games. As all three titles are official events for the 2026 Asian Games, ECA 2026 will be a vital stage for assessing the performance of national representatives.

The South Korean team features names familiar to any fan of the genre. 'Knee' (Bae Jae-min) will compete in Tekken 8. Having remained at the top for over 20 years since the days of Tekken 5 in 2005, he secured his spot on the national team with a dominant performance in the qualifiers.

Lee Gwang-no (MadKof), known as 'Dongne-hyung,' will represent Korea in The King of Fighters XV. A living legend who has played the KOF series since the 90s, he is a veteran with high recognition across East Asia.

Yeon Je-gil (DakCorgi) of kt Rolster will compete in Street Fighter 6. Known for his exceptional performance with C. Viper, he has been selected as a national representative for the second consecutive time, following the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.

Other nations also feature faces familiar to Korean fans, such as Japan's Tekken 8 representative, Daichi 'NOBI' Nakayama, a master of Dragunov. The rivalry between Knee and NOBI has long been a staple of fighting game lore. Whether a rematch between the two will occur at ECA is a key point of interest for Tekken eight fans.

April 24 - eFootball Series

The eFootball series, divided into PC and mobile platforms, will also take place on the first day. Song Young-woo will represent South Korea in the PC division, while Kim Do-gyeom will compete in the mobile division, facing off against representatives from Japan, China, Vietnam, Thailand, and other nations.

eFootball is a soccer game serviced by KONAMI and is the successor to the PES series, formerly known as Winning Eleven.

April 25-26 - PUBG M

PUBG M returns as an official title for the first time in three years since the 2023 Korea - China - Japan Esports Tournament. Six countries—South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Mongolia—are participating. South Korea will field a five-man team, including 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games representative Park Sang-cheol (FAVIAN). As PUBG M is particularly strong in Southeast Asia, the unpredictable skill gap between national teams is a major point of interest.

April 25-26 - Eternal Return

Eternal Return makes its debut as an official ECA title. Developed and serviced by Nimble Neuron, the game uniquely blends battle royale and MOBA genres. Five countries—South Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam, and Thailand—are participating. As this is its first appearance as an official event, fans are keenly focused on the performance of the home team, South Korea.

Experience the Heat Beyond the Venue on Disney+!

The Jinju Indoor Gymnasium is hosting its third international event. Jinju City plans to turn the tournament into a festival that integrates local culture, welcoming visitors with diverse programs such as lantern exhibitions featuring game characters, cosplay parades, and game OST performances. With food trucks and local specialty booths, there is plenty to enjoy beyond the esports matches.

Can't make it in person? 'Disney+' has you covered. The three fighting game titles and eFootball on April 24 are available exclusively on Disney+, and all PUBG M and Eternal Return matches on the 25th and 26th will also be streamed there. Whether you are a fan of fighting games, PUBG M, or Eternal Return, there is something for everyone, with major storylines—like the potential Knee vs. NOBI Tekken showdown—unfolding throughout the event.

The partnership between Disney+ and Korean esports will continue beyond the ECA 2026. In the second half of this year, the official send-off ceremony and exhibition matches for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games national team will be exclusively live-streamed on Disney+. Fans will be able to get an up-close, first look at the national team’s final preparations ahead of the Asian Games.