Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok has been named a Game Ambassador for the Esports World Cup (EWC) and Esports Nations Cup (ENC) through 2028, the Esports Foundation announced on July 15, 2026.
The League of Legends legend joins football icon Cristiano Ronaldo and chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen in the Esports Foundation Ambassador Program. In the role, Faker will represent the perspective of pro players across the Foundation's international events, athlete initiatives, media engagements, and leadership forums.
"You can't talk about esports without mentioning Faker," said Esports Foundation CEO Ralf Reichert, calling him the defining athlete of competitive gaming and emphasizing that the players who built the sport should have a voice in shaping its future.
Faker said:
Competition has shaped my life, and I am proud to join the Esports Foundation as Game Ambassador. I want to continue competing for the biggest titles with T1 while representing the players and fans who have helped esports grow worldwide. Through the Esports World Cup, Esports Nations Cup and the Foundation’s wider platforms, I hope to inspire the next generation to pursue excellence, remain resilient and believe in how far competitive gaming can take them. There is still much more to achieve.
The appointment caps a decorated career: six League of Legends World Championships, the inaugural EWC title in 2024, two MSI championships, and ten domestic titles across more than a decade with T1. In 2026, he became the first esports athlete to receive the Blue Dragon Medal, Korea's highest sporting honor, awarded by President Lee Jae-myung.
