The Korea eSports Association (KeSPA) and the Esports Foundation (EF) have agreed to resume their partnership for the Esports Nations Cup 2026, the organiser confirmed in a statement to RFT.GG. The agreement reverses the split announced 11 days earlier, when KeSPA pulled out citing EF's attempts to influence roster composition.
Under the renewed terms, KeSPA will serve as National Team Partner and lead Korea's national team selection. EF cited alignment on "values, operational standards, and national team structure," along with recognition of KeSPA's "established expertise and authority in Korea."
A revised banner
Korean players and coaches will participate under the "Team Korea of Esports" banner — a notable distinction. Following the initial split, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) had stated that any team bypassing KeSPA could not use the official "Team Korea" brand or the "National Representative" title. The new wording appears designed to navigate that constraint while signalling KeSPA's involvement.
Selection methodology unchanged in spirit
The original dispute centred on selection. KeSPA had insisted on the merit-based system it used for the last two Asian Games, while EF had sought input on specific player inclusions on certain titles. The renewed statement does not explicitly detail the selection process but commits to choices made with "professional integrity, in accordance with the partners' regulations and competition standards."
