LoL enters the Asian Games 2026 event in Aichi-Nagoya, with top talents like Faker potentially representing South Korea on defending the gold medal.
League of Legends (LoL) has officially confirmed as one of the 11 game titles set to be featured at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 esports event. The full Asian Games event is set to take place from Sep. 19 to Oct. 4 in 2026, while the schedule for the esports event has yet to be announced.
The esports event was first introduced to Asian Games as a demonstration sport at the 18th Asian Games 2018 Jakarta-Palembang and was soon recognized as a full medal event at the 19th Asian Games 2023 Hangzhou one. LoL has been featured in both years, with China claiming the top spot in 2018 and South Korea claiming the gold medal in 2023.
Faker’s potential second gold medal
Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, South Korea's most decorated LoL player, could make history if he is selected to represent the national team once again. Currently, he is one of only two players to have been chosen for two consecutive Asian Games, alongside Park "Ruler" Jae-hyuk.
Faker first represented South Korea in 2018 alongside Kim "Kiin" Gi-in, Han "Peanut" Wang-ho, Go "Score" Dong-bin, Park "Ruler" Jae-hyuk, and Jo "CoreJJ" Yong-in. Unfortunately, the team fell short of securing first place after losing to China in the finals.
In 2023, Faker returned to the national team and played a crucial role in securing South Korea’s first-ever LoL gold medal at the Asian Games. Competing alongside Choi "Zeus" Woo-je, Seo "Kanavi" Jin-hyeok, Jeong "Chovy" Ji-hoon, Park "Ruler" Jae-hyuk, and Ryu "Keria" Min-seok, the South Korea team defeated China in the semifinals before securing victory against Chinese Taipei in the grand finals.
With LoL officially confirmed for the 2026 Asian Games, speculation is growing over whether Faker will once again earn a spot on the national roster and aim for his second gold medal. While his experience and leadership make him a valuable asset, South Korea boasts a deep talent pool of younger mid-laners, including Chovy and Zeka, who are also worthy of the spot.
However, Faker's contributions to South Korean esports have been widely recognized, making it highly possible for him to be selected again. In recent years, he has continued to solidify his legacy, becoming the first inductee into the Hall of Legends in 2024, winning his fifth World Championship the same year, and earning the Finals MVP title.
Beyond esports, Faker has also gained national recognition. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol praised him as one of the country’s most outstanding young talents, placing him alongside global icons such as K-pop groups BTS and BLACKPINK, footballer Son Heung-min, and baseball player Kim Ha-Seong.
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Esports games list for the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026
In a document dated Feb. 22, OCA director general Husain Al Musallam confirmed that an emergency executive board meeting was held online, during which the following 11 esports titles were unanimously approved for the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026:
Number Game Titles | 1 Competitive Martial Arts team competition with only one medal from: i) Street Fighter Series ii) Tekken Series iii) King of Fighter Series | 2 Pokémon 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 Series | 11 Puyo Puyo Champions |
In addition to popular esports titles like Honor of Kings (HoK), LoL, PUBG Mobile (PUBGM), and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), there are also unique games such as Identity V, Naraka: Bladepoint, and Puyo Puyo Champions that will be exciting to witness.
Stay tuned on esports.gg for more 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 esports news.
