The Esports Foundation has announced that League of Legends player Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok will serve as a game ambassador for the Esports World Cup and Esports Nations Cup through 2028.
Faker joins a line of notable ambassadors, including Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and Norwegian chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen.
In this role, he will represent players at the Foundation’s international events, athlete initiatives, media engagements and leadership forums. Next week, Faker will lead T1 at the Esports World Cup as he begins his duties as an ambassador.
What’s included in the Fakers Esports Foundation Ambassador role
The Ambassador Program aims to engage athletes under the guidance of the Esports Foundation’s events. According to the Foundation, Faker’s responsibilities include representing the perspective of eSports players at the Foundation’s international events, contributing to athlete initiatives, attending media events, participating in leadership forums, and helping to strengthen relationships between players, fans, and organizations.
This role includes the Esports World Cup, Esports Nations Cup and Nations Group Stage Championships.
Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation, said: “You can’t talk about esports without mentioning Faker. He is competitive gaming’s defining athlete, a champion whose excellence, discipline and longevity have inspired an entire generation.”
They added: “As our Games Ambassador, Faker embodies the Ambassador Program: eSports creates its own global sports icons. Through EWC, ENC and NGSC, he will help ensure that the players who create the game have a voice in shaping its future.”
Faker expressed his thoughts: “Competition has shaped my life, and I’m proud to join the Esports Foundation as a game ambassador. I look forward to continuing to compete for the biggest titles with T1 while representing the players and fans who have helped grow esports around the world.”
Faker’s career achievements and KeSPA standoff References
Faker has been competing at the highest levels of League of Legends for over ten years. His major achievements include six World Championship titles, two Mid-Season Invitational titles, and one eSports World Cup win. He has made several consecutive World Finals appearances with T1.
Recently, Faker has transformed from an individual star to a team leader, playing a key role in helping T1 defeat strong teams from both Korea and China during recent world tournaments.
In 2026, Faker became the first eSports athlete to receive the Blue Dragon Medal, South Korea’s highest sporting honor. The award was presented by President Lee Jae-myung in recognition of Faker’s contributions to Korean sports and culture.
His appointment as ambassador follows a period of tension between the Esports Foundation and the Korea E-Sports Association over control of South Korea’s national roster for the Esports Nations Cup.
In April 2026, the foundation ended its partnership with the KeSPA and announced that it would approach South Korean players directly for ENC 2026. Media reports indicated that the Foundation had “indirectly interfered” in player selection by favoring certain players.
Speculation within the community suggested that Faker could be that player, given his prominence and history with the South Korea national teams. However, the KSPA retained control over the selection process. This disagreement led South Korea to consider withdrawing from the tournament before the issue was resolved.
The ambassador role gives Faker a formal position with the Esports Foundation, separate from national team selection processes. Even if KeSPA chooses in the future that Faker is not suitable for a specific roster, his ambassador status ensures that he remains a representative of the foundation programs.
What’s next for Faker, T1 and the Ambassador Program
Faker is set to lead T1 to the Esports World Cup next week, marking the beginning of his role as an ambassador. This role will continue until 2028 and will include multiple versions of the EWC, ENC and NGSC.
Interested users can follow Faker’s activities as an ambassador by checking out the Esports Foundation’s official channels and T1’s social media accounts. These platforms will provide updates on upcoming events, their competitive schedule and ambassador engagements.
The esports foundation has so far announced only Faker, Cristiano Ronaldo and Magnus Carlsen as ambassadors. More appointments may be announced as the Foundation expands its program.
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