Five weeks out from the 18th World Esports Championship, Indonesia’s host partners and IESF met the media in Jakarta to share one simple message: Indonesia is ready.
On stage were Indonesia’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Erick Thohir; Muhammad Herindra, General Chairman of the Executive Board of Esports Indonesia (PB ESI); Reza Subekti, Chairman of the WEC26 Local Organising Committee; and IESF General Secretary Boban Totovski. The press conference followed a four-day site survey of ICE BSD City in Banten, where WEC26 runs from 15 to 20 December.
Third time, home crowd
Indonesia is no stranger to this stage, having hosted the Championship in Jakarta in 2016 and in Bali in 2022, where the home side was crowned Champion Nation. This December, more than 400 athletes will compete across Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, PUBG Mobile and eFootball™️, including dedicated women’s competitions in CS2 and MLBB.
A nation behind its players
For Minister Thohir, WEC26 represents much more than a tournament. “Sports play a vital role in building Indonesia’s national branding as a major nation that is safe, welcoming, and open to investment,” he said. “Esports is an extraordinary sporting branch with a close connection to the youth.”
PB ESI also enters the game with its sights set on the overall title, building on two silver medals at the 2026 Asian Games. “We want WEC26 not only to succeed as an international competition but also to leave a positive legacy for athletes, communities, industries, and the young generation of Indonesia,” said Herindra.
More than Medals
WEC26 is also where IESF’s member federations will gather to shape the future of the sport, with the federation’s Ordinary General Meeting held on site on 17 and 18 December, alongside it's Continental Meetings.
“This is the third time in Indonesia, but one thing is sure: it’s not the last time,” said Boban Totovski. “What New York is to the United Nations, and what Brussels is to Europe, Indonesia is becoming for esports: a true world centre, supporting esports worldwide.”
The countdown is on. Are you ready to roar?
Indonesia