IESF shares plan for world esports governance at Seoul Olympic Legacy Forum

Michael Hassall Published 14/10/2026

The International Esports Federation (IESF) has outlined its vision for a system of global esports governance with the organization seeking to take on the mantle of a licensing authority, organizer of world championships, and steward of “event governance across every discipline.”

The bold manifesto was revealed at the Seoul Olympic Legacy Forum 2026, as part of a session on AI shaping the Olympic future. During the session IESF’s general secretary Boban Totovski hosted a presentation called The Future of Global Esports Governance and the Olympic Legacy, outlining this prospective plan. Details of the presentation were shared in a release by the IESF.

IESF outlines its plan for a system of global esports governance

Under the IESF’s vision, the organization would become the licensing authority of esports, that is to say, the body that recognizes national teams, and ensures athletes, referees, and officials are vetted.

The IESF would also become the holder of any World Esports Championship events, and organize a set rulebook across all disciplines under this plan.

The IESF eyes key role in esports governance. Image credit: IESF

The IESF is one of many organizations who have attempted over the years to become the de facto governing body of esports, in the same vein as the referenced FIA, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) in football, or the International Olympic Committee in conventional sports.

However, the organization is not alone in this push for governance, and with it, control of international esports competition. The Singapore-based Global Esports Federation (GEF), who in the past organized the Global Esports Games and collaborated with Commonwealth Sport for the Commonwealth Esports Games), the seemingly defunct World Esports Association (WESA), World Cyber Games, and others.

Perhaps most notably, the IESF’s biggest rival for the throne of esports international governance is the Saudi Arabian-backed Esports Federation, who in the past have collaborated with the IOC. The EF has made an aggressive push for control of the esports world as a whole.

As a result, the IESF’s declaration of its designs on governance comes at an opportune moment: The EF’s flagship event, the Esports World Cup (EWC), and secondary, international competition, the Esports Nations Cup (ENC), have been thrown into turmoil in the past year due in large part to the ongoing conflict in the Gulf.

Whether this is a targeted shot across the bow, or just fortuitous timing remains to be seen. But the IESF seems to ignore one key element of its bid for governance in its declaration: The publishers and rights holders of the games they seek to govern. No company has entirely given over their esports governance to a separate body, and they’re unlikely to start with the IESF. The organization will have to parlay with this crucial bloc first before enacting its masterplan.

Featured Image Credit: IESF

Michael Hassall

About Michael Hassall

Michael is an eight-year veteran of games writing and has been playing games for as long as he can remember. With bylines across the internet, he has used his expertise to cover esports, prediction markets, mainstream gaming, streamers and more.

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