Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok has been named a Game Ambassador for the Esports World Cup (EWC) and Esports Nations Cup (ENC) through 2028, the Esports Foundation announced on July 15, 2026.
The League of Legends icon lines up alongside football star Cristiano Ronaldo and chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen in the Esports Foundation Ambassador Program. Within the role, Faker will voice the pro players' viewpoint throughout the Foundation's international events, athlete initiatives, media engagements, and leadership forums.
"You can't talk about esports without mentioning Faker," said Esports Foundation CEO Ralf Reichert, describing him as the defining athlete of competitive gaming and stressing that those who built the sport deserve a say in shaping where it goes.
Faker said:
Competition has shaped my life, and I am proud to join the Esports Foundation as Game Ambassador. I want to continue competing for the biggest titles with T1 while representing the players and fans who have helped esports grow worldwide. Through the Esports World Cup, Esports Nations Cup and the Foundation’s wider platforms, I hope to inspire the next generation to pursue excellence, remain resilient and believe in how far competitive gaming can take them. There is still much more to achieve.
The appointment tops off a decorated career: six League of Legends World Championships, the first-ever EWC title in 2024, two MSI championships, and ten domestic titles over more than a decade with T1. In 2026, he became the first esports athlete awarded the Blue Dragon Medal, Korea's highest sporting honor, presented by President Lee Jae-myung.
Faker will aim to lift the EWC trophy this week as T1 plays at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh. They took their opening match against GAM.
