FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE　Blue United eFC Dominates Esports Nations Cup 2026 Asia North Qualifier with Historic 1st and 2nd Place Finish

youxme claims championship title in an all-Blue United Grand Final, securing Japan’s final spot for the global main event in Saudi Arabia.

NEW YORK, NY — August 10, 2026 — Blue United Corporation is pleased to announce that its professional esports team, Blue United eFC, achieved a historic double podium finish at the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (EA SPORTS FC Division) Asia North Playoff (Regional Qualifier), held from August 8 to 9, 2026. In a monumental feat for the club, youxme (Shusei Mukasa) won the championship and Tsakt (Shota Sato) secured the runner-up position.

With this regional championship victory, youxme has officially earned the final qualification spot to represent Japan at the inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026 Finals, scheduled to take place this November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

■ About the Esports Nations Cup 2026

Organized by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), the Esports Nations Cup 2026 is the premier multi-title, country-based esports series and marks its inaugural edition this year. Unlike traditional individual-based global tournaments, the Esports Nations Cup features elite players directly representing their respective countries and territories. In addition to EA SPORTS FC 26, the global event features other major titles, such as PUBG MOBILE and Apex Legends.
Only 128 players from around the world will qualify for the main event in Riyadh after navigating highly competitive regional qualifiers.

■ Asia North Playoff Final Results and Qualification Context

The Asia North Playoff featured the region’s top 32 players who advanced from the online primary ladder stage held from July 30 to August 2, 2026. The final regional qualifier was conducted in a double-elimination format over two days, from August 8 to 9, to determine the global finals qualifiers.

• youxme – Champion (Qualified for Global Finals): Delivered a flawless, undefeated run through the tournament to secure his spot in the Grand Final early.
• Tsakt – Runner-up: After a defeat in the upper bracket Round of 8, Tsakt showed immense resilience by winning every match in the lower bracket to advance to the Grand Final.

This spectacular run set up the tournament’s first-ever all-Blue United eFC Grand Final. In a closely contested match between teammates, youxme emerged victorious to claim the Asia North championship.

A Highly Competitive Path to the National Spot

Under the tournament rules, a maximum of two players per country may qualify for the global main event in Riyadh (including direct ranking invites). Since Japan’s highest-ranked player had already received a direct invitation based on the EA SPORTS FC Pro World Rankings, only one additional qualification spot was available for Japan through the Asia North Playoff.

To qualify, a Japanese player could not merely finish in the top four of the regional playoff; they had to finish as the absolute highest-ranking Japanese competitor in the entire bracket. Facing intense competition from both domestic rivals and elite regional players, youxme successfully cleared this high bar to claim Japan’s final representative spot.

■ Player & Executive Comments

youxme, Blue United eFC Player:
“I am incredibly proud to win the Asia North Playoff as a Blue United eFC player and secure my place as a representative of Japan. This achievement is a direct result of my continuous practice, team collaboration, training with my teammate, and the incredible daily support we receive from everyone. During this tournament, I was able to play with composure, adapt to each opponent match by match, and stick to my own style. I will carry this momentum onto the world stage in Riyadh, and I am determined to compete at my absolute best. Thank you all for your support.”

Takehiko Nakamura, President & CEO of Blue United Corporation:
“First, I would like to express how proud I am of youxme and Tsakt for achieving this phenomenal first-and-second finish in the Asia North Regional Qualifier of the landmark inaugural Esports Nations Cup. Seeing our two players face off in the Grand Final of such a highly competitive tournament is a powerful testament to our club’s professional management and the dedicated efforts of our players, partners, and fans. As youxme prepares to represent Japan in Riyadh this November, Blue United Corporation remains fully committed to providing him with the best possible support and preparation to compete against the world’s elite.”

■ Blue United eFC

• Established: November 15, 2018
• Current Roster: Tsakt (Shota Sato), youxme (Shusei Mukasa)
• Vision: Contributed to Japanese sports business development and globalization to make it one of the top industries in the world
• Official Website: https://www.blueutd.com/efc/en/