Turkey’s Esports Momentum Builds as TESFED Approves 2027–2028 Roadmap
The Turkish Esports Federation (TESFED) successfully held its General Assembly on Saturday, October 3, 2026, in Ankara. The General Assembly discussed several matters, ranging from the presentation of TESFED’s activity report to the approval of their work program for the next two years.
The General Assembly was attended by Jülide Hökerek Demircan, representing the Turkish Ministry of Youth and Sports. The members of the General Assembly Presidium (Divan Kurulu) who oversaw the meeting were Chairman Erbil Yiğitbaş, Vice Chairman Halit Kaan Karapınar, and Secretary Eyüp Selamet.
TESFED President Alper Afşin Özdemir presented TESFED’s activity report, as well as the audit committee’s report for the 2024–2026 period. Following a vote by assembly delegates, the reports were formally accepted, and TESFED’s proposed work program and budget for 2027 and 2028 were officially approved.
TESFED's focus for the year 2027-2028 is to further improve the achievement of the Turkey National Esports Team and Turkish esports clubs through participation in various international tournaments. They will also look to increase the number of licensed athletes by prioritizing grassroots youth engagement.
The federation will also prepare for all upcoming international tournaments, such as the 2026 Global Esports Games in Los Angeles, and the 2026 IESF World Esports Championship in Indonesia; both held in December. TESFED aims for satisfactory results in these tournaments.
During an interview, Özdemir expressed his gratitude for the participation and support of all TESFED members at the General Assembly meeting. He noted that esports in Turkey currently has strong momentum for continued growth.
“Our total number of licensed athletes has exceeded 130,000, and the number of active competitors is close to 5,000. We are becoming one of the federations with the most licensed athletes in Turkey. We are seeing serious interest from young people. In 2018, our Ministry of Youth and Sports took a pioneering and visionary step by establishing the Turkish Esports Federation. I can confidently say that we are one of the leading federations in the world held up as examples,” said Özdemir.
Özdemir affirmed that TESFED will commit comprehensive resources to supporting the Turkish National Esports Team in upcoming international competitions.
“In the first week of December, we’ll participate in the World Championship in Los Angeles with our national teams. Immediately afterward, from December 15 to 20, we’ll compete in the championship in Indonesia. Flying our flag and achieving top rankings in these events not only fills us with pride but also motivates our youth. Frankly, we want to turn this into a sustainable success,” he said.
Özdemir also highlighted how traditional sporting clubs from Turkey such as Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, and Beşiktaş have integrated esports into their organization, citing the leverage of esports inside youth fandom culture.
Turkey has increasingly established itself as an esports powerhouse in the European and Mediterranean regions through strong international performances. At the 2024 IESF World Esports Championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Turkish National PUBG Mobile Team claimed the championship title with a total score of 213 points. Combined with a third-place podium finish by the Dota 2 team, Turkey secured second place overall in the national standings.
In club competition, Regnum Carya Esports claimed the runner-up title at the 2024 PUBG Mobile Global Championship in London. Furthermore, the Turkish National Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Team also took third place at the 2025 IESF WEC in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, defeating the favorite Indonesian team.
For the 2027 season, the city of Istanbul will host the global MLBB tournament, the M8 World Championship, which will take place in January. The event marks the first time an M-Series World Championship will take place on European soil, following the historic 2026 MLBB Mid-Season Cup held in Paris during the Esports World Cup 2026.
The gaming market in Turkey itself is growing significantly, with a 25% growth recorded in 2025, resulting in $1.01 billion in market size. Active players recorded in the same period also reached 50 million, due to an increase in internet adoption rate and tech-savvy youth becoming more prevalent in society.
The achievements of Turkish esports players and teams in various global competitions, as well as Turkey’s growth in the gaming market and its appointment to host the M8 World Championship, demonstrate the country’s rising profile within the global esports community. Support from esports federations such as TESFED has helped improve players’ skills and esports governance, which has translated into impressive achievements.
