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World Cup winner Bastian Schweinsteiger was the guest of honour at the VBL International Series Thailand Final 2026 which wrapped up on Sunday with the grand finale in Bangkok, after thousands of gamers across south-east Asia battled it out.
Front and centre of the hard-fought showdown in the Thailand capital was Schweinsteiger, whose heroics in the final at the Maracanã helped Germany win the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
The FC Bayern München icon – an eight-time German league champion – was the official Bundesliga ambassador for the finals, presenting prizes to the winners, taking part in lively press sessions, and helping local influencers create content to spread the word about Football As It’s Meant To Be.
“The passion for the Bundesliga here in Thailand is incredible and eSports is a powerful way to connect with the next generation,” said Schweinsteiger.
“Seeing these players compete shows that the love for football is exciting whether you are on the pitch or on the console. eSports provides a unique platform to attract a new wave of fans. Through the VBL International Series, we are showing a future generation of fans how they can be part of the Bundesliga story.”
The VBL International Series expanded this year to bring together the vibrant gaming communities of both Thailand and Vietnam.
Designed to bridge the gap between digital eSports and the authentic football experience, this year’s VBL International Series expanded into Southeast Asia in collaboration with local publishers, Garena Thailand and Vietnam.
By leveraging Garena’s massive community of 10 million active users, the series hosted separate tournaments in each country that attracted thousands of grassroots and professional players alike.
Through a mix of digital and physical touchpoints, the Bundesliga remains deeply integrated into the daily lives of fans in Southeast Asia, giving them direct access to the clubs and stars they follow.
The journey now continues for the winners from both Thailand and Vietnam, who will travel to Germany for an exclusive Bundesliga matchday experience, culminating in the season-ending clash between FC Bayern München and 1. FC Köln next month. Since 2012, when the Bundesliga became the first professional football league to have its own esports competition, more than a million players have competed across our digital tournaments, including the Virtual Bundesliga International Series.
