USA Esports, KeSPA agree coach and training exchange

USA Esports and the Korea e-Sports Association (KeSPA) signed a memorandum of understanding in Seoul to cooperate on national team selection, coach and delegation exchanges, scholastic esports programs, coaching and officials training, competition operations and knowledge sharing.

The agreement was signed at KeSPA headquarters and facilitated by SXNGA. Jesse Bodony, president and CEO of USA Esports, and KeSPA president Alex Youngman Kim signed the MOU, which lists areas of cooperation including national team selection systems, youth and scholastic programs, training for coaches and match officials, and operational collaboration for events.

Under the MOU, coaches and officials from one organisation may travel to the other to run training sessions for players or to train match officials. Staff experienced in staging large-scale events will share operational processes and event-management experience.

USA Esports expects the partnership to create official-level opportunities for American players, coaches and referees to receive international training, align with global competition standards and connect with South Korea’s esports community.

Bodony described KeSPA as having “decades of experience building infrastructure and operating as a national governing body,” and said the United States has developed “one of the most robust scholastic esports ecosystems in the world,” which USA Esports plans to share with Korean partners. He added that the organisations aim to grow together through the exchange.

Kim called the agreement a strategic, complementary partnership and highlighted its relevance to KeSPA’s priorities. He said the alliance will provide momentum for the expansion of scholastic esports, a project included in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s long-term development plan. Kim added, “We look forward to your interest and support as our two representative organizations unveil various collaborative models together.”

Both organisations are involved in selecting national teams for international events. The MOU names them as official national team partners for competitions such as the Esports Nations Cup. USA Esports launched as a non-profit national body two months ago and is working toward recognition as a National Governing Body. KeSPA is a government-backed body with roughly two decades of experience in South Korea’s esports industry.

Officials said next steps could include coordinated coaching clinics, shared referee certification standards and joint planning for international competitions. The agreement formalises exchanges that have typically taken place through private teams, tournaments and independent training programs rather than between national governing bodies.