Team Aryan x TMG Esports Qualifies for PMWC 2025 — But Will Visa Hurdles Ground India’s Hopes Again?

Team Aryan x TMG Esports Qualifies for PMWC 2025

Team Aryan x TMG Esports has earned the right to represent India at the PUBG Mobile World Cup (PMWC) 2025 in Riyadh by winning the Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series (BMPS) 2025. It’s a proud moment for the team and the country—but there’s a familiar, looming issue that’s haunted Indian esports time and again: visa delays.

While the team has conquered the battlefield, their next major challenge might not be in-game—it could come at the embassy.

Visa Woes in Indian Esports: A Troubling History

Indian esports athletes have faced repeated setbacks when it comes to international travel, even after qualifying for global tournaments.

Let’s look at some key incidents that highlight the problem:

• PMCO Berlin 2019:

  • Indian PUBG Mobile teams—Team SOUL, TeamIND, and Indian Tigers—qualified for the PUBG Mobile Club Open (PMCO) preliminaries in Germany.

  • All three teams were denied visas due to concerns over “risk of overstay” and the absence of a formal esports authority.

  • As a result, they had to compete from India with high ping, significantly impacting performance.

  • Additionally, popular Indian gaming influencers Gareebooo and Rawknee, voted to participate in the PUBG Mobile Star Challenge (PMSC) in Berlin, also faced visa rejections.

• Pokémon Unite World Series, Japan 2023:

  • FS Esports, an Indian team, was unable to participate in the Pokémon Unite World Series held in Yokohama, Japan, due to visa issues.

  • Meanwhile, another Indian team, S8UL Esports, successfully obtained visas at the last moment and participated in the event.

• Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Pacific League, South Korea 2023:

  • Indian players from Global Esports, Ganesh "SkRossi" Gangadhar and Abhirup "Lightningfast" Choudhury, faced visa delays that prevented them from participating in the initial matches of the VCT Pacific League in Seoul, South Korea.

• COD Mobile Masters São Paulo, Brazil 2024:

  • GodLike Esports was scheduled to participate but couldn’t secure Brazilian visas in time.

  • According to the team’s management, a 15-day embassy processing backlog made travel impossible.

  • GodLike’s withdrawal was a significant blow, as they were coming off a strong performance as runners-up in the COD Mobile World Championship 2023. Brazil’s INCO Gaming replaced them in the tournament.

• COD Mobile Masters Shanghai, China 2025: 

  • In 2025, Jash "Learn" Shah, the captain of GodLike Esports, was unable to participate in the Playoffs of the COD Mobile China Masters 2025 Season 9 in Shanghai due to a visa rejection for China.

  • Despite Learn’s absence, GodLike Esports performed strongly, finishing third and winning approximately $31,000 (¥225,000).

These examples aren’t isolated—they reflect an ongoing mismatch between the rapid growth of esports and outdated visa processes.

Why Esports Athletes Struggle With Visas

While traditional sports players often get fast-tracked visas, esports athletes are typically treated as regular tourists or general workers. This creates multiple bureaucratic roadblocks.

Common visa issues faced by Indian esports players:

• Inadequate visa categories:

  • No official classification for “esports athlete” in many embassies’ systems.

  • Athletes are often processed under generic tourist or business categories.

• Excessive documentation requirements:

  • Embassies demand bank statements, proof of financial support, letters of invitation, and travel assurances.

  • These documents are sometimes issued late by tournament organizers or rejected due to technicalities.

• Lack of esports recognition:

  • Unlike cricket or Olympic sports, esports still lacks full-fledged institutional support in India.

  • There’s no official governing body to vouch for players at the consular level.

• Uneven treatment compared to global peers:

  • Countries like South Korea and the U.S. offer expedited visas for esports pros.

  • Indian players are often left navigating the red tape on their own.

Will Team Aryan x TMG Make It to Riyadh?

Winning BMPS 2025 is a major milestone for Team Aryan x TMG, but their journey won’t truly begin until they land in Riyadh for the PMWC.

Thankfully, the situation looks more promising this time. The Esports World Cup Foundation has recently formed several key partnerships within the Indian esports ecosystem—most notably with Krafton India Esports to secure India’s slot in the PMWC. These collaborations, along with tie-ups involving NODWIN Gaming and Team S8UL, point to a stronger and more streamlined relationship between Indian stakeholders and the Saudi organizers.

On top of that, Saudi Arabia has emerged as one of the more esports-friendly countries, offering athlete-specific visa categories, faster processing, and official recognition for competitive gamers. With these systems already in place—and clear lines of communication now established—it’s looking increasingly likely that Team Aryan x TMG won’t have to battle visa delays this time around.

However, if they’re grounded due to paperwork, it will be a painful déjà vu—another chapter in India’s ongoing visa saga.