PUBG Mobile Global Open 2026 Season 1 runs June 2-7 in Southeast Asia with 32 teams competing for $500,000, but India, Korea, Japan, and China miss out on slots.
PMGO 2026 Season 1 dates and format dropped. The tournament hits Southeast Asia from June 2 to 7 with 32 teams fighting for $500,000. But here's the shocker. India gets zero slots despite returning to PMGC 2025 after three years away.
Regional Slots Distribution for PMGO 2026 Season 1
The PMGO 2026 Season 1 slots are spread across nine regions. Here's the complete breakdown:
- Middle East & North Africa (MENA): 6 slots
- Southeast Asia (SEA): 5 slots
- Turkey: 5 slots
- Eastern Europe & Central Asia (EECA): 4 slots
- Americas: 4 slots
- South Asia (SA): 3 slots
- Host Country: 2 slots
- Western Europe (WEU): 2 slots
- Africa: 1 slot
MENA dominates with the most slots. Southeast Asia and Turkey follow close behind. India, Korea, Japan, and China don't appear anywhere on this list.
Why India's Exclusion Stings
Indian teams returned to the global PUBG Mobile competition at PMGC 2025 in Thailand. True Rippers and Orangutan represented the country after nearly three years away. They didn't dominate the competition, but their presence boosted viewership numbers significantly.
Fans expected India to secure spots at PMGO 2026 Season 1 based on that momentum. The slot distribution crushed those hopes. Traditional powerhouses like Korea, Japan, and China also miss this edition, making the exclusion feel less targeted but still disappointing for Indian fans.
PMGO 2026 Season 1 Tournament Format Breakdown
PMGO 2026 Season 1 uses a three-stage format across six days.
- Group Stage happens June 2-3. The 32 teams are split into two groups.
- The top six from each group jump straight to the Grand Finals.
- Teams placing 7th to 14th advance to the Survival Stage. The rest go home.
- Survival Stage runs June 4. Sixteen teams (eight per group) battle through six matches for four Grand Finals spots.
- Twelve teams get eliminated here. Pressure peaks because one bad day ends your tournament.
- Grand Finals take place June 6-7.
- Sixteen teams (twelve from the Group Stage, four from the Survival) compete across twelve matches.
- The winner claims championship glory and the biggest share of the $500,000 prize pool.
Two Seasons Planned for 2026
Organizers Level Infinite and Krafton plan two PMGO seasons this year. Season 1 happens in Southeast Asia, though the exact host country remains unannounced.
Season 2 heads to Pakistan later in 2026. This gives more regions chances to host and creates two peak competition periods instead of one.
Last year's PMGO happened in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Regnum Carya Esports from Turkey won that edition. Turkey gets five slots this time, showing strong regional performance, and gets rewarded.
Regional Qualifiers Coming Soon
Details about regional qualifiers will drop soon. Top performers from each region earn their PMGO 2026 Season 1 spots through these qualifiers.
South Asia gets three slots total. Countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka will fight for those spots since India isn't competing. Expect fierce battles as regional rivals grab the opportunity.
Well, the absence of Indian teams at PMGO 2026 Season 1 disappoints the massive Indian PUBG Mobile community. After PMGC 2025 showed how much Indian participation boosts engagement, this feels like a step backwards.
However, the regional qualifiers start soon across participating zones. So, teams prepare strategies while fans mark calendars for June 2. Southeast Asia hosts the action with 32 teams chasing glory and half a million dollars.