paiN Gaming will enter the Kings League through a new management agreement with the Desimpedidos Esporte Clube (DEC). The strategic partnership, set to commence for the 2026 season, will see paiN Gaming become a co-manager of the DEC team within the gamified football competition founded by Gerard Piqué.

The collaboration forms an independent business unit with its own investor structure and will be open to new sponsors, but existing partners of both organisations are granted a competitive advantage to join the initiative. NWB, which owns the football content-focused Desimpedidos channel, is part of the holding company Ola Sports, a shareholder in the sports channel N Sports.

The visual identity, including the team’s official name and kit, is being developed jointly and will be revealed in early 2026. paiN Gaming will also have input on sporting development and roster planning.

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Thomas Hamence, CEO of paiN Gaming, stated the move connects two engaged communities. “This movement creates a cultural bridge between two passionate universes and offers a unique opportunity to bring together two extremely engaged communities: the loyal base of esports and the vibrant public of the Kings League and Desimpedidos,” the executive said in a press release. He added that the goal is to “expand the league’s reach in Brazil and expand paiN’s presence in new cultural territories.”

This move by paiN Gaming follows other esports organisations involved in the Kings League ecosystem. In Brazil, entities such as FURIA, Fluxo W7M, and G3X—led by CS2 streamer Alexandre “Gaules” Borba—hold teams. European esports organisation G2 also operates a franchise.

In a related development, data analytics firm Esports Charts has renewed its partnership with FURIA, extending the agreement through 2027 with a notable expansion to include FURIA‘s participation in the Kings League Brazil and the Kings World Cup Clubs.

The Kings League Brazil is scheduled to return in the first half of 2026.

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