The Esports Nations Cup will be held in November 2026
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has announced that the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) will be held in Riyadh in November 2026. Commenting on the event, Esports World Cup Foundation CEO Ralf Reichert said, “International competition is the ultimate expression of sport. The ENC is making this a reality for esports, giving every fan a flag to support and every player the pride of representing their country. This is a stage to build heroes, inspire future generations, and, together with our partners and stakeholders, build national ecosystems that will accelerate the growth of esports worldwide.”
According to a statement, the inaugural edition will be developed in partnership with publishers and video game companies Electronic Arts, Krafton, Tencent, and Ubisoft. These partners provide the scale and insight necessary to create a global competition environment for national teams that reflects the values and integrity of each game. Each will help shape their games' national ranking systems, qualification pathways, and event formats, ensuring the ENC resonates with its fans and meets the highest competitive standards.
The ENC will feature national teams from all major regions, including North America, South America, Europe, MENA, Africa, Asia, and Southeast Asia & Oceania, competing in both team-based and single-player formats. A multi-tiered elimination model will balance competitiveness and inclusivity; combining global rankings, regional qualifiers, and Wildcard entries, including solidarity placements, will ensure a broad and representative competitive landscape across each game. All players will receive guaranteed prize money, and equal ranking rewards will be awarded across all games, ensuring fairness for players. The Esports World Cup Foundation will collaborate with relevant stakeholders in each region to shape how teams are formed and represented.
The ENC will be held every two years and will provide a reliable structure for players, coaches and esports organisations, providing the confidence for broadcasters, clubs and partners to invest in long-term national team programmes.
UAV
Reporter: News Center
İstanbul Gazetesi
