| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Sport | Esports |
| Location | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| Dates | November 2026– |
| Administrator | Esports World Cup Foundation |
Tournament format(s) | National teams; qualification via global rankings, regional qualifiers, wildcards and solidarity slots |
| Host(s) | Saudi Arabia |
| Venue(s) | Riyadh |
| Participants | National teams from North America, South America, Europe, MENA, Africa, Asia, Southeast Asia & Oceania |
| Website | esportsnationscup |
| Most recent tournament | |
| 2026 Esports Nations Cup | |
Esports Nations Cup (ENC) is an upcoming international, multi-title esports tournament in which national teams compete. The event is organised by the Riyadh-based Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) [1] and is planned to be held every two years. [2] It was announced during the New Global Sport Conference in Riyadh in late August 2025, with the inaugural finals scheduled for November 2026 in Riyadh before rotating to other host cities. [3] The first edition is being co-developed with video-game publishers Electronic Arts, Krafton, Tencent and Ubisoft. [4]
It was reported that the organisers planned a rotating host model and publisher involvement for a November 2026 debut in Riyadh. [5] Additional coverage stated that the event was set for November 2026, [6] noted the announcement details, [7] and highlighted the Riyadh 2026 debut. [8]
It was further reported that Saudi Arabia would host the inaugural tournament in 2026, [9] with expectations of more than 1,500 players taking part. [10] Other reporting described anticipated participation from over 100 nations across roughly 15 titles, with about 1,500 players qualifying to the finals. [11] One feature framed the event as offering top competitors the chance to represent their countries rather than their clubs, [12] while another noted the biennial schedule and rotating-host approach. [13]
The Nations Cup follows the expansion of the EWCF’s flagship Esports World Cup. [14]
According to the organisers, the ENC will feature national teams from North America, South America, Europe, the MENA region, Africa, Asia and Southeast Asia & Oceania. Qualification is planned to use a multi-layered pathway combining global rankings, regional qualifiers, wildcards and solidarity placements. The EWCF says it will work with national stakeholders to set team structures, and that players will receive guaranteed prize money with equal placement rewards across games. The event will run biennially, debuting in Riyadh in November 2026 before moving to a rotating host model. The inaugural edition is being co-developed with Electronic Arts, Krafton, Tencent and Ubisoft. [15]
An analysis by Mike Stubbs argued that a nation-versus-nation format could "actually make national competition work" in esports if execution and game selection align with fan interest. [16] Another piece welcomed the concept but noted that key details—such as the final list of games, qualification specifics and national team governance—had not yet been fully disclosed at launch. [17]
