Esports World Cup Foundation Launches Esports Nations Cup for 2026

Esports is about to gain a new dimension. The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has revealed the Esports Nations Cup (ENC), a biannual tournament where the best players in the world will not only represent their professional clubs but also compete for their countries. The first edition is set to debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November 2026.

Good to know

• The ENC is the first global nation-versus-nation esports event at this scale.
• Major publishers including Electronic Arts, Krafton, Tencent, and Ubisoft will co-develop the format.
• The tournament will run every two years, with rotating host countries after Riyadh.

National Pride Meets Esports

The ENC brings a new layer to esports by adding national identity into the competitive scene. According to Ralf Reichert, CEO of EWCF:

“Nation versus nation competition is the ultimate expression of sport. The ENC makes this a reality for esports, giving every fan a flag to rally behind and every player the pride of representing their country.”

Reichert added that the ENC will not only inspire new generations of players but also help build national ecosystems that can drive long-term esports growth worldwide.

Built With Global Publishers

The first tournament will be co-developed with four of the biggest game publishers—EA, Krafton, Tencent, and Ubisoft—each responsible for shaping their game’s qualification systems, rankings, and competition formats. This partnership ensures that the event aligns with both fan expectations and the competitive standards of each title.

Teams will represent regions across the globe, including North America, South America, Europe, MENA, Africa, Asia, and SEA & Oceania. The qualification model mixes global rankings, regional qualifiers, and Wildcard entries, including solidarity placements to ensure inclusivity.

Prize distribution is structured for fairness: every player will receive guaranteed prize money, with equal placement rewards across all games. The EWCF also plans to work with stakeholders in each country to determine how national rosters are formed.

A New Era of Competition

The ENC will be hosted every two years, giving stability to players, coaches, and organizations while also providing confidence for clubs, publishers, and sponsors to invest in long-term national programs.

The competition expands EWCF’s portfolio beyond the Esports World Cup, the world’s largest multi-title event, by introducing a stage where national pride takes center stage. While the World Cup celebrates clubs, the Nations Cup puts country representation at the forefront.

The inaugural Esports Nations Cup will begin in Riyadh in November 2026, before shifting to a rotating host model that brings national esports competition to different cultures and regions worldwide.