Esports Nations Cup to Launch Global National Team Format

• The Esports Nations Cup will debut in 2026, bringing national teams to the global esports stage with support from major publishers and recurring events.

A New Era of National Representation in Esports

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has announced the Esports Nations Cup (ENC), a new international tournament where players will compete not only for their clubs but also for their countries. This marks the first recurring national team competition in esports at such a scale, introducing a format that emphasizes national pride and structured global participation. The event aims to create a platform where players represent their nations in both team and solo formats, fostering a broader sense of identity within the esports community. According to EWCF CEO Ralf Reichert, the ENC is designed to inspire fans and players alike while contributing to the development of national esports ecosystems.

The inaugural edition will be co-developed with leading game publishers including Electronic Arts, Krafton, Tencent, and Ubisoft. These companies will help define ranking systems, qualification methods, and competition formats tailored to their respective games. Their involvement ensures that the tournament reflects the unique characteristics and competitive standards of each title. By aligning with these partners, the ENC seeks to maintain integrity and relevance across diverse gaming communities.

Inclusive Structure and Global Reach

National teams from regions such as North America, South America, Europe, MENA, Africa, Asia, and SEA & Oceania will participate in the ENC. A multi-tiered qualification system will combine global rankings, regional qualifiers, and wildcard entries to ensure broad representation. Solidarity placements will be included to promote inclusivity and give emerging regions a chance to compete. All participants will receive guaranteed prize money, with equal placement rewards across games to maintain fairness.

The ENC will be held biennially, offering a predictable framework for players, coaches, and organizations to plan long-term. This regularity also provides stability for publishers and partners to invest in national team programs. The format is intended to complement existing club-based competitions by adding a layer of national identity. With recurring events, the ENC aims to become a fixture in the global esports calendar.

Launch and Industry Reception

The first edition of the ENC is scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November 2026. Future tournaments will adopt a rotating host model, allowing different countries to showcase their esports cultures and fanbases. The announcement was made at the New Global Sport Conference in Riyadh, where 1,500 industry leaders gathered to discuss the intersection of gaming, esports, and traditional sports. This setting underscores the growing recognition of esports as a legitimate and structured form of international competition.

As part of the EWCF portfolio, the ENC builds on the foundation laid by the Esports World Cup, which focuses on club-level competition across multiple titles. The Nations Cup introduces a new dimension by emphasizing regional representation and national pride. By involving major publishers and establishing a recurring format, the ENC is positioned to influence how esports evolves on the global stage. Its debut signals a shift toward more formalized and inclusive international esports structures.