Esports World Cup Foundation unveils Esports Nations Cup for 2026 debut

Esports World Cup Foundation unveils Esports Nations Cup for 2026 debut

RIYADH — Esports fans have a new global spectacle to look forward to as the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announces the Esports Nations Cup (ENC), a biennial tournament that brings the spirit of country-versus-country competition into the esports arena.

The Esports World Cup 2025’s final weekend saw the announcement made during the New Global Sport Conference.

Unlike traditional club-based leagues, the ENC will spotlight national pride, with players representing their home countries across multiple titles.

“Nation versus nation competition is the ultimate expression of sport,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the EWCF. “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.”

The EWCF confirmed that Electronic Arts, KRAFTON, Tencent, and Ubisoft will anchor the first edition. Each publisher will help design ranking systems, qualification pathways, and formats tailored to their titles. The Foundation emphasized that this collaborative model would ensure the ENC resonates with communities while setting new standards for competitive integrity.

“It’s a stage to create heroes, inspire the next generation, and, together with our partners and stakeholders, build the national ecosystems that will accelerate the growth of esports worldwide,” Reichert added.

Participation will span all major regions, including North America, South America, Europe, MENA, Africa, Asia, and Southeast Asia & Oceania. Qualification will come through a blend of global rankings, regional qualifiers, and wildcard slots. This guarantees both powerhouse nations and rising esports regions have representation.

In a nod to fairness and sustainability, the EWCF also announced that all participants will receive guaranteed prize money. Meanwhile, there will also be equal placement rewards across every game.

The ENC will begin its journey in Riyadh in November 2026. After the inaugural edition, it will adopt a rotating host-country model similar to the Olympics and FIFA World Cup. This model underlines its ambition to become one of the cornerstones of international esports.

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Drew Malihan

Drew sucks at FPS games but loves watching PUBG and VALORANT. He found his way into esports through MLBB and HOK, and will die on the hill that Football Manager and even Excel deserve to be esports titles—despite not being good at any of them.

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