The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has revealed new details about ENC 2026, outlining its structure, national team regulations, and qualification system.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will host the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026, a first-of-its-kind global competition focused on national teams instead of clubs or organizations. Organized by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), the event places national pride at the heart of competition, featuring 16 game titles and spanning four weeks of international play.
National Pride Takes Center Stage
Unlike most esports competitions built around clubs, ENC 2026 introduces a country-based system. Each participating nation will field one official team per title and up to two players for solo events.
The goal is to create a more inclusive and merit-driven tournament, with players chosen from each country’s top eligible talent rather than existing professional organizations. That means powerhouse clubs like T1 or Fnatic will not compete as full squads; instead, rosters will be restructured into mixed national lineups.
All final-stage qualifiers will get to play at least three matches, ensuring meaningful exposure and room for storylines and rivalries to develop on stage. EWCF hopes this format will strengthen long-term national esports programs and foster investment at the country level.
ENC 2026 Format and Game Titles
The event will combine both team-based and solo-player competitions.
- Team events: 24–48 national teams per game
- Solo events: 32–128 individual representatives
- Duration: Four weeks beginning November 2026
Every match will feature balanced prize pools and equal opportunities for participants, regardless of game title.
ENC 2026 is expected to collaborate with several industry giants, including Electronic Arts, Krafton, Tencent, MOONTON Games, SNK, Ubisoft, and Chess.com, indicating likely titles such as PUBG: Battlegrounds, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Chess.com’s global ladder.
ENC 2026 Qualification Path: Open & Direct
EWCF confirmed that qualification for the event will be split 50/50 between direct invitations and open regional qualifiers.
- Direct Invitations: Top-performing countries based on seasonal rankings in each respective esports title will qualify automatically.
- Open Qualifiers: Emerging and smaller regions can enter through region-specific online competitions, ensuring global inclusivity.
- Wildcards: Select regions may receive wildcards for outstanding performances or developmental progress during the qualification window.
This balance between direct and open pathways aims to provide every country, from traditional powerhouses like South Korea to emerging challengers like India, a realistic shot at the finals stage.
National Team Rules
To prevent dominance from club lineups, full team rosters from a single organization are prohibited. Each country’s esports authority or designated federation will conduct trials or internal qualifiers to select its official national teams and solo representatives.
- 1 Official Team per Title
- 2 Solo Players per Game (max)
- Internal qualifiers may include multiple teams during early selection stages, but only one will represent each nation in the finals.
EWCF has confirmed that the Esports Nations Cup will be held every two years, with future editions adopting a rotating host-city model to grow national esports ecosystems worldwide.
As for 2026, all eyes are on Riyadh. The host city, already established as a major hub for global esports through the Esports World Cup, will see nations compete for pride, glory, and the chance to prove that their country truly reigns supreme in digital sports.