The PUBG Mobile Esports Nations Cup 2026 takes place from November 3 to 8 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It features 32 national teams competing for a $1.32 million prize pool.
The PUBG Mobile Esports Nations Cup 2026 is part of the first Esports Nations Cup overall. This event happens in Riyadh and includes national teams instead of regular club teams. PUBG Mobile joins 15 other games hosted by the Esports World Cup Foundation.
PUBG Mobile Esports Nations Cup 2026 Schedule
The PMENC 2026 tournament runs for six days. The Group Stage starts on November 3 and goes through November 5. Then the Grand Finals take place from November 6 to November 8. It fits into the larger Esports Nations Cup that spans the whole month of November.
PUBG Mobile Esports Nations Cup 2026 Format
Thirty-two teams from around the world compete in the Group Stage first. Organisers divide them into four groups with eight teams in each group. Every team plays nine matches during this round-robin stage. The top four teams from each group move on to the Grand Finals.
In the Grand Finals, those 16 teams play up to 18 matches total. They use a points system called the Smash rule to decide the winner. This format gives everyone a fair shot at the top spot.
Prize Pool Details
The total prize pool for PUBG Mobile at this event comes to $1.32 million. Exact payout details have not come out yet. Top finishing teams and their countries will share the money based on final rankings.
Who Qualifies and How
Teams earn their spots through different paths. Sixteen teams receive direct invitations. Twelve of those come from the PUBG Mobile National Team Rankings, and four are special invites.
The other 16 spots come from qualifiers. Fourteen teams qualify through regional events, and two get wildcard entries. Regional qualifiers happen July 10 to 12 across eight areas of the world.
Here are the regional slots:
- North and Central America get 2 slots.
- South America gets 1 slot.
- Europe West gets 2 slots.
- Eastern Europe and Central Asia get 2 slots.
- Middle East and North Africa get 2 slots.
- Central and Southern Africa get 2 slots.
- East and South Asia get 1 slot.
- Southeast Asia and Oceania get 2 slots.
The National Team Rankings use points from big 2025 and 2026 events like the World Cup, Global Championship, and Global Open. Points get shared among teammates on national rosters. The cutoff date for rankings is June 7, 2026.
Well, this event focuses on countries competing against each other. Fans cheer for their nation instead of just clubs. It builds excitement around national pride in esports.
PUBG Mobile has a strong history with national formats. Last year's Esports World Cup had teams from 23 countries. Myanmar's Yangon Galacticos won big by beating Brazil. Now, the teams prepare through spring regional tournaments, and success there builds rankings and qualifier chances.