Esports Nations Cup to start 2026 in Riyadh

The Esports World Cup Foundation announced a sweeping expansion to its global calendar with the Esports Nations Cup (ENC), a new biannual competition designed for national teams across major regions. Set to begin in November 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the ENC will be co-developed with leading publishers and games-makers and will feature both team-based and solo-player formats. Organizers say the event is intended to strengthen national pride in esports and to complement the existing Esports World Cup by providing a recurring, country-centered platform for competition.

The ENC is planned as a high-profile, multi-title tournament with broad regional participation. Nations from regions including North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, Africa, Asia, and Southeast Asia/Oceania will field national squads. Qualification will blend global rankings, regional qualifiers, and wildcard entries, with rosters capped to balance schedules and ensure broad participation. Importantly, prize money is to be distributed evenly across all games featured in the ENC, reflecting a commitment to fairness across titles rather than privileging a single product. The...