Saudi Arabia To Host Inaugural Esports Nations Cup In 2026

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), a KSA-based non-profit committed to developing and professionalizing the global esports industry, has unveiled the Esports Nations Cup (ENC), a tournament bringing together the world’s top esports players, where they will battle not only for titles with their clubs, but also for the pride of representing their nations.  

The ENC, the newest addition to the EWCF portfolio, extends the mission of the Esports World Cup—the world’s largest multi-title esports event—into a new layer of global competition. By uniting nations rather than clubs, it introduces a frontier driven by national pride and regional identity. 

ENC’s inaugural edition, which will be co-created alongside leading publishers and game companies like Electronic Arts, Krafton, Tencent, and Ubisoft, is set to debut in Saudi Arabia in November 2026, following which it will adopt a rotating host model, bringing national esports teams to fans and cultures around the world.  

In statement, Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, said, “Nation versus nation competition is the ultimate expression of sport. 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. 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.” 

The announcement of the ENC was made at the New Global Sport Conference in Riyadh, which gathered 1,500 industry leaders to discuss the convergence of gaming, esports, and traditional sports. Set to become a recurring fixture, the ENC marks the largest event of its kind to showcase national pride on the global esports stage. 

The ENC is set to be held every two years, thereby establishing a consistent framework for players, coaches, and esports organizations, while giving publishers, clubs, and partners the confidence to invest in long-term national team programs. 

The tournament will feature national teams from every major region—North America, South America, Europe, MENA, Africa, Asia, and Southeast Asia and Oceania—competing across both team-based and individual formats.  

The ENC will make use of a tiered qualification system designed to balance inclusivity and competitiveness, combining global rankings, regional qualifiers, and wildcard slots, including solidarity placements, to guarantee diverse representation in every title.  

All ENC participants will receive guaranteed prize money, with equal placement rewards across games to ensure fairness. Plus, to shape team formation and representation, the EWCF will collaborate closely with key stakeholders in each region.