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Esports Nations Cup 2026 Adds VALORANT to the Lineup

Esports Nations Cup 2026 Adds VALORANT to the Lineup

Kaustavmani Choudhury

Kaustavmani Choudhury

20 Feb, 2026, 15:37

The Esports World Cup Foundation has officially announced that VALORANT will join the competitive lineup for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC), scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 8–15, 2026. Serving as one of 16 featured titles, VALORANT’s inclusion marks another milestone in its growing global esports legacy.

32 Nations, One Champion

The ENC’s VALORANT event will bring together 32 national teams, each featuring five of the best players from their respective countries. For years, fans have debated which region truly reigns supreme in competitive VALORANT, and this tournament may finally provide the answer.

Tournament Schedule and Format

The VALORANT competition kicks off on November 8, with the grand final closing out the event on November 15.

The group stage will feature four groups of eight teams in a round-robin format.
The top four teams from each group will progress to a 16‑team single‑elimination playoff.

Group stage matches will be best‑of‑1, playoff matches best‑of‑3, and the grand final best‑of‑5.

ENC 2026 VALORANT Format (Image Source: EWCF)

ENC 2026 VALORANT Format (Image Source: EWCF)

Ranking and Qualification System

A mix of direct invitations and regional qualifiers will determine the 32 national teams.

16 teams will receive direct invites based on the newly created VALORANT National Team Rankings, which will aggregate points from official VCT events, with, points equally shared across all teammates
14 teams will earn their spots through regional qualifiers held from June 26–28, 2026, across North America, South America, Europe, MENA, Asia, and SEA + Oceania, with each region getting 2 slots each.
The remaining two slots will be allocated as Wildcards.

The ranking cut‑off date is June 21, 2026, giving nations time to finalize their rosters.

VALORANT’s Esports World Cup Legacy

VALORANT made its Esports World Cup debut in 2025, delivering a memorable tournament that saw Team Heretics make history by overcoming Fnatic in a stunning reverse sweep to secure gold. With 22 nations represented last year, the ENC’s national pride format promises to push competitive intensity even higher in 2026.

As VALORANT joins the Esports Nations Cup’s debut edition, fans can look forward to a global showdown that celebrates talent, teamwork, and the spirit of international competition.

Check out Strafe Esports for all the latest Esports Nations Cup news and our X account for the latest content and coverage. Also, stay tuned to Strafe YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.

Featured Image Credit: EWCF

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