Esports Nations Cup Announced for 2026: 100+ Countries, 15 games, one stage

After the success of the Esports World Cup featuring some of the best organizations, the EWCF now plans to organize an even bigger fiesta — the Esports Nations Cup.

In November 2026, the best esports athletes from around the world will gather in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, donning their national colors.

What do we know about the Esports Nations Cup?

At the New Global Sport Conference 2025, the EWCF officially announced the Esports Nations Cup, a tournament featuring national teams.

“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.”

- said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation

Key Details:

• First edition hosted by Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Features 15 games
• 100+ participating nations from all major regions
• Starts November 2026
• Qualification model to balance competitiveness and inclusivity
• Co-developed with EA, Krafton, Tencent, and Ubisoft
• Organized every 2 years with rotating hosts

The ambitious project aims to put esports on the same global scale as traditional sports, bringing fans and athletes together under one banner. The ENC will allow countries to compete with their best esports talent, elevating competition across every title on a much larger stage.

As Mohammed Alnimer, Chief Commercial Officer of the EWCF, explained:

"My personal dream is to see the new Zinedine Zidane in France come out of esports, the new Maradona in Argentina come out of esports, the new Michael Phelps in the US come out of esports."

With such an exciting introduction — and if executed properly — the new event could become the biggest esports fiesta of 2026.

Additional details regarding the games, qualification process, and participating nations will be announced at a later date. Stay tuned to Strafe for the latest updates on the Esports Nations Cup.

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Featured Image Credits: EWCF