The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has announced the Esports Nations Cup (ENC), a major international tournament that will bring together top esports players to represent their countries on a global stage. The tournament was unveiled at the New Global Sport Conference in Riyadh and will debut in November 2026, before adopting a rotating host-city model.
The ENC will be developed with major game publishers, including Electronic Arts, Krafton, Tencent and Ubisoft, featuring tailored qualification and ranking systems. Teams from regions such as the Americas, Europe, MENA, Africa, Asia, and Southeast Asia & Oceania will compete across team and individual events.
A multi-level qualification system will combine global rankings, regional qualifiers and Wildcard entries, ensuring a diverse and competitive lineup. Equal placement rewards will also be provided to players across all games to ensure fairness.
The ENC will be held every two years, providing a stable platform for players, coaches and national federations while encouraging long-term investment from publishers, clubs and sponsors.
Building on the success of the Esports World Cup, the ENC will shift the focus from global clubs to national teams and identity, bringing esports closer to traditional sports.
