The inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC) has been postponed until November 2027. The international competition was originally scheduled to debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November 2026, bringing together national esports teams from around the world.
The Esports Foundation said the decision followed an assessment of the situation in the region and consultations with National Team Partners, game publishers and other stakeholders involved in the tournament.
The scale of the project was a major factor in the decision. The ENC framework already includes National Team Partners and representatives across more than 100 countries and territories, making the event one of the largest attempts to establish a unified national-team structure in competitive gaming. Earlier this year, organizers said they had received more than 630 applications from over 150 countries and territories while building the tournament’s international network.
Saudi Arabia remains the planned host of the inaugural tournament. According to the organizers, the postponement does not represent a change in the long-term strategy for the competition, while other major sporting and entertainment events in the country continue as scheduled.
Esports Foundation CEO Ralf Reichert said the organization intends to use the additional year to continue working with publishers and National Team Partners while strengthening the national ecosystems being built around the competition.
«The decision to postpone ENC was not taken lightly. The response from National Team Partners, publishers, players and communities around the world has demonstrated the potential of this competition. We have a responsibility to deliver the first ENC under the right conditions and at the standard this concept deserves.»
Reichert added that moving the event to Riyadh in 2027 does not alter the foundation’s commitment to the project, with investment in national-team programs and cooperation with publishers expected to continue ahead of the rescheduled tournament.
ENC aims to establish national-team esports on a global scale
Unlike the traditional club-based structure that dominates professional esports, the Esports Nations Cup was designed around national representation, allowing leading players to compete under their country’s flag.
The organizers describe ENC as a recurring multi-title global competition intended to complement existing club tournaments rather than replace them. Its national structure is designed to create additional pathways for players, support domestic esports ecosystems and give audiences a competition built around international rivalries and national representation.
The original 2026 program was set to feature 16 titles, including Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, League of Legends, VALORANT, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, PUBG, PUBG Mobile, Rainbow Six Siege, Rocket League, Apex Legends and EA Sports FC 26.
Ukraine is among the countries already integrated into the ENC structure. The Ukrainian Esports Federation (UESF) was selected as the country’s official National Team Partner, responsible for supporting Ukraine’s representation within the competition.
UESF CEO Andrii Hryshchenko described the postponement as difficult but understandable given the uncertainty surrounding the region.
«It is a very difficult decision for the organizers, but one we understand. Instability in the region makes it impossible to guarantee safety for everyone or predict every possible scenario. Ukrainian esports players know how difficult it is to continue doing what you love during wartime.»
Hryshchenko noted that Ukrainian players had continued competing through the qualification process and said the additional year could give both the organizers and national teams more time to prepare for the tournament.
He also argued that ENC has already established itself as an ambitious international national-team project and expects new initiatives and organizational improvements to be introduced before the competition returns in 2027.
Ukraine’s participation is being coordinated by UESF, which develops national esports programs and represents the country in international competition. The federation is headed by president Maksym Krippa, a Ukrainian entrepreneur and investor whose esports portfolio also includes NAVI.
The Esports Foundation is expected to work with its National Team Partners and publishers over the coming weeks before announcing an updated qualification calendar and other changes resulting from the postponement.
The first Esports Nations Cup is now scheduled to take place in Riyadh in November 2027.
