The Esports Nations Cup (ENC) has been announced as a significant event at the New Global Sport Conference held in Riyadh. Following the Esports World Cup, this tournament series aims to elevate national team competitions to a new level.
Unveiled on August 23, 2025, the ENC is slated to kick off next year. Major industry players such as Electronic Arts, Tencent, Ubisoft, and Krafton are among the partners working to advance this competition.
Here’s what you need to know about the Esports Nations Cup, including the timeline, featured games, hosting details, and more.
When Will the Esports Nations Cup Begin?
The Esports Nations Cup is set to begin in November 2026 and will occur every two years thereafter. The precise starting date has not yet been disclosed.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will host the first edition of the ENC, with future events rotating locations to bring national esports teams closer to fans around the globe.
Regions and Games Participating in the ENC
National teams from all significant regions will compete in the tournament. This includes representatives from North America, South America, Europe, MENA, Africa, Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.
As of now, the specific games to be featured have not been announced. Given that EA, Tencent, Ubisoft, and Krafton are key collaborators, we can anticipate competitions involving titles like EA Sports FC, PUBG, and Rainbow Six Siege X, along with other well-regarded games such as League of Legends, Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2, VALORANT, Overwatch 2, Street Fighter 6, and more.
Format of the Esports Nations Cup
The ENC will incorporate both team-based and individual formats. The competition structure will include a multi-tier qualification system consisting of global rankings, regional qualifiers, and wildcard entries.
Participants will be assured of prize money, with equal rewards for placements across all games to maintain fairness. The Esports World Cup Foundation will collaborate closely with regional stakeholders to assemble the teams.
