EWCF Unveils New Esports Competitions for National Teams

The Esports Nations Cup of the Esports World Cup Foundation will kick off in November 2026 in Riyadh and will then take place every two years at different locations. Confirmed partners include Electronic Arts, Krafton, Tencent, and Ubisoft.

The announcement was made during the New Global Sport Conference in Riyadh: EWCF has announced that the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) will be held for the first time in November 2026. This is a new esports format in which esports athletes do not compete for their respective clubs and organizations, but as representatives of their country. The ENC is therefore similar to a soccer World Cup, while the Esports World Cup is more like the Club World Cup or the Olympic Games.

"Nation versus nation competition is the ultimate expression of sport," said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation. "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."

The EWCF has already secured four publishers as partners for ENC 2026: Electronic Arts, Tencent, Krafton, and Ubisoft. According to the EWCF, the partners will help shape their game's national ranking systems, qualification pathways, and event formats, ensuring the ENC resonates with their fans and meets the standards of competition.

Teams from all over the world will participate in the ENC in solo player and team-based formats. A multi-tiered qualification system with global rankings, regional qualifiers, and wildcard spots will ensure a balance between competition and inclusivity. All players will receive guaranteed prize money. The EWCF plans to work closely with various stakeholders to finalize the details.

Although the ENC will be held for the first time in Riyadh in 2026, it is then intended to take place every two years at different locations. In terms of timing, the ENC will take place between the next Esports World Cup, which is expected in summer 2026, and the first Olympic Esports Games, which the IOC is organizing together with its partners, the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC) and the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), also in Riyadh in 2027.

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