The Esports World Cup Foundation has shared news about the Esports Nations Cup 2026 in Riyadh this November. The event will last four weeks and have 16 games, with the teams and solo competitions. Games will come from partners like Electronic Arts, Chess.com, Krafton, MOONTON Games, SNK, Tencent, and Ubisoft, and more may be added later.

Unlike other esports events where clubs play, this tournament focuses on countries. It is meant to show national pride and competition. The organisers said, “The Esports Nations Cup aims to bring the best players from around the globe to represent their country across 16 game titles.”

How countries will qualify

Teams will get into the tournament through a mix of online regional qualifiers and direct invitations. Invitations will depend on how well players do during the season. This system lets strong esports nations qualify while still giving smaller or developing countries a chance to join.

There are strict rules for forming national teams. Countries cannot send a full club team. Instead, they must pick players from different teams to make a real national squad. This helps ensure the best players are chosen and that teams truly represent their country.

Regions expected to take part include North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, Africa, Asia, and SEA and Oceania.

Tournament format and fair play rules

Up to 48 national teams will compete in team games at the Finals, while 32 to 128 players will take part in solo events. Each country can send only one official team and two solo players. Multiple teams from the same country can join early qualifiers, but only one official team can reach the Finals.

Every finalist will play at least three games and will receive prize money. Prizes will be the same for all game titles. The tournament will happen every two years, starting in Riyadh and later moving to other cities.

More information on how countries can apply will be shared soon. The organisers said, “Later this week, we’ll share our roadmap, elaborate on the structure of ENC and detail how nations can apply to participate.”

Saudi esports plans move ahead

The IOC and Saudi Arabia ended their Esports Olympics deal, but the country remains focused on esports. The Esports World Cup grew from a $62.5 million prize fund and 2.6 million visitors in 2024 to $70 million and 3 million attendees in 2025.

The EWCF confirmed that the Esports World Cup 2026 will take place from 6 July to 23 August with 24 game titles. With the addition of the Nations Cup, Saudi Arabia is strengthening its role as a global hub for competitive gaming.