The Esports World Cup Foundation has shared significant details on the format and qualifiers for its inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC).
Taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November, the event sees national teams taking to the stage to compete across a variety of titles.
The inaugural edition of the ENC will feature 16 titles played across four weeks, featuring a mixture of team-based and solo formats developed in collaboration with the event’s partners. The likes of Chess.com, SNK, and MOONTON Games are already confirmed as game partners.
According to the Esports World Cup Foundation, team competitions will involve between 24 to 48 national teams for each title, with solo tournaments featuring anywhere between 32 to 128 players. To ensure balanced representation, each team will be represented by one national team per title, and a maximum of two players per title for solo events.
According to a release, half of the national teams and players will receive direct invitations to compete at the Esports Nations Cup, based on ‘the competitive performance’ of players from those respective countries across the season in each game title. The remaining teams will earn places through open regional qualifiers taking place online.
Notably, full rosters representing an esports organisation are not allowed to compete as a national team. The Esports World Cup Foundation says the approach is to ensure that national teams are built around ‘merit, diversity of representation, and national identity’.
Players who successfully qualify for the Finals are guaranteed to compete in a minimum of three matches in their respective title.
Esports Nations Cup 2026 Format
Information on exact formats, dates, and how players can qualify for the ENC Finals will appear in the coming weeks. In addition to the format, the Esports World Cup Foundation will reveal the full list of titles featured at the event.
The ENC will take place every two years and use a rotating host city model to support the viability of national esports team initiatives across the world.
