Esports Nations Cup 2026: Every Confirmed Game and Publisher

The Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026 is scheduled for November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Organized by the EWCF, the inaugural competition features 16 game titles and over 120 participating nations. Unlike the club-centric Esports World Cup (EWC), the ENC is a biennial tournament centered on national team representation. The event structure includes direct invites based on global rankings and regional qualifiers held throughout the year.

Seven founding publishers are currently confirmed for the tournament: Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Tencent, Krafton, Moonton Games, SNK, and Chess.com. While Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is the only title officially announced to date, these partnerships confirm the involvement of major industry franchises.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) is the first game confirmed for the Esports Nations Cup 2026. From November 23 to 29, 32 national teams will compete in Riyadh for a $1,500,000 prize pool. The top 16 nations receive direct invites based on the August 2nd ranking, while the remaining slots are decided via regional qualifiers. The tournament features a group stage followed by a single-elimination bracket, ending in a Best-of-7 Grand Final.

Trackmania joins the Esports Nations Cup 2026 from November 19 to 22 with a $250,000 prize pool. The competition features 32 drivers, with 16 direct invites based on the May 31st ranking cut-off and the remaining slots filled via regional qualifiers in June. The 1v1v1v1 Cup Mode format moves from a 120-point limit group stage to a 140-point limit single-elimination bracket to crown the champion.

Dota 2 opens the Esports Nations Cup 2026 in Riyadh from November 2 to 8. 32 national teams will compete for a $1,500,000 prize pool, with 16 direct invitations issued following the June 7th ranking cut-off. The remaining participants will qualify through regional events held from June 16 to July 5. The format consists of a Bo1 round-robin group stage followed by a 16-team single-elimination bracket.

FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves makes its national team debut at the Esports Nations Cup 2026 from November 12 to 15. 32 elite players will compete for a $250,000 prize pool, with the top 16 securing direct invites via the SNK World Championships ranking by the June 28th cut-off. The remaining 16 spots will be filled through a global qualifier circuit held from July 3 to 5. The tournament format features a Bo7 round-robin group stage followed by a 16-player single-elimination bracket contested in Bo9 matches.

The Esports Nations Cup 2026 has introduced a $45 million ecosystem commitment for its inaugural event in Saudi Arabia. This funding is divided into a $20 million prize pool, a $20 million development fund, and $5 million in dedicated club incentives.

Tournament payouts are structured to provide an equal prize per player based on placement across all 16 titles, with team totals scaling according to roster size and including coaching staff. Furthermore, to support the organizations behind the talent, the ENC will award clubs a performance bonus equal to 40% of the individual prize for every player or coach who finishes in the top 16 of their respective game.

The Esports Nations Cup 2026 will feature a diverse competitive structure, hosting between 24 and 48 national teams for team-based titles and up to 128 players for solo competitions. To ensure competitive integrity and unique lineups, the EWCF has mandated that national squads must be composed of players from different professional organizations, strictly prohibiting full club rosters.

Qualification will be split equally between direct invites based on seasonal performance and open regional qualifiers, with all finalists guaranteed a minimum of three matches in Riyadh. Moving forward, the ENC will transition into a biennial rotating host city model, with further details on the 2028 venue and specific participation criteria expected in the coming months.