Esports Nations Cup 2026 opens national partner program

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has officially opened applications to become an official National Partner for the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC), the first large-scale global national-team esports competition, scheduled to take place in November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The ENC introduces a three-tier national representation system. First, National Partners (organizations) will coordinate their country’s overall participation: institutional communications, marketing campaigns, fan activations, and local ecosystem development. Each Partner must appoint a National Manager, approved by the EWCF, who serves as the operational liaison with the foundation and oversees the selection of title-specific coaches responsible for building the national rosters.

Selected Partners will receive an official participation license, operational support from the EWCF, and access to the ENC Development Fund, which is endowed with 20 million dollars annually. Travel and accommodation costs for teams will be covered. National Managers will receive compensation of up to 25,000 dollars, including 5,000 dollars in guaranteed service fees and up to 20,000 dollars in performance-based incentives.

Eligible applicants include national esports or sports federations, established esports organizations, player agencies, esports clubs, as well as experienced individuals with recognized expertise in their national ecosystem. The EWCF nevertheless encourages collaborative applications that bring together several complementary stakeholders to maximize the chances of long-term success.

Phase 1, open until January 31, 2026, evaluates core eligibility criteria, including legal registration, reputation with game publishers, and the capacity to represent a country. Preselected candidates will then proceed, by invitation, to Phase 2. This more in-depth stage examines understanding of the local ecosystem, genuine community footprint, operational capabilities, and more.

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The first National Partners will be announced in March 2026, while coaches must be submitted by March 29 and rosters finalized by April 26, 2026. On its website, the ENC states that it recognizes more than 200 countries and territories, following a framework aligned with international sports practice, an approach that is further illustrated in the specific cases outlined below.

In line with the practices of the International Olympic Committee, the EWCF also applies specific conditions to certain nations. Russia and Belarus may not display their national flags, except in 1v1 disciplines for solo titles. Taiwan will compete under the name Chinese Taipei, with the use of a limited neutral flag, mirroring the Olympic protocol in place since 1981. These provisions reflect the EWCF’s alignment with the broader standards of organized international sport.