The Esports Nations Cup (ENC) represents a groundbreaking shift in global esports, pitting national teams against each other across 16 titles in a biennial format starting November 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Organized by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), it emphasizes national pride over club loyalties, with mixed rosters ensuring merit-based selections.
ENC 2026: Event Overview
The inaugural ENC spans four weeks and features team-based competitions with 24-48 national teams per title and solo formats with 32-128 players, drawing from regions like Asia, Europe, and MENA. All finalists receive guaranteed prize money, equal rewards across games, and at least three matches to build national narratives. Publishers including Electronic Arts, Krafton, Tencent, Ubisoft, Chess.com, MOONTON Games, and SNK back the event, though specific titles remain unconfirmed—likely including PUBG: Battlegrounds, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and chess.
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Qualification Process
A 50/50 split combines direct invitations from seasonal rankings with regional qualifiers and wildcards for inclusivity, allowing emerging nations pathways to finals. Nations form one official team per title (no full club rosters) and up to two solo players, with internal qualifiers possible early on. EWCF collaborates with regional stakeholders for team formation.
Upcoming Announcements
EWCF recently teased more details, stating: “Later this week, we’ll share our roadmap, elaborate on the structure of ENC, and detail the process for nations to apply for participation.” As of January 7, 2026, these updates are imminent, potentially clarifying applications, exact titles, and India’s involvement via Krafton’s BGMI ecosystem.
India’s booming BGMI scene positions it strongly, with talents from teams like Team Soul and GodLike potentially mixing for national squads if Krafton integrates PUBG Mobile. Success here could elevate Indian esports globally, building on EWC participations.
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