The Esports World Cup Foundation has officially added Rocket League to the 16-title roster for the first-ever Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026. Taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the high-octane “soccar” tournament will run from November 3 to November 8, 2026, as part of a month-long celebration of international gaming.
Esports Nations Cup 2026 – Rocket League Tournament Structure
The competition features 48 national teams divided into eight groups of six. Following a round-robin opening stage, the top two teams from each group will progress to a high-stakes, single-elimination playoff bracket. While most matches will be best-of-five (Bo5), the championship will culminate in a best-of-seven (Bo7) grand final.
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The Path to ENC 2026 Riyadh
Nations can secure their spot through three distinct pathways:
- Direct Invitations (24 Teams): Based on the ENC National Team Rankings as of May 24, 2026. This system aggregates RLCS points from a country’s top three players.
- Regional Qualifiers (21 Teams): Online double-elimination brackets held July 17–19. Three slots each are reserved for North America, South America, Europe, MENA, Africa, Asia, and the combined SSA/Oceania region.
- Wildcards (3 Teams): Final spots awarded via special selection.
Building on EWC 2025 Momentum
This announcement follows a massive showing for Rocket League at the 2025 Esports World Cup. That event saw Karmine Corp claim the trophy, led by MVP Samy “dralii” Hajji. Local favorites Team Falcons secured a podium finish, which proved instrumental in their pursuit of the overall Club Championship. While the 2025 event focused on professional organizations, the ENC 2026 shifts the spotlight to national pride, pitting 48 countries against one another for the gold.
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