Esports Nations Cup 2026 officially announces its global national partner network.

The Esports Nations Cup 2026 tournament has officially granted National Team Partner status to organizations and individuals in over 100 countries and territories.

This initiative, led by the Esports World Cup Foundation, is scheduled to debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2nd to 29th, 2026. The new partner network will be primarily responsible for establishing national teams, mobilizing local communities, and building professional competition systems within their respective regions. According to the announcement, this approach is designed to complement the existing club-level competition system while facilitating broader representation at the global level.

The organization stated that it had received over 630 applications from 150 countries and territories, demonstrating the strong global appeal and interest in the national esports model. The selected partners were incredibly diverse, including long-established national leagues, club-led alliances, and public-private partnerships.

The new system allows countries to build teams based on existing infrastructure, exemplified by the participation of the Korean Esports Association and the Saudi Arabian Esports Federation, along with emerging ecosystems in the region such as Indonesia and Mongolia.

Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, affirmed that this initiative represents a new step forward for the esports industry, giving players the opportunity to compete under their national colors on the international stage. Unlike the annual Esports World Cup, the Esports Nations Cup will be held every two years, aiming to create a sustainable and long-term development path for both players and organizations.

Essentially, the Esports Nations Cup is a completely new international tournament that focuses on national representation rather than traditional club competition. It's a key part of the Esports World Cup Foundation's overall strategy to expand the global esports ecosystem and introduce groundbreaking competition formats.