Esports Nations Cup set to begin in 2026

Field Level Media
23 Aug 2025, 21:25 GMT+10

(Photo credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images)

An esports tournament pitting nations against each other will launch next year.

The Saudi-backed Esports World Cup Foundation announced Saturday that the first Esports Nations Cup will be contested in late 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The tournament will be held biennially in rotating locations.

'Nation versus nation competition is the ultimate expression of sport,' said Ralf Reichert, the foundation's CEO, in a news release. 'The ENC makes this a reality for esports, giving every fan a flag to rally behind and every player the pride of representing their country. It's a stage to create heroes, inspire the next generation, and, together with our partners and stakeholders, build the national ecosystems that will accelerate the growth of esports worldwide.'

Major video game companies and publishers have signed on to work on the first tournament, with Electronic Arts, Krafton, Tencent and Ubisoft committed.

The competition will feature teams from the major regions, including North America, South America, Europe, MENA (Middle East and North Africa), Africa, Asia, and SEA & Oceania.

Reuters reported Saturday that the prize pool is expected to be 'comparable' to the $70 million up for grabs in the Esports World Cup.

--Field Level Media

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