Esports Nations Cup 2026: Meet the National Team Partners Joining the Excitement
The Esports Foundation has announced the organizations and individuals awarded National Team Partner status for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup, scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2 to 29, 2026.
This new multi-game championship builds on the established format of the Esports World Cup (EWC) by introducing a nations-based component, allowing participants to represent their countries instead of clubs. Teams from various nations will compete in a selection of video games, including Apex Legends, Chess, League of Legends, Dota 2, Valorant, and Rocket League.
This tournament symbolizes a significant advancement in the esports landscape, marking the first time a major event has implemented a structured global system for national teams on such a scale. Out of 630 applications, the awardees represent over 100 countries.
The selected National Team Partners encompass a variety of organizational structures. This includes the newly established USA Esports, as well as longstanding national bodies such as the Korea Esports Association, Saudi Esports Federation, and British Esports. Additionally, Brazil boasts club-led coalitions, while countries like Germany, Canada, and the UAE have created hybrid public-private alliances.
In regions like Malaysia, Turkey, and Thailand, partners collaborate with federations to engage grassroots communities. Emerging esports markets, such as Indonesia and Mongolia, are also seeing support through structured development initiatives designed to enable these nations to compete globally.
“The Esports Nations Cup introduces something esports has never had before: a global system for national teams at an unprecedented scale,” commented Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation. He added, “The response we received from across the world shows that communities are ready for this next step. Together with our partners, we are building the structures that will allow players to represent their nations and compete on the biggest stage in esports. With more than 100 nations now part of the system, the Esports Nations Cup moves from concept to reality—establishing national esports as a lasting part of the global competitive landscape.”
In a related statement, USA Esports described the tournament as “a significant milestone” for organized international esports competition. Jesse Bodony, President and CEO of USA Esports, remarked, “As a public charity, USA Esports recognizes its responsibility to serve as a steward for competitive gamers across the entire United States. Through the Esports Nations Cup, the United States can be at the table, alongside many other nations, helping define what international esports looks like now and for years to come.”
Coordination efforts are currently underway, with USA Esports collaborating with a growing network of collegiate institutions and professional clubs to unify the American esports ecosystem. This endeavor aligns with a broader initiative as the United States Esports Federation aims to join forces with USA Esports.
USA Esports emphasized that the Esports Nations Cup will showcase the potential of its stakeholders when they work collectively towards common objectives.
Launched in Riyadh, the Esports Nations Cup will take place annually, rotating its venue every other year. The Esports Foundation stressed that this new tournament is designed to complement current club-based frameworks and provide a stable environment for players, fostering long-term investment in national team programs.
The development of the Esports Nations Cup follows the International Olympic Committee’s decision in October 2022 to terminate a 12-year agreement with Saudi Arabia to host the IOC’s first major esports tournament in Riyadh in 2027. The IOC still aims to establish an Olympic Esports Games in the future, having conducted a pilot event in Singapore in 2023.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is committed to becoming a key hub in the competitive gaming sphere, having hosted the Esports World Cup in 2025 and 2026.
