Esports Nations Cup names over 700 coaches ahead of 2026 debut
Coaches to define strategy and select national team players
The Esports Foundation has confirmed the appointment of more than 700 game coaches across over 100 nations and territories as preparations intensify for the Esports Nations Cup 2026.
The coaches, representing National Team Partners from more than 90 esports organisations, will now lead roster selection ahead of a May 10th deadline, identifying players, defining strategy and building national competitive lineups.
The tournament is set to debut in Riyadh from November 2nd to 29th, 2026. The coaching pool includes world champions, established figures and emerging leaders across major titles.
In League of Legends, G2 Esports coach Dylan Falco will represent Canada, while Rocket League features Dutch world champion Jos “ViolentPanda” van Meurs. The youngest coach announced is Saudi Arabia’s Abdulrahman Saad “d7oom-24” Bin Fayez, aged 22.
Setting the stage
Cross-border appointments also feature, including Swedish coach Fabian “Fabian” Hällsten leading the United States’ Rainbow Six Siege team and Brazil’s Guilherme “gohaN” Alf coaching Indonesia.
Women coaches are also taking prominent roles across titles such as PUBG Mobile, Valorant and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, signifying a broader push for diversity in competitive coaching.
“The Esports Nations Cup is being built step by step, and appointing team coaches is the next critical layer in that structure,” said Esports Foundation CEO Ralf Reichert. “If teams are what make esports intuitive for a mainstream audience, coaches are what make them credible for players and fans.
“With more than 700 coaches now in place across over 100 National Team Partners, we’re turning the idea of nation-based competition into something people can understand instantly and believe in - a system that is structured, real, and ready to perform on the world stage.”
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