Esports World Cup Foundation confirms format and qualifiers for Esports Nations Cup 2026
The inaugural edition will feature 16 game titles played across four weeks
The Esports World Cup Foundation has revealed new details on the Esports Nations Cup 2026, confirming the competition format and qualification model for the event.
The Esports Nations Cup introduces national representation to the global esports calendar in a recurring format, positioning itself as the first competition of its kind at this scale.
The inaugural edition will feature 16 game titles played across four weeks, combining team-based and solo player competitions co-developed with official game partners.
Confirmed partners include Electronic Arts, Chess.com, Krafton, MOONTON Games, SNK, Tencent and Ubisoft, with additional titles and publishers to be announced in the coming weeks.
National team roles
At the Finals, team competitions will feature between 24 and 48 national teams per title, while solo competitions will include 32 to 128 players.
Each country will be represented by one official national team per title and up to two solo competitors, although certain qualification stages may allow multiple teams or players from the same nation to compete earlier in the process.
Half of all participating teams and players will receive direct invitations based on seasonal competitive performance, with the remaining slots filled through open regional online qualifiers.
National teams will be formed as new line-ups rather than full club rosters, ensuring representation based on merit and national identity. The Esports Nations Cup will run every two years, adopting a rotating host city model after its Riyadh debut.
The EWCF also recently opened applications for its partner program ahead of the event.
