Esports Nations Cup 2026 Sets National Team Eligibility Framework, Launches $20M Fund

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), the organizer behind the Esports Nations Cup (ENC), has announced the national team representation framework by opening the application process for official National Team Partners.

Esports Nations Cup Introduces National Team Partners

According to a release, the National Team Partners will serve as the official national counterparts for the ENC, with the main responsibility of building the national esports teams for the competition that will take place later this year in November.

The National Team Partners will also shape the national team identity with marketing initiatives and collaborating with creators, media, and public institutions, and will also oversee and support the national team coaches for each game title. Competitive integrity and player eligibility, however, will continue to be governed by ENC rules and processes set by the game publishers.

Each National Team Partner will also nominate a National Team Manager who will serve as the public lead and primary representative of the national team, acting as the primary contact between the local esports ecosystems and the EWCF.

The ENC Development Fund will invest at least $20 million annually

To further support the growth of nation-based esports, the EWCF has established the ENC Development Fund, with at least $20 million invested starting with the ENC 2026.

The funds will support national team programs by covering travel and logistics costs related to participation at the ENC, promotional and fan-facing activities that build relevance around national teams beyond the competition, and support for training camps, bootcamps with structured fan access, exhibition matches, official watch parties, national team tours, and appearances at major gaming and sports events. Further details on scope and eligibility will be shared with selected National Team Partners, with the first cohort of approved partners announced in early 2026.

Applications have opened on the Esports Nations Cup’s website and will close on January 31, 2026. Eligible applicants include esports organizations, Clubs, agencies, NGOs, national esports and sport federations and associations, recognized government-mandated entities, content creators, and experienced esports professionals with strong national ecosystem ties.

The Esports Nations Cup aims to bring the best players from around the globe to represent their country across 16 game titles.

Later this week, we’ll share our roadmap, elaborate on the structure of ENC and detail how nations can apply to participate. pic.twitter.com/fkKqWwl2B5

— Esports Nations Cup (@ENC_EN) January 7, 2026

National Team Partners will be selected following a multi-stage evaluation process, which will assess governance standards, ecosystem standings, community reach, operational capability, and alignment with publisher requirements

Earlier this week, the Esports Nations Cup confirmed that the competition will have a total of 16 game titles, with both team-based and solo-player tournaments. Every nation will only be able to field one team per title and up to two players in solo competition. Half of the participating national teams will receive direct invitations based on the competitive performance of players from their respective countries, while the remaining half will qualify through regional qualifiers.

“The purpose of the Esports World Cup Foundation is to elevate esports and make it sustainable,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the EWCF. “The Esports Nations Cup is a natural next step in that journey. By opening this application process, we are inviting trusted National Team Partners to help define the framework for how countries and territories are represented in esports with clear roles, aligned governance, and a system that works for players, game partners, and fans alike.”