$20 Million Allocated for National Teams in Esports Nations Cup

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has unveiled more information about the Esports Nations Cup (ENC), a competition where nations face off in esports. This includes details on regional structures, participating countries, funding, and more.

National teams will be managed by “National Team Partners,” who must undergo a thorough approval process. Once approved, these partners will act as the official representatives for the ENC in their countries. Their responsibilities include coordinating national representation, supporting team coaches across various titles, and liaising with publishers and clubs within the ENC framework.

These National Team Partners can be individuals, esports organizations, sports federations, NGOs, recognized government entities, content creators, esports professionals, and other nationally recognized stakeholders capable of managing regional qualifiers and other ENC competitions that will lead to the finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November.

Additionally, the ENC has allocated $20 million USD for the event in 2026. The ENC Development Fund will be utilized to support competitions, promote player development, and more. While this amount may seem modest given that over 200 countries have been approved for the inaugural ENC event, it’s worth noting that individual players from Russia can participate, but the nation itself will not compete under its flag. Iran, a long-standing rival of Saudi Arabia, has been excluded from the competition.

A spokesperson for the EWCF mentioned that although more than 200 countries and territories have been approved, it is unlikely that every location will submit applications or be approved, which could result in more funding being available for those that do.

In their announcement, the EWCF stated: “The Fund will support national team programs by covering travel and logistics for participation in the Esports Nations Cup, and by enabling promotional and fan-facing activities that build relevance, awareness, and engagement around national teams beyond the main competition, supported by the commercial, marketing, and operational capabilities required to deliver these activities consistently over time.”

Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, emphasized, “The purpose of the Esports World Cup Foundation is to elevate esports and make it sustainable. 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.”

Applications are currently open and will close on January 31. The EWCF has stated that submissions will undergo a multi-stage evaluation process, assessing governance standards, ecosystem standing, operational capability, community reach, and alignment with game partners’ requirements.

Properties associated with the Saudi Arabian government, such as the Esports World Cup Foundation and the Esports Nations Cup, often face accusations of “sports washing,” using sports and entertainment to distract from issues related to human rights, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and military actions in Yemen. These concerns are highlighted by international watchdog organizations.

An earlier version of this information mistakenly indicated that Iran was not included in the list of approved countries; we apologize for this error.