The first game to be featured in the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC) has been announced, with Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) confirmed for the national team tournament in Riyadh later this year. The game’s developer, MOONTON Games, is among the publishers supporting the event, having joined the initiative in November 2025.

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) revealed that the popular mobile MOBA will be one of 16 titles at the event, with its dedicated tournament running from 23rd to 29th November 2026. The inclusion provides a clear competitive structure for national teams in a game with a massive global player base, particularly across Asia. The MLBB event will see 32 national teams compete initially in a round-robin group stage, followed by a single-elimination playoff bracket to crown a champion.

A newly created MLBB nation ranking system will determine 16 direct invites, while 14 more teams will come from regional online qualifiers in August. Two wildcard invites complete the field. The ranking will consider international, regional, and some national club competitions, with points from a team’s top five players contributing to their nation’s total. The cut-off for rankings is 2nd August, following the Mid Season Cup at the Esports World Cup 2026.

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In a press release, MOONTON Games stated: “Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is honoured to be the first title announced for the Esports Nations Cup 2026. We are excited to see national pride take centre stage and for our global community to cheer for their countries in Riyadh.” This follows a significant presence for the game at Esports World Cup 2025, where it set the viewership record for the competition and was the event’s most watched title.

The announcement underscores the ENC’s strategy of working with major game publishers, a group MOONTON Games entered in late 2025 alongside Chess.com and SNK. 

The ENC is positioned as a biennial complement to the club-focused Esports World Cup, aiming to create a recurring pinnacle for national team competition in esports. A $20 million fund will support National Team Partners, who must apply to officially help organising their countries’ structures for the event. Further details regarding other titles and ticket sales for the ENC 2026 are expected in the coming weeks.

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