With the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC) scheduled for November 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the process for countries to formally build their national teams is now underway. The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has opened applications for organisations to become official National Team Partners, who will be responsible for constructing and representing their nation’s esports squads.
To support the ecosystem, the EWCF is establishing an ENC Development Fund, committing at least $20 million annually from 2026. This fund is designed to cover national team travel and logistics and enable promotional activities like training camps and watch parties.
The EWCF’s criteria can be seen here, which includes links to the applications for both National Team Partner and National Team Manager. The application window for these national partner roles closes on 31st January 2026, with the first announcements in March 2026.
The ENC is planned as a biennial event, beginning with a fixed host city in Riyadh for 2026 before moving to a rotating host-city model.
The 2026 edition will feature 16 game titles played over four weeks, with formats co-developed with official game partners including Electronic Arts (EA), Chess.com, KRAFTON Inc., and Ubisoft. A key rule confirmed by the EWCF prohibits full club rosters from competing as national teams, requiring nations to form distinct line-ups.
The Esports Radar will continue to update this article as further key developments emerge nation to nation, from who’s applying to who’s confirmed, and more!
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Canada
Canada Holds Open Community Call to Inform Bid
In Canada, Esport Canada and OverActive Media are collaborating to submit a bid to become the National Team Partner. The organisations hosted an open community call exclusive to Canadians, inviting “community members, athletes, tournament organizers, and stakeholders” to help shape their application.
Neil Duffy, Chief Commercial Officer, Americas at OverActive Media, announced the call, stating participants would “hear from Melissa Burns (EC) and Neil Duffy (OAM) about our experiences, aspirations and how you can get involved!” The session aims to inform “a connected approach to supporting Canadian participation” and ensure alignment with “equity, integrity, and transparency in decision-making.”
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United Kingdom
UK Consortium Applies, Seeks National Team Manager
In the United Kingdom, a consortium led by the British Esports Federation, with support from partners at Fnatic, The Football Association, Esports Wales, Scottish Esports and The UK Esports Teams Committee (UKETC), is applying to be the National Team Partner.
As part of its bid, the collective has begun seeking a National Team Manager for a potential Great Britain team. The manager would serve as the primary point of contact with the ENC, select game coaches, and help build national rosters in coordination with publishers, clubs, and players. The EWCF sets the compensation for the role at up to $25,000 annually, comprising a $5,000 service fee and up to $20,000 in incentives.
The federation has issued a public call for expressions of interest, noting that “the successful candidate will be submitted as the preferred National Team Manager for our collective application.” It emphasised that the role is contingent on the consortium’s bid being successful. Interviews scheduled for 28th January. A duo headed by Resolve Esports’ Jeff Simpkins and flanked by Ninjas in Pyjamas’ Grant Rousseau has publicly expressed their interest in leading the United Kingdom push for the ENC.
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