The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has detailed a substantial $45 million funding model for its new national team competition, aiming to add a structured, sustainable layer to the global esports ecosystem. The inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC) will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2nd to 29th November 2026, featuring 16 titles and a prize structure designed to directly benefit players, their Clubs, and national governing bodies.
This financial commitment is structured across three distinct streams to support different levels of the competitive landscape. A total of $20 million is allocated as direct prize money for players and coaches, with a further $5 million designated as Club incentives for organisations that release their contracted professionals to compete. The final $20 million will be distributed via the previously announced ENC Development Fund to support national team partners with operational and logistical costs.
The player and coach prizing introduces a standardized placement-based prize framework across all competing titles. The model guarantees equal pay for equal placement, regardless of the game. For example, a first-place finish awards $50,000 per player, second-place awards $30,000, and third-place awards $15,000. Coaches receive awards equivalent to their players.
The Club incentives programme will see organisations receive a bonus equivalent to 40% of their player’s individual earnings, directly linking organisational support to athlete performance on the national stage. The foundation states every qualified participant is guaranteed prize money and a minimum of three matches.
In a press release, Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, commented on the strategic aim of the event: “National teams bring a powerful new layer to esports, one that is accessible, intuitive, and rooted in identity and pride. Clubs are the cultural backbone of esports. Nation-based competition expands the stage, creates new rivalries, and gives more fans a reason to care from day one.”
The ENC represents a significant expansion of the EWCF’s event portfolio, complementing its club-focused Esports World Cup with a biennial national team spectacle. The foundation confirmed the event will move to a rotating host-city model after its 2026 debut in Riyadh. This schedule is intended to provide long-term planning certainty for national esports associations and stakeholders.
Confirmed titles for the inaugural edition currently include Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Trackmania, and Dota 2, with more game announcements promised in the near future. You can follow how countries are preparing for the Esports Nations Cup through The Esports Radar’s Live Tracker.
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