The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has launched the application process for organisations to become official National Team Partners for the 2026 Esports Nations Cup (ENC), alongside creating a major fund to support the initiative.
This move establishes the formal structure for how countries will build and field their squads for the inaugural nation-versus-nation tournament, addressing a key organisational challenge for the new event.
The foundation announced that applications are now open for entities to act as the official national counterpart within their country or territory for the ENC 2026. Selected partners will be responsible for building and representing their national esports teams on the global stage, coordinating team representation, overseeing national team coaches, and shaping their team’s identity through marketing and community engagement. The competitive integrity and player eligibility, however, will remain governed by ENC rules and publisher-aligned processes.
Speaking on the development, Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, stated: “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.”
This announcement follows this week’s reveal of the ENC’s competition format, which confirmed rules against using full Club rosters as national teams. The new partner framework provides the administrative machinery to create the distinct national line-ups the EWCF stipulated, moving from defining the what of the competition to establishing the how of national team formation.
To support the long-term growth of this nation-based ecosystem, the EWCF will establish the ENC Development Fund, committing at least $20 million annually from 2026. The fund is designed to cover travel and logistics for national team participation and enable promotional activities such as training camps, exhibition matches, and official watch parties, aiming to build fan engagement beyond the main biennial tournament.
Eligible applicants include esports organisations, clubs, national federations, and government-mandated entities. The application window will close on 31 January 2026, with the first approved partners announced in early 2026. The ENC itself is scheduled to debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November 2026. Applications should be submitted through this link.
Follow The Esports Radar on social media:
