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 initiative, the EWCF has set a $45 million fund, of which 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 ENC Development Fund to support national team partners with operational and logistical costs, including team travel and promotional activities like training camps and watch parties.
4 February 2026: Application Confirmations Issued
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has begun issuing confirmation emails to all organizations that applied to become National Team Partners for the 2026 Esports Nations Cup. The emails confirm administrative receipt of over 600 applications from 152 countries and territories.
The foundation noted the detailed strategic proposals submitted and stated that reviews are now underway. Applications will be assessed based on criteria including the ability to build trust with national players, unite fan support, and demonstrate integration into the local esports ecosystem.
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for meetings starting next week to discuss operational and commercial details. The EWCF aims to confirm and announce all selected partners by March 2026. The EWCF’s criteria can be seen here.
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 confirmed titles to date are
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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Countries are in alphabetical order.
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Argentina
CADE submits application for Argentina
According to information obtained by The Esports Radar, the Argentine Chamber of Electronic Sports (Cámara Argentina de Deportes Electrónicos, CADE) has applied to become the National Team Partner. The chamber is an organization founded by major esports teams in the country, including 9z, Furious Gaming, Isurus, KRÜ and Leviatan, alongside event producers and other key industry entities.
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Belgium
Local federation running for representation
The Belgian Esports Federation (BESF) has confirmed its application to become the National Team Partner for Belgium. The federation has proposed its Commissioner for National Teams & Competitions, Samy Bessi, as the prospective National Team Manager. Bessi is also a Board Member of the Global Esports Federation (GEF).
In its public announcement, the BESF emphasized a stakeholder-driven strategy for its bid, issuing an open call for coaches, community figures, and other ecosystem participants to help form teams across the tournament’s titles. The federation stated that, if selected, it would focus on using the associated development fund to support grassroots initiatives and better connect them with the national competitive structure.
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Brazil
Club alliance applying for representation
The Esports Radar learned that an alliance of major clubs from the Brazilian esports scene is sending an application to the Esports World Cup Foundation.
Participating teams in the group are Fluxo W7M, FURIA, LOUD, MIBR, paiN Gaming, and Red Canids, with Yuri “Fly” Uchiyama, CEO at gaming platform Gamers Club and former President of MIBR, as the Team Manager.
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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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Chile
Chile’s bid led by GameClub Studio
Tomás Mosquera, President of Chile’s National Esports Association, confirmed to The Esports Radar he is designated as Chile’s National Team Manager in the case the application led by GameClub Studio, a national gaming club chain founded by former Riot Games staff and industry experts, succeeds.
The studio currently organizes the ULeague, a university esports circuit involving 28 institutions, and reports having organized over 600 tournaments since 2019.
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Poland
Poland submits three-entity application
One of the submitted bids by Poland involves three entities: arrMYgg, eMine (ProPlayers), and ZW Agency.
arrMYgg is listed as the lead applicant. Should the bid succeed, the organization’s COO Jakub Kubiak is designated to be the National Team Manager; ProPlayers is noted for player networking and bootcamp facilities; and ZW Agency is cited for its work in content creation with clients such as Red Bull and Riot Games in Poland.
This is one of multiple reported bids emerging from Poland. The Esports Radar will continue to monitor developments.
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Spain
OverActive Media supports Spanish bid
The Spanish bid for the ENC was detailed in a social media post by Adam Adamou, CEO of OverActive Media. The application involves a collaborative coalition of Spain-based esports organizations. OverActive maintains a presence in the Spanish scene through its team, Movistar KOI.
Adamou claimed that this supportive role does not create a conflict of interest, contrasting it with OverActive’s lead-operator position in Canada’s application. He attributed the different approaches to Spain’s more structured esports ecosystem, which allows the company to contribute from within a coalition.
“We have people, talent, teams, and players in both markets, and we’ll support where we can add real value so the best players from the top nations can compete at the highest level,” the post read.
Both the Spanish and Canadian national bids are currently pending formal approval from the Esports World Cup Foundation.
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Tunisia
Tunisia’s Bid Focuses on National Structure
Gamefy Academy has submitted its application to represent Tunisia, framing the bid as part of a longer-term effort to structure the national esports ecosystem. The organization emphasizes improving team readiness, creating player development paths, and better connecting local clubs and operators.
The application is supported by a coalition of local organizations, including JSK Esports, Ghools Esports, EST Esports, and cinema chain Pathé.
Ambassadors mentioned at the announcement are esports personality and current Head of Marketing at GnG Esports Foued El Beji, creator Yassine Sondes, esports caster Karim Mellouli, and creator Nour Ben Youssef.
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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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