These partners were selected from eligible organizations and individuals with esports expertise.
The Esports Foundation (EF) has granted the “National Team Partner” status to parties across more than 100 countries and territories. The announcement arrived months ahead of the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC 2026) competition.
ENC 2026 national team partners
According to the announcement, the EF received more than 630 applications from 150 countries and territories. Out of those, more than 100 organizations and individuals were chosen as national team partners. Eligible organizations that applied included federations, government entities, agencies, clubs, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other registered bodies with national operational capacity.
In terms of the individuals, they were chosen based on their experience in roles such as tournament organizers, team managers, and coaches. Community leaders, influencers, and creators were also eligible alongside folks with a deep understanding of their country’s esports ecosystem, according to the ENC’s website.
Esports Nations Cup 2026 national partners list
All of the national team partners are listed on the ENC’s website. The list details each location’s supporters, team manager, and so on. Examples of the partners include USA Esports, Esport Canada, Australia’s Events Engine, Germany’s Esports Player Foundation, and Great Britain’s Esports Federation. These partners must now form teams, mobilize communities, and establish structures for the growth of esports.
Jeff Simpkins, Great Britain’s national team manager, shared some thoughts about his role in this. “It’s a responsibility that I take very seriously and I’m looking forward to building competitive teams alongside a group of very strong coaches, while collectively managing the demands that come with representing Great Britain on the international stage,” he said.
EF CEO Ralf Reichert also noted that ENC 2026 introduces a global system for national teams at major scale. “The response we received from across the world shows that communities are ready for this next step,” he added. “Together with our partners, we are building the structures that will allow players to represent their nations and compete on the biggest stage in esports. With more than 100 nations now part of the system, the Esports Nations Cup moves from concept to reality, establishing national esports as a lasting part of the global competitive landscape.”
When is Esports Nations Cup 2026?
According to the event’s official website, ENC 2026 will happen between Nov. 2 and Nov. 29 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It will feature many competitive titles such as Apex Legends, Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), VALORANT, League of Legends (LoL), Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), and Dota 2.
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