The Esports Foundation has announced the postponement of the first Esports Nations Cup. The tournament, which was set to take place in November 2026 in Riyadh, is being moved to November 2027. The decision was made following an assessment of the situation in the region and consultations with key partners — National Team Partners, publishers, and other stakeholders.
ENC brings together teams and partners from over 100 countries and territories across all continents. It is precisely because of the tournament’s unprecedented international scale and the uncertainty in the region that the Esports Foundation considers the postponement a responsible decision — one that will allow the competition to be held in the right conditions and at the level it deserves. Saudi Arabia remains the host country: major sporting and entertainment events in the country are continuing as planned.
“The decision to postpone ENC was not an easy one. The response from National Team Partners, publishers, players, and communities around the world has shown just how much potential this competition holds. We owe it to everyone to deliver the first ENC in the right conditions and at the level this idea deserves. Hosting the tournament in Riyadh next year does not change our commitment. We will continue investing in National Team Partners, working with publishers, and building the national ecosystems that are already forming around the competition. The work continues, and our ambitions for ENC remain unchanged,” — Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation.
ENC is designed as a biennial global competition where the world’s best players compete not for clubs, but for their countries. The tournament aims to create new pathways for player development, strengthen national esports ecosystems, and establish a new kind of fandom — built on national pride and international competition.
“A very difficult decision for the organizers, but one we understand. The instability in the region makes it impossible to ensure the safety of everyone involved, or to plan for all scenarios. Ukrainian esports athletes know how hard it is to pursue what you love during wartime. But they showed their character regardless and qualified for the tournament’s main stage. ENC has already established itself as a leader in national competitions at the world level. I’m confident that over this coming year, many interesting initiatives will be introduced, and there will be time to refine the organizational side of things. The hardest part is launching a product for the first time. Ukraine’s national team, in turn, will come back even stronger and better prepared for competition in 2027,” — Andrii Gryshchenko, CEO of UESF.
In the coming weeks, the Esports Foundation will continue working with all partners and will provide detailed information regarding the new qualification calendar and other changes. Follow updates at uesf.org.ua and the federation’s official pages.
