The Esports Nations Cup 2026 opens the door for every EA SPORTS FC player who wants to represent their country on the international stage. The ENC qualifiers are the official path to the tournament’s final stage in Riyadh, where players will compete not just for a title, but under their country’s flag.
Direct Invitations
The 64 best players in the world by FC Pro World Rankings as of July 27, 2026 will receive a direct invitation to the ENC final stage. An important condition: only one player per country can be invited — until all other countries are represented, no country will receive two slots at once.
Another 56 players will qualify through regional selection, and 8 spots will be filled by other means at the Esports Foundation’s discretion. In total, no more than two players from a single country may compete at the final stage.
Stage 1 — FC ENC Ladder (July 29 – August 2)
Five days of open online competition with no time restrictions — you can play at any moment. The result is determined by the best score over the entire period, not a single match. For Eastern Europe — 256 participants qualify to the next stage.
Registration takes place directly in the game.
Stage 2 — Regional Qualifiers (August 8–9)
Two days of decisive matches:
- Day 1 — Swiss format.
- Day 2 — Double Elimination bracket.
14 slots to the ENC final stage are allocated for Eastern Europe. If players have identical results, the tiebreaker sequence is: regional qualifier placement → Swiss placement → Ladder placement → FC Pro World Rankings position as of July 27.
Eligibility
To participate, players must meet the standard tournament requirements and confirm citizenship or residency of the country they are representing. A player competes in the region tied to that country. Detailed rules are available here.
Special Qualifiers (August 15–16)
For countries not included in the standard EA SPORTS FC participant list, the Esports Foundation is organizing three separate qualifiers in a Double Elimination format. Available slots: 3 for North, Central, East, and West Africa; 1 for South Africa; 1 for the Middle East and Central Asia.
Match Format
Matches are played in EA SPORTS FC 26 Ultimate Team (FC Pro mode). Each game is a standalone match with no second chance in the group stage. Draws in the playoffs are resolved through extra time and a penalty shootout.
Prizes
Participants at the ENC final stage compete for a share of the $600,000 prize pool, a place among the world’s best FC players, and the right to represent their country on the international stage.
Key Dates
- FC ENC Ladder — July 29 – August 2, 2026
- FC ENC Regional Qualifiers — August 8–9, 2026
- FC ENC Special Qualifiers — August 15–16, 2026
- ENC Final Stage — November 17–22, 2026, Riyadh
