PUBG: Battlegrounds has officially been added to the Esports Nations Cup 2026 line-up, with 24 national teams set to compete in Riyadh this November. The battle royale title becomes one of the featured games at the inaugural event, organised by the Esports World Cup Foundation, and will see countries battle it out for national pride and a share of a seven-figure prize pool.
The PUBG tournament will take place during the second week of the competition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with matches running from November 11 to November 15, 2026.
PUBG: Battlegrounds Schedule And Format At ENC 2026
The PUBG: Battlegrounds event at the Esports Nations Cup begins with a 24-team Group Stage. Teams will be split into three groups of eight, with five matches played per group to determine standings.
The top 16 teams from this stage move on to the Finals.
In the Finals, 16 national squads will compete across up to 10 matches using the Smash Rule format. Under this system, teams must first reach a defined points threshold, and then secure a match win to claim the championship. It is a format designed to reward both consistency and clutch performance under pressure.
According to event organisers, the grand final will feature a maximum of 10 matches, ensuring every drop counts as teams chase that all-important Chicken Dinner.
$1.12 Million Prize Pool And PC Competition
PUBG: Battlegrounds will be played on PC at the Esports Nations Cup, with 24 nations competing for a share of a reported $1,120,000 prize pool.
Every match will carry significant weight. With large-scale maps, shrinking zones, and constant positional pressure, success in PUBG hinges on resource management, smart rotations, and the ability to adapt quickly to unpredictable engagements.
Unlike traditional club-based competitions, the ENC format places national representation front and centre. That shift brings a different kind of pressure, with players representing their country rather than an organisation.
How Teams Qualify For PUBG At The Esports Nations Cup
A total of 24 national teams will compete in the PUBG event.
Twelve teams will receive direct invites based on the official PUBG National Team Ranking, which uses the KRAFTON PUBG Power Rankings as its foundation. Points are earned through placements at official competitions and shared equally among participating teammates. National rankings are then calculated by combining the points of the top four players on a submitted national roster.
The cut-off date for national ranking qualification is June 7, 2026.
Ten additional teams will qualify through regional online qualifiers. These qualifiers will run from July 10 to July 12 and use a double-elimination bracket, with a minimum of 12 games played.
Regional slot allocation is as follows:
- Americas, 2 slots
- Europe, Middle East and Africa, 4 slots
- Asia, 2 slots
- Southeast Asia and Oceania, 2 slots
The final two positions at the main event will be awarded via Wildcard slots.
PUBG Becomes The Tenth Confirmed Title
With PUBG: Battlegrounds joining the roster, it becomes the tenth title confirmed for the Esports Nations Cup 2026. Other games already announced include Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Trackmania, and Counter-Strike 2.
PUBG’s inclusion follows KRAFTON becoming a publishing partner of the Esports Nations Cup in November 2025. The publisher joins other partners such as Ubisoft, MOONTON Games, and Electronic Arts in shaping qualification paths and tournament formats for the event.
Established Powers And Emerging Contenders
On the international stage, PUBG has long seen strong performances from nations such as the United States, South Korea, Australia, and China. However, teams across Europe, the Americas, and Southeast Asia have steadily closed the gap in recent years.
With only 16 teams making it through to the Finals in Riyadh, early-stage performance will be critical. In a battle royale format where positioning and timing can swing entire tournaments, the ENC stage could easily produce new rivalries and unexpected runs.
Ongoing Debate Around Saudi Investment In Esports
While the scale of the Esports Nations Cup and its reported $20 million overall prize pool across titles has drawn global attention, the event continues to generate debate.
The Esports Nations Cup is organised by the Esports World Cup Foundation, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Savvy Games Group. Some members of the esports community have criticised the Kingdom’s investment in competitive gaming, describing it as sportswashing linked to the country’s human rights record.
Despite those concerns, major publishers and titles continue to partner with the event, and PUBG: Battlegrounds is now firmly part of the 2026 programme.
With national pride, a $1.12 million prize pool, and one of battle royale’s most demanding formats on the line, November’s PUBG showdown in Riyadh is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched chapters in the game’s competitive history.