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A Growing Global Lineup

The Esports Nations Cup continues to gather momentum, with the Esports World Cup Foundation confirming three new publisher partners for the event’s debut in 2026. Chess.com, SNK, and MOONTON Games have officially joined the roster, expanding the foundation behind what aims to become the world’s premier country versus country esports competition.

The announcement was made through the Esports Nations Cup’s social channels, highlighting the event’s mission to unite players and fans through national pride, competitive integrity, and global representation.

Building the First Nations-Based Esports Stage

The Esports Nations Cup is being designed as a multi-title competition, bringing national teams from around the world together to compete across both individual and team-based games.

With Chess.com, SNK and MOONTON now on board, the trio joins a growing list of publishing partners that already includes EA, KRAFTON, Tencent, and Ubisoft.

As official publishers, the companies will collaborate closely with the Esports World Cup Foundation to shape qualification pathways, format structures, and long-term competitive frameworks for their titles. According to the EWCF, this deeper level of involvement is intended to create consistency across regions and ensure that the event feels meaningful for both players and fans.

What Publishers Will Bring to the Tournament

The Esports World Cup Foundation says publishers will not simply supply games, but will help define how each title fits into the broader Nations Cup structure. This includes everything from competitive rulesets to global qualifier systems.

“By partnering closely with publishers, we can make the Esports Nations Cup truly player-centric, and give players the opportunity to represent their country in games that define their careers,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation.

“With the seven partners announced so far as close collaborators, we can activate players worldwide to deliver a Nations Cup that feels earned for players and real for fans, and build a stage that national teams can aspire to for years to come.”

Chess Returns After a Strong Esports World Cup Debut

Chess made its esports breakthrough earlier this year at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, where the world’s top players battled for a massive 1.5 million dollar prize pool. Magnus Carlsen’s victory headlined the competition, solidifying chess as a legitimate and entertaining esport on the global stage.

Chess.com’s addition to the Nations Cup signals the organisation’s intent to deepen its role in competitive esports, especially with a new qualifying cycle planned for 2026.

What Fans Can Expect in 2026

The first Esports Nations Cup will take place in November 2026 in Riyadh, before moving to a rotating host model in later years. National teams from every major region, including Oceania, Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas, will compete.

Qualification will involve multiple layers, mixing global rankings, regional qualifiers, wildcard slots and solidarity placements to ensure broad representation.

While publishers are confirmed, the full list of game titles has not yet been revealed.

A Promising Vision With Ongoing Debate

The Nations Cup arrives at a time when Saudi Arabia’s growing investment in esports continues to spark debate. Many fans and industry voices have expressed concerns about the country’s human rights record, questioning whether large-scale esports events serve as sportswashing.

Despite mixed reactions, the Esports World Cup Foundation shows no signs of slowing its expansion. With seven publishers now committed and more expected to join, the Esports Nations Cup is positioning itself as a landmark moment for international competitive gaming.

More updates about titles, formats and qualifiers are expected in the coming weeks.