The global spotlight is turning to the Land of Dawn this November, as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang officially makes its debut at the Esports Nations Cup. Running from November 23 to November 29, 2026, the tournament marks the first time the mobile MOBA will feature at the multi-title international event, bringing together the world’s strongest national teams for a week of high-stakes competition.
The world is watching the Land of Dawn.
From November 23-29, @MobileLegendsOL makes its mark at the Esports Nations Cup. Which flag will you fly? pic.twitter.com/t7VbDXvfP0
— Esports Nations Cup (@ENC_EN) January 25, 2026
With national pride on the line and a massive prize pool up for grabs, the inaugural ML:BB tournament at the Esports Nations Cup is set to establish new rivalries and define which country truly stands atop the global ML:BB scene.
Image Credit: Esports Nations Cup
A Global Stage With 32 National Teams
The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang competition at the Esports Nations Cup will feature 32 national teams, each representing their country with carefully selected lineups made up of elite players. Nations will compete for a share of the USD $1.5 million prize pool, with the first ENC gold medals in ML:BB history waiting at the finish line.
Sixteen teams will receive direct invitations based on the newly introduced MLBB Nation Ranking System, while the remaining slots will be filled through regional qualifiers and two wildcard invitations. The ranking cut-off date is set for August 2, shortly after the Mid-Season Cup at the Esports World Cup 2026.
Qualifiers And Regional Representation
Regional qualifiers will take place from August 14 to August 16, giving teams from across the world a chance to earn their place on the ENC stage. One or two national teams will qualify from each region, depending on allocation.
Participating qualifier regions include North America, South America, Middle East and North Africa, Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania, East Asia, and Africa. Fourteen teams will advance through qualifiers, joining the 16 invited nations and two wildcard entries to complete the final lineup.
Tournament Format Explained
The ML:BB Esports Nations Cup tournament will unfold across a structured, multi-stage format during tournament week four. All 32 teams will be divided into four groups of eight, competing in a round-robin group stage with best-of-two matches.
The top four teams from each group will advance to the playoffs, forming a 16-team single-elimination bracket. Playoff matches will be played as best-of-five series, while the Grand Final will use a best-of-seven format to crown the first-ever ML:BB Esports Nations Cup champions.
How The MLBB Nation Ranking System Works
A key feature of the Esports Nations Cup is the introduction of the MLBB Nation Ranking System. This system takes results from international and regional ML:BB competitions and assigns points to Clubs based on their performance.
Those points are shared equally among players who participated, with each national roster accumulating points from its top five players. The final national rankings determine which teams receive direct invitations to the Esports Nations Cup, adding long-term competitive weight to performances throughout the season.
Why Mobile Legends Fits The Nations Cup
With more than 125 heroes available, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang offers deep strategic variety, from drafting and lane control to roaming, crowd control, and late-game execution. Success at the Esports Nations Cup will depend heavily on teamwork, coordination, and the ability to adapt under pressure across all five roles.
Historically dominant regions such as the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia enter the tournament as early favourites, thanks to their consistent international success. At the same time, emerging regions in Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America are closing the gap, bringing fresh talent and new strategies to the global stage.
A Milestone Moment For Mobile Esports
The inclusion of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang as the first announced title at the Esports Nations Cup represents a major milestone for mobile esports. The decision follows MOONTON Games becoming a publishing partner for the event in late 2025, further strengthening ML:BB’s position within the global competitive ecosystem.
As confirmed by the Esports World Cup Foundation, the ML:BB tournament will be one of 16 titles featured at the inaugural Esports Nations Cup, setting the tone for a new era of international esports competition driven by national representation.
With the world watching and national flags ready to fly, November’s showdown in the Land of Dawn is shaping up to be one of the most important moments in Mobile Legends esports history.