The Esports Foundation has opened applications for a new Creator Program that puts up to $2 million in rewards behind co-streamers broadcasting the Esports World Cup and the Esports Nations Cup in 2026. Announced on 11 June 2026 and open to creators worldwide, it is the organisation’s largest co-streaming push to date, with the Foundation aiming to grow its co-streamer base from around 3,500 in 2025 to roughly 5,000 this year.

How the $2M Creator Program Works

Approved creators receive permission to co-stream selected tournaments from both the Esports World Cup and the Esports Nations Cup on their own channels. Participation runs through a Battle Pass-style system, where creators complete missions, climb leaderboards and unlock rewards over the course of the events. Those rewards include gift cards, hardware such as gaming gear and consoles, streaming-platform perks, and potential invitations to attend the Esports World Cup and Esports Nations Cup in person, all drawn from a $2,000,000 pool that the Foundation is splitting across the two tournaments. The full programme is detailed on the Esports World Cup site.

5,000 Co-Streamers and a Wider Platform List

Co-streaming has been central to how the Esports World Cup has expanded its reach, letting creators rebroadcast official feeds to viewers in different regions and languages. In 2025, around 3,500 co-streamers were carrying matches to their own communities, and for 2026 the Foundation plans to lift that to roughly 5,000 participating creators, with the stated objective of extending coverage into new territories. The Creator Program supports a range of major streaming platforms, including Twitch, YouTube, Bilibili, Huya and CHZZK, with additional platforms also part of the rollout.

When EWC and ENC 2026 Take Place

The Esports World Cup 2026 is scheduled for the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles in Paris, France, running from 6 July through 23 August. Later in the year, the Esports Nations Cup 2026 will be staged in Riyadh in November as a nation-based competition, giving co-streamers two distinct events to build their leaderboard runs around.

Applications are open now, ahead of the Esports World Cup kicking off in Paris on 6 July, with the second half of the reward pool tied to the Esports Nations Cup in Riyadh come November.

The post Esports Foundation Opens $2M Co-Streaming Program for EWC and ENC 2026 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

VALORANT is officially part of the Esports Nations Cup 2026 line-up, with 32 national teams set to compete under their country’s flag this November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The announcement confirms that Riot Games’ tactical shooter will feature in the inaugural edition of the nation-based tournament, adding another major event to the global competitive calendar.

Every ability counts when the pride of your nation is on the line. @ValorantEsports arrives at the Esports Nations Cup this November. Show us which team you are standing with! pic.twitter.com/FnjZE7fAlm

— Esports Nations Cup (@ENC_EN) February 20, 2026

The event will run from November 8 to November 15, 2026, and marks a shift from the usual organisation-focused structure seen in the VALORANT Champions Tour. This time, players won’t be representing clubs, they’ll be representing their countries.

Event Details And Tournament Format

The VALORANT Esports Nations Cup event will begin with a 32-team round-robin Group Stage. Teams will be divided into four groups of eight, with all Group Stage matches played as best-of-one series.

From there, the top four nations in each group will advance to a 16-team single-elimination Playoff bracket. Playoff matches will be best-of-three, except for the Grand Final, which will be played as a best-of-five to crown the champion.

The structure keeps the early stage fast and volatile, while allowing more room for depth and adaptation once the knockout rounds begin.

How National Teams Qualify

Qualification for the VALORANT Esports Nations Cup will be split across direct invites, regional qualifiers and wildcard slots.

Sixteen of the 32 spots will be awarded through a newly created VALORANT National Team Rankings system. According to organisers, this ranking will calculate individual player achievements in regional and international VALORANT Champions Tour competitions. Points earned at these events will be split equally across teammates who competed.

A nation’s ranking will then be determined by adding up the points of the top five players on its submitted national roster. The cut-off date for rankings has been set as June 21, 2026.

For countries that miss out on direct qualification, there will be 14 additional slots available through regional online qualifiers. Seven regions will each award two places via double-elimination brackets:

• North America
• South America
• Western Europe
• Eastern Europe
• Middle East and North Africa
• Asia
• Southeast Asia and Oceania

The regional qualifiers are scheduled to take place from June 26 to June 28, 2026.

Two wildcard slots will also be distributed, though organisers have yet to clarify how those positions will be decided. Further rules around national roster selection are expected to be announced closer to the event.

Esports Nations Cup 2026 Prize Pool And Titles

VALORANT becomes one of 16 titles confirmed for the debut edition of the Esports Nations Cup. Other announced games include Apex Legends, PUBG, Dota 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Chess, with the remaining titles still to be revealed.

The overall Esports Nations Cup 2026 will feature a $20 million prize pool distributed across competing nations. In addition, a $20 million ENC Development Fund has been established to support regional growth, alongside a further $5 million allocated to organisations that release players to represent their countries.

That financial backing signals serious intent from organisers to position the Esports Nations Cup as a long-term, multi-title international fixture rather than a one-off showcase.

Riyadh Hosting And Community Reaction

The inaugural Esports Nations Cup will take place in Riyadh, the same city that hosts the Esports World Cup. While the scale and investment are significant, events held in Saudi Arabia have previously drawn criticism from parts of the esports community due to the country’s human rights record.

In 2025, when VALORANT featured as part of the organisation-based Esports World Cup, several prominent figures within the scene publicly expressed concerns. With national teams now involved, similar discussions are likely to resurface as the event approaches.

At the same time, the concept of country-versus-country competition introduces a different layer of pride and rivalry that could resonate strongly with fans. An official social post from the Esports Nations Cup teased the idea directly, stating that every ability counts when the pride of your nation is on the line.

A New Layer To International VALORANT

Nation-based esports events are rare in VALORANT compared to traditional club competition. With 32 teams, a ranking-driven invite system and regional qualifiers feeding into a global stage, the Esports Nations Cup 2026 adds a fresh format to an already packed competitive ecosystem.

More details, particularly around wildcard allocation and final roster rules, are expected in the coming months. For now, one thing is clear: VALORANT is heading into November 2026 with national pride on the line.

The post VALORANT Joins Esports Nations Cup 2026 Line Up With 32 National Teams appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

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.

The post PUBG: Battlegrounds Joins Esports Nations Cup 2026 Line Up In Riyadh appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The Esports Nations Cup 2026 has officially unveiled its full financial framework, with the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) committing $45 million USD to support players, Clubs, and national teams at the tournament’s inaugural edition.

Set to debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2 to 29, 2026, the Esports Nations Cup introduces a national team format to the global esports calendar, running alongside the existing Club-based Esports World Cup and giving players the chance to compete for country rather than organisation.

A Three-Pillar $45 Million Commitment

EWCF’s investment is structured around three funding pillars designed to stabilise participation and encourage top-tier competition.

The largest portion includes $20 million in prize money, paid directly to players and coaches across 16 competitive titles. Every qualified participant will earn prize money, with all teams guaranteed a minimum of three matches.

A further $5 million has been allocated to Club release incentives, rewarding professional esports organisations that allow contracted players to represent their countries. These incentives are performance-based and paid separately from player winnings.

The remaining $20 million will be delivered through the previously announced Esports Nations Cup Development Fund, supporting official national team partners with logistics, travel, programme operations, marketing, and long-term national pathway development.

Equal Placement, Equal Pay Across All Games

A defining feature of ENC 2026 is its placement-based prize framework, which applies uniformly across all titles. Players earn the same payout for the same finishing position, regardless of whether they compete in solo or team-based games. Coaches are rewarded alongside players at the same placement level.

A first-place finish awards $50,000 per player, second place earns $30,000, and third place receives $15,000. For team titles, total payouts scale with roster size, maintaining consistency and transparency across the competition.

Guaranteed per-player payouts extend deep into the bracket, with earnings for all placements down to the Round of 128. Some figures are adjusted slightly to account for different tournament formats, such as 24-slot versus 32-slot brackets, to ensure fairness across titles.

Club Incentives Tied Directly To Performance

To address long-standing concerns around player availability for nation-based events, ENC introduces a clear incentive structure for Clubs. If a player reaches the Top 16, their organisation receives a 40 percent bonus on that player’s prize earnings.

For example, if a Club releases three players who each win a title, earning $50,000 apiece, the organisation would receive a $60,000 incentive payment on top of player winnings. This model is designed to reduce friction between national teams and professional organisations, particularly during busy transfer windows.

National Teams Take Centre Stage

According to Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, the Nations Cup is intended to introduce a more accessible and identity-driven layer to elite competition.

National teams, he explained, create new rivalries, clearer narratives, and stronger emotional investment for fans, while the funding model aims to balance short-term competition with long-term ecosystem growth.

Confirmed Games And Event Structure

So far, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Trackmania, and Dota 2 have been confirmed for ENC 2026, with additional titles expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

The Esports Nations Cup will be held every two years and is planned to move to a rotating host-city model after its Riyadh debut, positioning it as a recurring fixture in the international esports calendar.

Context And Ongoing Criticism

The event was formally announced in August 2025 and follows Saudi Arabia’s withdrawal from plans to host the Esports Olympic Games. As with other Saudi-backed esports initiatives, EWCF and ENC have faced ongoing criticism from international watchdog groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, which accuse the projects of contributing to so-called sportswashing.

Despite this, the scale and structure of ENC 2026 represent one of the most significant financial commitments ever made to a nation-based esports competition.

With $45 million secured, equal pay guaranteed, and long-term national development funding in place, the Esports Nations Cup is positioning itself as a foundational experiment in how international esports could be organised in the years ahead.

The post Esports Nations Cup 2026 $45 Million Funding Model Confirmed With Equal Player Pay appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

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.

The post Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Confirmed As First Game Listed At Esports Nations Cup 2026 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The Esports World Cup Foundation has just revealed something pretty massive for competitive gaming, the Esports Nations Cup (ENC). Think of it as esports’ version of the World Cup in football, but instead of club rivalries, it’s all about national pride.

It’s not just about glory, it’s about the national pride.

The rise of a new rivalry.

Esports Nations Cup
Riyadh, November 2026 pic.twitter.com/5tKg4JhltA

— Esports Nations Cup (@ENC_EN) August 23, 2025

The ENC will run every two years, kicking off in November 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, before shifting to a rotating host system around the world. That means different countries will get the chance to welcome the biggest national esports teams on the planet.

Unlike the usual format we see at the Esports World Cup, where clubs take centre stage, the Nations Cup puts players in their country’s colours. Over 15 titles will be involved, featuring 1,000+ players across both team-based and solo competitions. Every major region will be represented, from North and South America to Europe, MENA, Africa, Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.

The tournament is being co-developed with some heavy hitters in the industry: Electronic Arts, Krafton, Tencent, and Ubisoft. They’ll help shape things like national ranking systems, qualification pathways, and competitive formats to make sure each game feels authentic and fair for fans and players alike.

Qualifying won’t just be limited to the big names, either. The ENC will use a multi-tiered system mixing global rankings, regional qualifiers, and Wildcard entries – including solidarity spots – to ensure smaller regions and underdog nations also get their shot. To keep things fair across the board, all players will receive guaranteed prize money with equal rewards across every title.

Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, summed it up perfectly:

“Nation versus nation competition is the ultimate expression of sport. The ENC makes this a reality for esports, giving every fan a flag to rally behind and every player the pride of representing their country.”

While the full game lineup hasn’t been announced yet, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see big names like Apex Legends, PUBG, Rainbow Six Siege, and Honor of Kings make the cut, considering the publishers already involved.

The Esports Nations Cup is shaping up to be more than just another tournament, it’s aiming to create heroes, inspire future generations, and grow national esports programmes across the globe. And with its debut just a year after the 2025 Esports World Cup in Riyadh, it looks like the esports calendar is about to get even busier.

The post EWC Announced Esports Nations Cup – Tournament Where Players Represent Their Countries appeared first on Shane the Gamer.