RIYADH, August 18, 2026 — The Esports Foundation (EF) has postponed the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026 by one year, moving the event from November 2026 to November 2027.
Why was ENC 2026 Postponed?
The Esports Foundation (EF) officially stated that the delay is driven by an ‘ongoing assessment of the wider regional situation.’ According to the organizers, moving the event to November 2027 is a responsible decision to ensure ‘certainty and stability‘ for the 100+ participating national teams and their partners. Despite the schedule change, the EF confirmed that Saudi Arabia remains fully capable and prepared to host the world-class competition under the right conditions.
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CEO of the Esports Foundation, Ralf Reichert, said:
“The decision to postpone the Esports Nations Cup was not taken lightly, the response from National Team Partners, publishers, players and communities around the world has shown us how much potential this competition has. We owe them an inaugural ENC delivered under the right conditions and at the level this idea deserves. Hosting the tournament in Riyadh next year does not change our commitment. We will continue investing in our National Team Partners, working with publishers and building the national ecosystems already taking shape around the competition. The work continues, and our ambition for ENC remains unchanged.”
Key Facts for Fans
- New Tournament Date: November 2027.
- Location: While Riyadh was the original host, recent shifts, such as the relocation of the Esports World Cup 2026 to Paris, have prompted a broader review of venues.
- National Programs: The ENC Development Fund continues to support national team development, ensuring momentum for the 2027 event.
- Qualification Updates: Stakeholders will receive updates on revised qualification pathways shortly.
Impact on Esports Scene
For fans of Esports titles like PUBG Mobile and Free Fire, existing qualification results may be reviewed, while partners are currently restructuring plans for the new timeline.
- Rosters are no longer “locked”: Since the event is now more than a year away, many players who qualified in 2026 might change teams or lose their form by 2027. Organizations may allow countries to pick new players to ensure they send their best current talent.
- New Qualification Chances: The Esports Foundation (EF) will spend the next few weeks working with game publishers (like Krafton for PUBG Mobile) to decide if teams that already qualified get to keep their spots or if they have to compete again in a new “2027 Qualification” round.
- Adjusted Rankings: Because esports rankings change quickly, the rankings used to invite teams in 2026 will likely be updated to reflect who is the best in 2027.
- Continued Support: The ENC Development Fund will keep working during this extra year to help national teams improve, so your readers might see more “National Team” events or training camps throughout 2027.
