Esports Foundation Pushes the Esports Nations Cup Back to November 2027

The Esports Foundation postponed the inaugural Esports Nations Cup in Riyadh, moving the national-team competition from November 2026 to November 2027. The organization confirmed the delay in a press release, pointing to an ongoing assessment of the wider regional situation and a need to give stakeholders certainty and stability.

The ENC was set to bring together players from more than 100 countries and territories competing under national flags rather than club banners. EF CEO Ralf Reichert framed the delay as a matter of standards:

"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."

The foundation said its Development Fund commitments to National Team Partners stay in place through the extra year, along with its ecosystem programs and ongoing work with publishers.