Esports Nations Cup Postponed to November 2027
The postponement follows the Esports World Cup, also organized by the Esports Foundation, having its venue changed to Paris, France, due to the Middle East situation, signaling regional instability is reshaping the foundation's major events.
Key Facts
- The Esports Foundation announced on August 18 that the first Esports Nations Cup is postponed from November 2026 to November 2027.
- The event remains scheduled for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with over 100 countries and regions expected to participate.
- The ENC features national team competitions across 16 titles, including Street Fighter 6, Apex Legends, VALORANT, and chess.
- Esports Foundation CEO Ralf Reichert said the decision was not made lightly and that the plan to hold the event in Riyadh next year remains unchanged.
- Japan's national team had secured main tournament spots by winning qualifiers in multiple titles, including VALORANT.
Reporting from 3 sources: GAME Watch (Impress), Automaton, Inside.
The Esports Foundation announced on August 18 that the first Esports Nations Cup (ENC) has been postponed by one year to November 2027. The national team tournament was originally scheduled for November 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The venue remains Riyadh. The decision follows uncertainties in the regional situation and consultations with key stakeholders. The ENC is a biennial competition where countries and regions field representative players across 16 titles, including Street Fighter 6, Apex Legends, VALORANT, and chess. Over 100 countries and regions were expected to participate through qualifiers. The Esports Foundation described the postponement as a responsible decision that ensures certainty and stability for national teams, publishers, partners, and fans. CEO Ralf Reichert said the decision was not made lightly, citing feedback from communities worldwide that demonstrated the event's potential. He stated the organization has a responsibility to deliver an inaugural event at a level befitting the concept under appropriate conditions. The foundation will clarify the revised competition calendar, qualification routes, and other schedule impacts in the coming weeks. Japan's national team had already secured main tournament spots by winning qualifiers in multiple titles, including VALORANT.
- Street Fighter 6, Apex Legends, and VALORANT are among the 16 titles, with chess also in the lineup.
- The Esports World Cup, a club-based tournament also run by the Esports Foundation, had its venue moved to Paris, France, over the Middle East situation.
- Ralf Reichert said the postponement "was not an easy decision" and that feedback from national teams, partners, publishers, players, and communities worldwide showed the event's potential.
- Reichert added the foundation has "a responsibility to deliver the first ENC at a level befitting this vision and under the right circumstances."
- The foundation said Saudi Arabia "remains fully capable of hosting the event" and that major sports and entertainment events there will proceed as planned.
- EF will consult partners individually on schedule impacts and the transition to the 2027 event, with a revised calendar and qualification routes to be clarified in the coming weeks.
- Japan's national team had already qualified for the main tournament by winning qualifiers in multiple titles, including VALORANT.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.