The Esports World Cup Foundation previously revealed that the first-ever Esports Nations Cup 2026 will take place later this year, and now the organization has announced that the inaugural event will include $45 million for players, Clubs, and the new development fund.
The funding for the Esports Nations Cup 2026 is broken down into three different areas that make up the $45 million.
$20 Million will be the prize money that’s paid out to both players and coaches for the 16 different titles. The Esports Nations Cup 2026 will have a placement-based prize pool for every game involved that’s focused on players. For example, a win for any game means $50,000 for each player, whether the title is a team-based game or a solo game. Players in second place will receive $30,000, and third-place players get $15,000. Coaches will also get the same prize money.
$5 Million will go to the Clubs themselves between performance rewards and incentive rewards. For example, Clubs get a 40% incentive bonus based on their players’ performances.
The last $20 million goes to the Esports Nations Cup Development Fund. This is set aside to support official National Team partners with things like travel, program operations, marketing, and even long-term growth plans for pathways to the national team. More details about the program can be found here on the official website.
In case you haven’t heard, the Esports Nations Cup is a new event from the Esports World Cup Foundation that focuses on bringing the best of the best from each region around the world. It’ll be held every two years, and the location of the event will change every year to bring it to major cities around the globe.
Ralf Reichert, the CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, shared insight into what the Esports Nations Cup is about:
“National teams bring a powerful new layer to esports, one that is accessible, intuitive, and rooted in identity and pride. Clubs are the cultural backbone of esports. Nation-based competition expands the stage, creates new rivalries, and gives more fans a reason to care from day one. Our prize model is designed to keep competition fair and sustainable, rewarding performance while supporting the long-term development of players, Clubs, and national programs.”
The Esports Nations Cup 2026 will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2 to November 29. So far, there are three confirmed games: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang; Trackmania; and Dota 2.