The Esports Foundation has officially given over 100 countries and territories National Team Partner status for the Esports Nations Cup 2026.
National Team Partners will lead team formation, local communities, and create structures that will allow esports to grow and compete in their areas. Each partner will be supported by the Esports Foundation, whether it’s for grassroots communities or the nation as a whole.
This is the first time there’s been a global system for an esports competition at this level. Over 630 applications from 150 different countries were sent in, and partners were chosen because of their dedication to esports and their national scenes over the past decades. There were also choices made for strong up-and-coming organizations that represent the next generation of esports.
A full list of the National Team Partners can be found here on the Esports Nations Cup 2026 website. You can see the National Team Partner as well as the supporting teams. This list will be kept up-to-date, so fans can check back if more spots are added.
Having National Team Partners allows each region to participate in its own way, since esports looks different in different regions. For example, some esports are led by national groups like the Korea Esports Association, while some regions are led by clubs, like in Brazil.
National teams will come from these National Team Partners, who will then compete at the Esports Nations Cup 2026 in Riyadh in November. This will be the first Esports Nations Cup, which was created as a way for countries to compete instead of the more club-based structure of the Esports World Cup.
Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation, shared comments on the new National Team Partners system:
“The Esports Nations Cup introduces something esports has never had before: a global system for national teams at an unprecedented scale. The response we received from across the world shows that communities are ready for this next step. Together with our partners, we are building the structures that will allow players to represent their nations and compete on the biggest stage in esports. With more than 100 nations now part of the system, the Esports Nations Cup moves from concept to reality — establishing national esports as a lasting part of the global competitive landscape.”
