The eSports Nations Cup will make its debut in Saudi Arabia in November 2026, bringing the focus back to national honor.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, should be dubbed the "Esports City." The Esports World Cup (EWC), announced in October 2023 and officially launched in the summer of 2024, is held annually from July to August. The second edition will be held on July 7, 2025, featuring 25 events and a total prize pool of $60 million. Falcons topped the leaderboard with their CS2 title, winning a $7 million prize.

Its scale and achievements are comparable to the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup.

Whether in terms of prize money or the number of viewers, it has repeatedly broken records, attracting more than 1 million viewers who went to the venue specifically to watch the game, and more than 500 million online viewers. The total viewing time was 250 million hours, thus setting a record for the highest number of views in the world. It is conceivable that this event not only promotes the development of the e-sports industry, but also brings huge benefits to the tourism industry, adds humanistic features to the community, culture and entertainment activities, and promotes the economy.

Football has the World Cup, and traditional sports have the Olympics, all held every four years. But the eSports World Cup has no such restrictions. This city and this competition have become the dream of all the players. The world's top players and the world's leading teams have gathered together towards the same goal, starting a fierce battle.

The bonus rules are transparent and fair.

The third edition of the tournament is set to take place in 2026, which will undoubtedly reach new heights. However, this is just the first step for the foundation. According to media reports, the tournament system will be expanded, and a brand new 2026 Esports National Cup (ENC) has been announced, with national teams at its core. The inaugural edition will be held from November 2 to 29, 2026.

It sounds like another money-making scheme, much like a theatrical spin-off. In reality, the only new national-level competition is to complement the minor shortcomings of the e-sports World Cup. This competition shifts the focus, allowing players to represent their country. It's not just about the $45 million prize money; it's about national identity and pride, providing additional financial support to help build the national team and hire players and coaches.

Regarding the prize money distribution rules, the Esports Nations Cup will adopt a unified prize money framework based on tournament rankings. All players who advance will receive prize money, whether it is an individual or team event. The champion will receive $50,000, and coaches and players will also receive prizes, with equal treatment. The calculation method will be based on the number of players in the participating team and will be proportional to their respective numbers.

Image source: Internet