$45-M fund powers Esports Nations Cup 2026

The Esports World Cup Foundation has confirmed a $45 million funding commitment for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026, a new global competition built around national teams and country-based rivalries.

The Esports Nations Cup will debut in Riyadh from 2 to 29 November 2026, adding a nation-based layer to the global esports calendar and complementing the club-focused Esports World Cup.

According to the foundation, the $45 million commitment is structured to support players, clubs and national teams through a three-part funding model covering prize money, club incentives and long-term national team development.

Of the total, $20 million will be allocated as prize money paid directly to players and coaches competing across 16 game titles. Another $5 million will go to esports clubs that release their professional players to compete in the tournament, with incentives tied to how those players perform during the event.

An additional $20 million will be distributed through the previously announced Esports Nations Cup Development Fund, which will support official national team partners in areas such as logistics, travel, team operations, marketing and the long-term development of national team programs.

“National teams bring a powerful new layer to esports, one that is accessible, intuitive, and rooted in identity and pride,” said Ralf Reichert, chief executive officer of the Esports World Cup Foundation. “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 competition will use a placement-based prize system applied uniformly across all titles. Every qualified participant will receive prize money and is guaranteed a minimum of three matches. Equal placements will earn equal pay per player across all titles, with coaches receiving the same placement-based rewards as players.

Under the model, first-place finishers will receive $50,000 per player, second place $30,000 per player, and third place $15,000 per player. For team-based titles, payouts will scale according to roster size to maintain consistency and transparency.

The foundation said the Esports Nations Cup will be held every two years and will adopt a rotating host-city model after its Riyadh debut, bringing nation-based esports competitions to major cities worldwide.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Trackmania and Dota 2 have already been confirmed for the 2026 edition, with more titles to be announced in the coming days.

Further details on the Esports Nations Cup are expected to be released in the coming weeks.