League of Legends is set to headline the Esports Nations Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, bringing the world’s most iconic multiplayer online battle arena into a premier nation-based competitive format.
Top national teams will compete in 5v5 play on PC for a share of a $1,500,000 prize pool, with national pride and international legacy on the line across seven days of elite competition. Every match unfolds on Summoner’s Rift, where precise execution, coordinated team fighting, and objective control define success at the highest level.
Fans can expect matches shaped by explosive momentum swings, late-game team fights, and constant macro adaptation. With more than 140 champions available, teams must draft intelligently, manage resources efficiently, and execute decisively under pressure. At ENC, every rotation and fight carries weight as nations battle to advance.
The League of Legends tournament will run from November 21st to November 29th on PC, featuring 5v5 competition and a total prize pool of $1,500,000. National teams will compete through a multi-stage format.
Roster construction and qualification pathways ensure that each national lineup reflects the highest level of competitive excellence, bringing together proven veterans and emerging stars. As the tournament advances, only the strongest teams will survive, with every series pushing nations closer to championship contention.
League of Legends boasts one of the most established global competitive ecosystems in esports history. Korea and China stand as long-running powerhouses, setting the standard through disciplined macro play and world-class individual talent. Europe continues to produce adaptable, tactically sharp teams capable of challenging the very best, while North America fields squads defined by coordination and high-pressure resilience.
Additional regions have steadily closed the gap, contributing unique approaches to drafting, pacing, and team fighting that regularly threaten established hierarchies. ENC brings these forces together in a rare nation-based format, creating new rivalries while amplifying long-standing ones on the stage in Riyadh.
League of Legends arrives at ENC following a defining showing at the Esports World Cup 2025. Gen.G claimed the League of Legends title in Riyadh, representing Korea and reinforcing the region’s reputation as one of the discipline’s most dominant forces. That performance set the competitive benchmark and underscored the level of coordination required to win on the world’s biggest stage.
With only the strongest teams advancing at each stage, every match matters. The Esports Nations Cup offers a definitive proving ground where preparation, execution, and national pride collide, setting the stage for new rivalries and a landmark chapter in League of Legends competition.
2026
Esports Foundation Postpones Inaugural Esports Nations Cup to November 2027
The Esports Foundation (EF) today announced that the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), originally scheduled to take place in November 2026 in Riyadh, will be postponed to November 2027, following ongoing assessment of the wider regional situation, and after consultation with key stakeholders.
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Kameto Joins Esports Nations Cup as Team France Ambassador
Ahead of the Esports Nations Cup 2026, Team France is preparing to take the global stage with the support of a familiar face and its first official national jersey. Kamel "Kameto" Kebir has been named the official ambassador for Team France, bringing his connection with the French esports community to the national team’s journey. Team France’s adidas jersey has also been revealed as the first national design unveiled for ENC 26, representing the identity behind competing under the French flag.
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France Unveils First Esports Nations Cup Jersey on the Champs-Élysées
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Esports Foundation and adidas Announce Landmark Partnership to Outfit Every Team at the Inaugural Esports Nations Cup
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