Esports Nations Cup 2026 Adds Dota 2 to the Games Lineup

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (January 28, 2026) - The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) today announced Dota 2 as the third of 16 titles that national teams and players will compete in at the inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC), set to debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November. 32 national teams, each comprising the best five Dota 2 players from each nation, will compete across a group stage and playoffs, culminating in a best-of-five grand final series between the last two standing teams.

Here’s everything you need to know about Dota 2 at ENC 2026:

SCHEDULE AND FORMAT

• The Dota 2 tournament at ENC will begin on November 2, 2026, and will conclude with the playoff final on November 8, 2026.
• The first stage will consist of 32 teams competing in a round-robin group stage, featuring four groups of eight teams.
• The second stage will consist of 16 teams competing in a single-elimination playoff bracket.
• All group stage matches will be best-of-one. All playoff matches (excluding the grand final) will be best-of-three. Finally, the grand final will be played in a best-of-five.

RANKING SYSTEM AND QUALIFIER INFO

32 national teams will compete at the Dota 2 event at ENC 2026:

• The top 16 teams will be directly invited based on the Dota 2 National Team Ranking
• 14 teams will be able to qualify through regional online qualifiers
• 2 teams will come from Wildcard slots

The Esports Nations Cup will determine its direct invites via the Dota 2 National Team Ranking, which will take into account Tier 1 Dota 2 competitions (starting June 8, 2025). Clubs will be awarded points based on placements at these official competitions, with those points equally shared across all Club teammates who participated. The national ranking will then accumulate the points of the top five players on the submitted national roster. The cut-off date for the national ranking is June 7, 2026.

The Dota 2 online qualifier will take between June 16 - July 5, with exact dates to be announced later. Qualifiers will be double-elimination brackets, hosted in each of the following regions:

• North America (1 slot)
• South America (2)
• Western Europe (2)
• Eastern Europe (2)
• Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia (2)
• Central and South Africa (1)
• South and East Asia (2)
• Southeast Asia and Oceania (2)

DOTA 2 AT THE ESPORTS WORLD CUP

At the Esports World Cup 2025, 16 Dota 2 teams competed across 10 days of action, culminating in a best-of-five grand final between Team Spirit and Team Falcons. Team Spirit displayed complete dominance in Riyadh with a clean 3-0 sweep over Team Falcons, not dropping a single map in playoffs and only losing one map during the entire main event. Falcons inspired their local fans by showing incredible resolve to rally from a poor start in the group stage and reach the grand final.

In total, 29 nations were represented at the Dota 2 main event at EWC 2025.

Additional information about the Esports Nations Cup will be released in the coming weeks. To stay up to date, visit esportsnationscup.com, and follow ENC on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and follow the Esports World Cup Foundation on LinkedIn.

About the Esports Nations Cup

The Esports Nations Cup (ENC) is a biennial global esports competition created by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) that brings national pride to the world stage. Launching in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2026, the ENC will feature the world’s best players competing not for their clubs, but for their countries and territories, across a lineup of leading esports titles. Built in collaboration with game partners, clubs, and esports organizations, the ENC establishes the first recurring, large-scale platform for national teams in esports. Beyond competition, it aims to fuel fandom, inspire heroes, and provide sustainable pathways for nations, players, and partners to grow within the global esports ecosystem. esportsnationscup.com

About Esports World Cup Foundation

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) is a non-profit organization based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, dedicated to advancing and professionalizing the global esports industry. Through the annual Esports World Cup (EWC) and the biennial Esports Nations Cup (ENC), EWCF brings together the world’s top players, leading clubs, and millions of fans for the biggest stages in competitive gaming. Beyond hosting tournaments, the Foundation works year-round to grow the esports ecosystem, support talent development, and create lasting opportunities for players, teams, and partners worldwide.