Esports Nations Cup 2026 Announces EA SPORTS FC as Confirmed Game Title with Open In-Game Qualifiers

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (February 9, 2026) - The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) today announced that EA SPORTS FC is the latest game title to join the 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, from November 2 through 29, 2026.

EA SPORTS FC is one of the world’s marquee sports sims, carrying EA’s legacy of putting the beautiful game into players' hands since 1993, and the event at ENC 2026 will see the world’s best players compete for their nation. Players all around the globe have the opportunity to represent their nation at ENC by making it through the open in-game qualifier held by EA.

Here’s everything you need to know about EA SPORTS FC at ENC 2026:

SCHEDULE AND FORMAT

• The EA SPORTS FC tournament begins on November 17 with the first group stage matches and ends with the grand final on November 22.
• 128 players will compete in total. The tournament will begin with a round-robin group stage consisting of 8 players per group across 16 groups.
• All group matches are a best-of-one, and the top 4 players from each group will advance into the next round.
• The 64 players who qualify from the group stage will advance to the play-offs, culminating in a grand final to determine who takes home the ENC gold medal. All playoff matches are a best-of-one.

RANKING SYSTEM AND QUALIFIER INFO

128 players representing their respective national teams will compete at the EA SPORTS FC event at ENC 2026:

• The top 64 players will be directly invited based on the official EA SPORTS FC Pro World Rankings
• 56 players will qualify through regional qualifiers
• 8 players will come from Wildcard slots

The Esports Nations Cup will determine its direct invites via the official EA SPORTS FC Pro World Rankings, limited to one player per nation. The cut-off date for determining direct invites to ENC 2026 is July 26, 2026.

The EA SPORTS FC regional qualifiers will take place July 27 - August 2, 2026. Regional qualifiers will consist of two stages: an open in-game ladder and a second stage consisting of both a Swiss round and a double-elimination bracket, hosted in each of the following regions:

• Africa
• North Asia
• South Asia
• Western Europe
• Eastern Europe
• North Latin America
• South Latin America
• North America
• Oceania
• Middle East

Nations with one player directly invited through the ranking system can only qualify one more player through the regional qualifiers. For nations without a direct invite, up to two players can make it through the regional qualifiers. This will guarantee that a minimum of 64 nations will be represented at the ENC’s EA SPORTS FC tournament to ensure broad global representation at the event.

EA SPORTS FC AT THE ESPORTS WORLD CUP

The FC Pro 25 World Championship saw ManuBachoore's (The Netherlands) redemption. The former 2023 world champion came into EWC off the back of a disappointing season and had to fight through the Play-In stage to make the 32-player main bracket. His comeback and eventual victory made him the first-ever two-time EA SPORTS FC World Champion. His win also helped Team Liquid break the record for the most game championships at a single EWC with three different wins. It was a double-Dutch success for Team Liquid, with Levi de Weerd (The Netherlands) defeating RBLZ Gaming’s GuiBarros (Brazil) in the third-place match.

In total, 36 nations were represented across the EA SPORTS FC main event and Play-Ins 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.

Esports Nations Cup media contact:
[email protected]