Esports Nations Cup 2026 Adds PUBG: Battlegrounds to the Games Lineup

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (February 16, 2026) - The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) today announced PUBG: Battlegrounds as the latest 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, from November 2 through 29, 2026. 24 nations will drop in and fight for the ultimate Chicken Dinner, with a 16 team, 10 game, grand final set to deliver some intense battle royale action during the second week of the Esports Nations Cup.

Here’s everything you need to know about PUBG: Battlegrounds at ENC 2026:

SCHEDULE AND FORMAT

• The PUBG: Battlegrounds tournament at ENC will begin on November 11, 2026, and will conclude with the finals on November 15, 2026.
• The first stage will consist of 24 teams competing in a group stage, featuring three groups of eight teams, with five matches taking place between each group.
• The top 16 teams from the group stage will advance to the finals.
• The finals will consist of 16 teams competing over 10 matches maximum, using the Smash Rule system.

RANKING SYSTEM AND QUALIFIER INFO

24 national teams will compete at the PUBG: Battlegrounds event at ENC 2026:

• The top 12 teams will be directly invited based on the PUBG National Team Ranking using the KRAFTON PUBG Power Rankings as foundation.

• 10 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 PUBG Ranking from KRAFTON. Clubs will be ranked based on placements at official competitions, with those points equally shared across all Club teammates who participated. The national ranking will then accumulate the points of the top four players on the submitted national roster. The cut-off date for the national ranking is June 7, 2026.

The PUBG: Battlegrounds online qualifier will take between July 10 - 12. Qualifiers will feature double-elimination brackets, with a minimum of 12 games played. Qualifiers will be hosted in each of the following regions:

• Americas (2 slots)
• Europe + Middle East + Africa (4)
• Asia (2)
• Southeast Asia + Oceania (2)

PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS AT THE ESPORTS WORLD CUP

PUBG: Battlegrounds closed out the action in the Qiddiya Esports Arena at the 2025 Esports World Cup, bringing a suitably epic end to the battle royale action. Local organisation Twisted Minds took an emphatic win in front of their home crowd, picking up three Chicken Dinners across the grand finals. But even that wasn’t enough to secure them an early victory, with the action coming down to the 12th and final match, where the likes of Gen.G and and Team Falcons were still in with a shot to win right down to the final moments.

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]