Esports Nations Cup 2026 Adds Street Fighter 6 to the Games Lineup

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (April 7, 2026) - The Esports Foundation (EF) today announced Street Fighter 6 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. The event will utilize an increasingly popular team-based format within the Street Fighter 6 community, making this a truly unique opportunity for fans to witness a never-before-seen national Street Fighter 6 competition on a massive global stage.

Here’s everything you need to know about Street Fighter 6 at ENC 2026:

SCHEDULE AND FORMAT

• The Street Fighter 6 tournament at ENC will begin on November 18, 2026, and will conclude with the playoff final on November 22, 2026.
• The Street Fighter 6 tournament at ENC will use the 4-on-4 Team Battle format. The two teams face off in a series of four 1v1 matches, apart from the Grand Final which will be played in a best-of-eight. Every player on the team plays exactly once to earn a point for their country (twice in the grand final). If the score is tied after the final round, a final tie-breaker match will determine the winner.
• The first stage will consist of 24 teams competing in a round-robin group stage, featuring four groups of six teams.
• The top four teams from each group will advance to the next stage. The second stage will consist of 16 teams competing in a single-elimination playoff bracket.

RANKING SYSTEM AND QUALIFIER INFO

24 national teams will compete at the Street Fighter 6 event at ENC 2026:

• The top 12 teams will be directly invited based on a newly created ENC Street Fighter 6 National Team Ranking system
• 10 teams will qualify through regional qualifiers
• 2 teams will come through Wildcard slots

Each team consists of four players with one team captain

The Esports Nations Cup will determine its direct invites via a Street Fighter 6 National Team Ranking system that takes into a set of Street Fighter 6 tournaments from the beginning of 2025 until June 28, 2026, including EVO Vegas 2026. Players will be awarded points based on their performances at these events. The national ranking will accumulate the points of the top three ranked players from each nation to determine the invited teams.

The regional qualifiers will take place June 30 through July 3. Qualifiers will be double-elimination bracket solo player tournaments. The winning players of each regional qualifier will secure a slot for their nation, as well as a spot for themselves on the national team roster. The 10 regional qualifiers will take place in the following regions:

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

Every national team is crafted to represent the best of the best:

Invited Nations & Wildcards: Teams consist of the top-ranked player from the 2026 World Warrior Ranking, joined by the three highest-ranked players according to the Street Fighter 6 National Team Ranking.

Qualified Nations: Teams include the regional qualifier winner, the top player from the 2026 World Warrior Ranking (up until the second tournament of each region), and the top two players from the Street Fighter 6 National Team Ranking.

If a nation lacks enough ranked players to fill a 4-player roster, the National Team Manager or Team Captain may select remaining players, subject to ENC Administration approval.

STREET FIGHTER 6 AT THE ESPORTS WORLD CUP

Street Fighter 6 was the ultimate display of old vs. new at Esports World Cup 2025, as several young stars held their own against time-tested veterans that have dominated fighting games for more than a decade. In the grand final, multi-time EVO champion and reigning SF6 at EWC champion Zeng "Xiao Hai" Zhuojun (China) came face-to-face with a young prodigy who was not even born when Xiao Hai’s career started; 15-year-old Derek Blaz (Chile). Ultimately, veteran experience prevailed as Xiao Hai defeated Blaz in a full 9-game match to secure back-to-back gold at EWC.

In total, 15 nations were represented at the Street Fighter 6 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 Foundation

The Esports Foundation (EF) 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), EF 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]