Esports Nations Cup 2026 Announces Mobile Legends: Bang Bang as First Confirmed Game Title

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (January 25, 2026) - The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) today announced Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) as the first of the 16 world-class titles that national teams will compete in at the inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC), taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November. The MLBB main event will consist of a round-robin group stage followed by a single-elimination playoff in the closing week of the ENC.

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

SCHEDULE AND FORMAT

• The MLBB tournament at ENC 2026 will begin on November 23, 2026, and will conclude with the grand final on November 29, 2026. All stages of the main event will take place entirely on LAN.
• The first stage will consist of 32 national teams competing in a round-robin group stage, featuring four groups of eight teams. All matches will be best-of-two. The top four teams from each group will advance to the next stage.
• The second stage will consist of 16 national teams competing in a single-elimination playoff bracket. All matches will be best-of-five prior to the grand finals, which will be best-of-seven.

RANKING SYSTEM AND QUALIFIER INFO

32 national teams will compete in the MLBB event at ENC 2026.

• 16 national teams will be directly invited based on a newly created MLBB nation ranking system

• 14 national teams will qualify through regional online qualifiers held in August

• 2 Wildcard teams will be invited

The newly created MLBB nation ranking system will take into account international, regional, and some national club competitions. Clubs will be awarded points based on placements at official MLBB 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 August 2nd, after the conclusion of the Mid Season Cup at Esports World Cup 2026.

The MLBB qualifiers will take place August 14-16. Qualifiers will be double-elimination brackets, hosted in each of the following regions:

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

MLBB AT THE ESPORTS WORLD CUP

At the Esports World Cup 2025, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang delivered two of the event’s defining tournaments through the Mid Season Cup (MSC) and the Women’s Invitational (MWI), bringing elite competition and global representation to Riyadh. MSC concluded with Team Liquid PH securing the title in a 4–1 Grand Final victory, while MWI saw Team Vitality lift the trophy with a 4–0 sweep in the final. Beyond the results, MLBB created moving storylines throughout the season, including Team Liquid’s Sanford “Sanford” Vinuya (Philippines) balancing elite performance with the responsibility of supporting his family, and Team Vitality’s Chell and Cinny (Indonesia) competing in Riyadh after the loss of their grandfather on the day they arrived.

Across both competitions, 24 nations were represented in MLBB main events 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.

About Mobile Legends: Bang Bang

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is one of the most popular mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games worldwide that brings communities together through teamwork and strategy. With over 1.5 billion installations and 110 million active monthly users, the award-winning game is among the top 10 most played in over 80 countries. With an extensive reach across the Asia Pacific region, the multiplayer is available in 139 countries with an expansive global esports presence.

About Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Esports

Established in 2017, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Esports serves as a platform for players to pursue their dreams of becoming esports athletes and illuminate opportunities within the international esports ecosystem. MLBB Esports has since expanded to multiple leagues, including the MPL series hosted in Southeast Asia, Middle East, and Latin America. MPL is the first esports event series to surpass 1 billion hours of watch time globally.

About MOONTON Games

Established in 2014, MOONTON Games is a global video game company dedicated to gaming development, publication, and esports. With more than 2,000 employees worldwide, the company operates offices in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Latin America, and China. It has successfully launched several high-profile mobile games globally and has built long-term relationships with governments and esports organizations in more than 30 countries around the world. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is its current star game and the leading mobile multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game worldwide. For more information, visit en.moonton.com.

Esports Nations Cup media contact:
[email protected]