Jul 28, 2026.
Following the conclusion of the Apex Legends Global Series Year 6 Split 1 Playoffs at EWC 2026, 20 countries and territories will receive guaranteed representation at the ENC Finals in Riyadh
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (July 28, 2026) - The Esports Foundation (EF) today confirmed the complete list of 20 countries and territories that will receive guaranteed representation in the Apex Legends tournament at the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC), the global nation-based esports competition set to debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from November 2-29, 2026.
These countries and territories are guaranteed representation via their individual total ALGS Year 6 Championship Points following the conclusion of the ALGS Year 6 Split 1 Playoffs at the Esports World Cup 2026 in Paris, which saw Japanese roster UNLIMIT secure the trophy at the end of the Grand Finals. The rosters that represent the invited countries and territories are determined through the online regional qualifiers, with the highest-ranked eligible roster in each country or territory's corresponding region earning qualification.
The 20 countries and territories guaranteed representation are, in order:
The United States and Japan lead the pack by an exceptionally wide margin, with the US in particular tripling the points of any team below the top two. Teams representing the United States and Japan will be a dominant presence in their respective qualifiers. The final rankings highlight the importance of reaching a major stage like the ALGS Split 1 Playoffs at EWC 2026, as the participation of a single player from Argentina, Portugal, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Austria, and Spain at that event was enough to earn guaranteed representation at ENC 2026.
The roster from each country or territory that places the highest in their respective online regional qualifier will qualify directly for the ENC Finals. 18 additional slots will be awarded to the highest-finishing teams from countries and territories that are not already qualified through the invites, distributed by region: 9 slots to EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), 6 to the Americas, and 3 to APAC South (Southeast Asia, South + East Asia, Oceania, China). The final two spots will be attributed to Wildcard slots: one Host Region Slot and one Solidarity Slot.
Four online regional qualifiers will be held August 1-3, one in each of the following regions: EMEA, Americas, APAC South, and APAC North. Each region’s qualifier will feature a maximum of 1,280 teams. The tournament will use a single-elimination structure with up to seven rounds. Early rounds will feature four matches per series, while the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals will feature six matches each. The top 10 teams from each lobby will advance after each round. The series will use the ALGS scoring structure, awarding points for both placement and eliminations.
The Esports Nations Cup (ENC) is a biennial global esports competition created by the Esports Foundation (EF) 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
Esports Nations Cup media contact:
[email protected]
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