The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced Thursday that it will commit $45 million USD in support of players, clubs, and national teams taking part in the first inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026.
That funding will be divided up into three key pillars of support, including $20 million in prize money to be paid directly to players and coaches competing across the 16 competitive titles. Further, ENC will introduce a “placement-based prize framework,” applied across all game titles:
- First-place finish awards $50,000 per player.
- Second-place awards $30,000 per player.
- Third-place awards $15,000 per player.
Around $5 million will be earmarked for “club incentives” for professional esports clubs that “release and enable” their professional players to participate in ENC, with rewards tied directly to the performance of their players at the event:
“For example, if a Club fields three players that finish first place ($50,000 x 3 = $150,000) at ENC 2026, that Club would earn a 40% incentive bonus of $60,000.”
Finally, $20 million will be used for the previously announced ENC Development Fund to financially support official national team partners with expenses related to ENC including logistics, travel, program operations, national team marketing, and the long-term growth strategies.
EWCF has already announced the first three titles that will be part of the competition—Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Trackmania, and Dota 2—with more to be announced in the weeks and months ahead.
Formally announced in August 2025 at New Global Sport Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Esports Nations Cup is a replacement of sorts for the Esports Olympic Games, which Saudi Arabia backed out of last year, after some strong disagreements with the International Olympic Committee.
Properties owned or tied to the Saudi Arabian government such as the Esports World Cup Foundation and the Esports Nations Cup are frequently accused of helping the government engage in so-called “sports washing,” or using various forms of sport and entertainment to cover up its record on human rights, women’s rights, LGTBQ+ rights, military actions in Yemen, and more. These and other criticisms are actively highlighted by international watchdog groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.