Esports Nations Cup postponed 1 year amid war in Middle East

The inaugural Esports Nations Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been postponed one year from November 2026 to November 2027.

The Esports Foundation announced the decision Tuesday, citing an "ongoing assessment of the wider regional situation" amid the ongoing war in Iran.

"Given ENC's unprecedented international scale and the uncertainty created by the wider regional situation, EF believes moving the inaugural competition to November 2027 is the responsible decision to provide the certainty and stability that National Teams, publishers, partners and fans expect," the foundation said in a statement. "ENC brings together teams and stakeholders from more than 100 countries and territories. Saudi Arabia remains fully capable of hosting events, with major sporting and entertainment events continuing as planned."

The introduction of the Esports Nations Cup follows on the heels of the Esports World Cup, which debuted in 2024 in Riyadh and is currently being played in Paris after the war caused organizers to move it out of the Middle East.

While the World Cup brings together existing esports clubs from around the world to compete, the Nations Cup is meant to focus on national representation.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund is entwined with the nonprofit Esports Foundation and the creation of both tournaments. The PIF also led an investment group that bought video game conglomerate Electronic Arts this year.

--Field Level Media