League of Legends joins the Esports Nations Cup with elite teams battling in one of the world’s most iconic competitive titles. Featuring high-level macro play and explosive teamfights, the tournament showcases the depth and diversity of global League of Legends talent. As new rivalries take shape on the Rift, every match carries pride and championship stakes.
32
Competing Teams
$1,500,000
Prize Pool
Tournament Format
The League of Legends tournament at the Esports Nations Cup will run from November 21st–29th, 2026, featuring 32 teams. The competition begins with a Play-In stage, where 24 teams are divided into four groups of six and compete in a double round-robin format. All Play-In matches are best-of-one. The top two teams from each group advance to the Group Stage.
The Group Stage features 16 teams, including eight teams seeded directly into this phase. Teams are split into four groups of four and compete in a round-robin format with best-of-three matches. The top two teams from each group advance to the playoffs.
The playoffs consist of eight teams competing in a single-elimination bracket. All playoff matches are best-of-three, while the Grand Final will be played as a best-of-five to crown the champion.
About
League of Legends is an ever-evolving multiplayer online battle arena featuring more than 140 champions, each with unique abilities that elite players must master on Summoner’s Rift. Teams compete across five specialized roles, where mechanical precision, macro decision-making, and constant adaptation define success at the highest level. With its unmatched strategic depth and global reach, League of Legends remains a cornerstone of the esports ecosystem and a defining title of international competition. At the Esports Nations Cup, the focus shifts to the world’s top League of Legends countries & territories , led by historic powerhouses from Korea and China alongside elite contenders from
Europe and North America. These regions have shaped the modern competitive meta through disciplined team play, decisive objective control, and world-class individual talent. As ENC brings them together in a country/territory -based format, new rivalries emerge and every match carries championship implications. That standard was on full display at the Esports World Cup in 2025, where Gen.G claimed the League of Legends title, representing Korea at the top of the global field. Their victory reinforced the region’s continued dominance and highlighted the level of coordination required to win on the biggest stage. Now, that same intensity carries into ENC, where pride and international legacy are on the line.
Latest News From ENC
2026
Esports Foundation Postpones Inaugural Esports Nations Cup to November 2027
The Esports Foundation (EF) today announced that the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), originally scheduled to take place in November 2026 in Riyadh, will be postponed to November 2027, following ongoing assessment of the wider regional situation, and after consultation with key stakeholders.
2026
Kameto Joins Esports Nations Cup as Team France Ambassador
Ahead of the Esports Nations Cup 2026, Team France is preparing to take the global stage with the support of a familiar face and its first official national jersey. Kamel "Kameto" Kebir has been named the official ambassador for Team France, bringing his connection with the French esports community to the national team’s journey. Team France’s adidas jersey has also been revealed as the first national design unveiled for ENC 26, representing the identity behind competing under the French flag.
PR
France Unveils First Esports Nations Cup Jersey on the Champs-Élysées
Revealed at the Esports Festival by the Esports World Cup, the jersey designed in collaboration with adidas gives French esports a new symbol to rally behind.
PR
Esports Foundation and adidas Announce Landmark Partnership to Outfit Every Team at the Inaugural Esports Nations Cup
Over 100 countries and territories will wear custom adidas national jerseys at the Esports Nations Cup (ENC), equipping every team competing across 16 of the world’s most popular esports titles. The inaugural four-week event is set to take place starting November 2, 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. National team jerseys will be revealed in the coming weeks. The partnership directly supports the ongoing convergence of esports, culture, entertainment and sports, creating a defining moment for the esports industry and the global sport landscape.