Meet the ENC 26 Field: PUBG: Battlegrounds

Brazil enters PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS at Esports Nations Cup 2026 as the nation to beat. Fresh off its PUBG Nations Cup victory in Seoul, the reigning champions return with MVP Pedro "sparkingg" Ribeiro leading a roster capable of claiming another international title.

Standing in their way are 23 other national teams, with 12 earning direct invitations through the ENC Rankings and 10 battling through regional qualifiers. The United Arab Emirates joins via a Host Region Slot and one additional nation will be invited through a Solidarity Slot. From established contenders to rising challengers, the inaugural Esports Nations Cup is set to showcase one of the deepest international PUBG fields of the year.

Leading the charge

Brazil and Thailand enter the tournament as two of the top contenders, with both national teams bringing proven international talent. Brazil arrives with a roster built for high-pressure competition, while Thailand finished atop the ENC Rankings behind Narathip "TiGGER" Hongjanda and Chonchanok "Belmoth" Chankasame, both PUBG Global Championship winners.

China and South Korea also finished among the top three in the rankings and bring experienced national teams with the pedigree to challenge for the title.

Australia includes several of PUBG's most accomplished players, led by James "TGLTN" Giezen. His resume includes titles at the 2024 Esports World Cup, PUBG Global Series 2 in 2023, and PUBG Global Invitational.S 2021, along with numerous other top international finishes.

Under the radar

Canada features one of PUBG’s longest-tenured competitors in Nolan "Shinboi" Burdick, who has been competing at the highest level since 2018. While he continues to search for a major international title, Shinboi’s experience and consistency make Canada a team worth watching.

Malaysia earned its spot at ENC 26 by winning the Asia Pacific Qualifier. The roster faces a tough challenge against established powers like Brazil, China and South Korea, but PUBG’s battle royale format always leaves room for unexpected results. A strong start and smart decision-making could put Malaysia in position to challenge the favorites.

New rivalries begin here

PUBG has a long history of nation-based competition, with many of the players representing North America, South America and Asia Pacific having faced each other dozens of times on the international stage.

Several players from Vietnam, Brazil and South Korea have won PUBG Nations Cup titles since 2023, creating familiar matchups between some of the game’s most successful national teams. ENC 26 gives these rivals another opportunity to add to their histories while introducing new storylines between nations that haven’t faced off as often.

PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS at Esports Nations Cup 2026 runs from November 11-15, with 24 national teams competing through a Group Stage and Grand Final for a share of the $1,120,000 prize pool. Follow the action as one nation looks to claim the first ENC PUBG title.