Team Japan enters ENC 26 atop the ENC Rankings with one of the deepest rosters in the tournament. The lineup is headlined by Sahara, the 21-year-old prodigy and 2026 Capcom Cup champion, alongside Kojiro "Higuchi" Higuchi, Hikaru "Hikaru" Nakatani and Keita "Fuudo" Ai, a Street Fighter veteran with more than 15 years of top-level competition. Together, the roster blends multiple generations of Japanese Street Fighter, combining Fuudo's experience with Sahara's emergence as the game's newest superstar.
Close behind in the rankings is South Korea, another title favorite loaded with international experience. The roster is led by Shin "Leshar" Moon-sup, who claimed multiple premier tournament victories in 2025, and features Seo "Armperor" Jin-woo, Sim "NL" Gun and Yeon "DakCorgi" Je-gil, each accomplished competitors in their own right.
With decades of sporting rivalry between Japan and South Korea extending well beyond esports, ENC 26 provides another stage for the neighboring nations to battle for regional supremacy—and perhaps the inaugural Street Fighter 6 championship.
Leading the charge
The United States brings one of the strongest rosters outside of Asia, led by Victor "Punk" Woodley, the EVO 2024 champion and one of Street Fighter's most accomplished modern competitors. He is joined by Kevin "Dual Kevin" Barrios, David "JAK" Edwards and Noah "NoahTheProdigy" Solis, a former child prodigy who has developed into one of North America's top players. Whether the United States can match Japan's unmatched depth has long been a point of debate within the fighting game community, and ENC 26 offers the perfect stage to settle that conversation.
China and the Dominican Republic also arrive as legitimate title contenders. China is headlined by Zeng "Xiao Hai" Zhuojun, a two-time Street Fighter 6 Esports World Cup champion and one of the most decorated fighting game players of all time. Alongside him is Kuang "Zhen" Zhen, whose breakout run from the Last Chance Qualifier to a runner-up finish at Capcom Cup IX established him as one of the game's brightest young stars. Combined with a deep supporting cast, China has all the tools to challenge for the inaugural championship.
The Dominican Republic, meanwhile, is anchored by Saul Leonardo "MenaRD" Mena II, a four-time EVO champion and two-time Capcom Cup winner. Unlike many of the all-star rosters assembled for ENC 26, the Dominican squad benefits from years of competing and training together, giving the team an established chemistry that could prove invaluable in the tournament's unique 4v4 format.
Flying under the radar
Team Canada enters ENC 26 with a roster capable of surprising the favorites. The lineup features Thunder "Thunder" De Langis, one of Canada's most consistent Street Fighter competitors, alongside Michael "Riddles" Kim, who made his name as one of the world's best Super Smash Bros. Ultimate players before transitioning to Street Fighter 6. If the roster finds its rhythm early and capitalizes on favorable matchups, Canada has the talent to put together a deep run in Riyadh.
New rivalries begin here
Great Britain also stands out as one of Europe's strongest contenders. The roster is led by Samuel "EndingWalker" Arm, one of the game's brightest young stars, and Benjamin "Problem X" Simon, the EVO champion and longtime Street Fighter veteran. With every region bringing its own approach to character selection, team composition and matchups, the tournament's unique 4v4 format is set to produce strategic battles rarely seen in traditional Street Fighter competition.
Street Fighter 6 at Esports Nations Cup 2026 runs from November 18-22, with 24 national teams competing for a share of the $880,000 prize pool and the honor of becoming the inaugural ENC champions. Follow the action as one nation proves it has the world's strongest Street Fighter roster.
