The Esports Foundation (EF) has confirmed the delay of the very first Esports Nations Cup (ENC), which was originally scheduled to take place in November 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The competition has been pushed back by one year and will now be held in November 2027. The regional situation is to blame for this delay. Indeed, the region has been severely destabilized by the war currently taking place in Iran. The EF also wants to "ensure the stability and visibility expected by national teams, publishers, partners, and fans."

Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation, has issued the following statement.

"The decision to postpone the Esports Nations Cup was not taken lightly. The response from National Team Partners, publishers, players and communities around the world has shown us how much potential this competition has. We owe them an inaugural ENC delivered under the right conditions and at the level this idea deserves. Hosting the tournament in Riyadh next year does not change our commitment. We will continue investing in our National Team Partners, working with publishers and building the national ecosystems already taking shape around the competition. The work continues, and our ambition for ENC remains unchanged."