Esports Nations Cup Postponed to 2027 in Riyadh

The inaugural Esports Nations Cup, a first-of-its-kind national-team esports event planned for الرياض, has been officially postponed from November 2026 to November 2027. The debut edition remains tied to Saudi Arabia and will still take place in the capital.

The tournament was originally scheduled to run across four weeks, from 2 to 29 November 2026, as a multi-title, offline competition in which players represent their national teams rather than clubs. It was conceived as the first edition of a biennial, country-based series expanding on the Esports World Cup concept.

Plans called for more than 120 nations and 16 game titles to take part, with separate competitions across popular games such as Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2, Rocket League, EA Sports FC 26, and various fighting titles. Each competition was designed with its own dates, formats, and prize pools, with several titles featuring 32 national teams and prize pools of around USD 1,320,000 to 1,500,000. National Team Partner status was granted to organizations and individuals across more than 100 countries and territories for the Riyadh launch.

Many events were structured around offline play in الرياض, with a round-robin group stage followed by single-elimination playoffs. After its Riyadh debut, the series is intended to rotate to host cities in other countries in future editions.

Why it matters

For residents and visitors in الرياض, the event is set to bring one of the largest gatherings of international esports talent to the city, drawing fans and competitors from around the world. As of the latest available information, specific venues, timings, and any ticket prices in ريال سعودي have not yet been announced. Saudi Living will share confirmed details as they become official.

---

Stay updated with the latest news, events, sports updates, business insights, real estate and lifestyle stories on Saudi Living — the leading online platform for residents, expats, and visitors in Saudi Arabia.

Follow Saudi Living for daily updates:

• Instagram - @saudiliving
• X - @saudiliving
• Facebook - @saudiliving
• YouTube - @saudiliving