EF Official Announcement: The inaugural eSports Nations Cup will be postponed to November 2027.

The Esports Development Foundation (EF) announced on Tuesday that the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), originally scheduled for November 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will be postponed to November 2027. This decision was based on EF's ongoing assessment of the regional situation and the demands of all parties involved, aiming to ensure the smooth running of the event.

As a biennial global esports event, the Esports Nations Cup attracts teams and stakeholders from over a hundred countries and regions. Given the unprecedented scale of ENC and the uncertainties arising from the current regional situation, EF believes that postponing the event is a responsible decision.

“The decision to postpone the Esports Nations Cup was not made lightly,” EF CEO Ralph Reichelt stated in a press release. “The response from national team partners, game publishers, players, and the global esports community has shown us the enormous potential of this event. We have a responsibility to host the inaugural ENC for them under the best possible conditions, ensuring it lives up to the vision.”

Reichert then added that the postponement does not affect EF's commitment to ENC and its national esports ecosystem development plans: "Postponing the event to Riyadh next year does not change our commitment. We will continue to invest in national team partners, work with game publishers, and build the emerging national ecosystem around this event. The work is still ongoing, and our vision for ENC remains unchanged."

The announcement concluded by stating that EF will continue to work closely with relevant parties in the coming weeks to clarify the revised schedule, qualifying pathways, and other impacts of the new timetable.

Image source: Internet/ENC official website