November 2026 belongs to national teams. The first Esports Nations Cup runs in Riyadh from 2 to 29 November, and for the first time many young fans can cheer for a country rather than a club.
What it is
The Esports Nations Cup is organised by the Esports World Cup Foundation and features 16 esports titles, with players representing their countries. The organisers plan to hold it every two years, moving to a rotating host city after this first edition.
How the money works
The event comes with a $45 million funding commitment, split three ways:
- $20 million in prize money paid directly to players and coaches
- $5 million in incentives for clubs that release their players to national teams
- $20 million through a development fund for national team partners, covering travel, operations and national pathways
Prize money is the same across every title: $50,000 per player for first place, $30,000 for second and $15,000 for third, and every qualified player is guaranteed at least three matches.
Watching together
International events are a great way to talk about sportsmanship, teamwork and handling pressure. A few ideas for family viewing:
- Pick a game your child plays and watch one match together; ask them to explain what's happening
- Talk about how players react after losing a round, and what good sportsmanship looks like
- Notice the routines: warm-ups, team talks, breaks between maps
- Agree a viewing time in advance, especially on school nights
If watching makes your young player want to compete, our tournaments and community match days are a safe, supervised place to start.
