The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has officially added EA Sports FC 26 to the competitive lineup for the upcoming Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026. The football simulation title will feature in the nation-based tournament scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, later this year.
The competition is set to begin on November 27 and will conclude with the finals on November 29, 2026. This inclusion places EA Sports FC 26 alongside other confirmed titles such as Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, Chess, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Trackmania, and Honor of Kings. The event will showcase a total of 16 different competitive games.
Tournament Structure and Format
According to the announcement, the EA Sports FC 26 tournament will host 128 players, each representing their respective national teams.
The competition will start with a round-robin group stage. The 128 participants will be divided into 16 groups, with eight players in each group. All matches during this initial phase will be played as a best-of-one series. The top four competitors from every group will advance to the next stage.
The 64 players who successfully navigate the group stage will move into a single-elimination playoff bracket. This bracket will also feature best-of-one matches, culminating in a grand final where the winner will secure the ENC gold medal.
Qualification Process
Participants will earn their spots in the tournament through three distinct pathways. A total of 64 players will receive direct invitations based on their standing in the official EA Sports FC Pro World Rankings.
For nations without a direct invitee, or to secure a second representative, 56 players will qualify through regional competitions. The remaining eight spots will be filled via Wildcard selections.
The deadline for determining direct invites based on world rankings is July 26, 2026. These direct invitations are limited to one player per nation.
Regional Qualifiers
The regional qualification tournaments are scheduled to run from July 27 to August 2, 2026. These events will consist of two stages: an open in-game ladder followed by a second stage featuring a Swiss round and a double-elimination bracket.
Qualifiers will be hosted across several global regions:
- Africa
- North Asia
- South Asia
- Western Europe
- Eastern Europe
- North Latin America
- South Latin America
- North America
- Oceania
- Middle East
Representation Rules
The EWCF has implemented specific rules regarding national representation. Nations that secure a direct invite through the ranking system are permitted to qualify only one additional player through the regional qualifiers.
For countries that do not receive a direct invitation, up to two players can earn spots via the regional tournaments. This structure guarantees that a minimum of 64 different nations will be represented in the EA Sports FC 26 competition, ensuring broad global participation at the event.