VALORANT joins 2026 Esports Nations Cup line-up

The Esports World Cup Basis has introduced that VALORANT will be a part of the inaugural line-up for the 2026 Esports Nations Cup.

Going down in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on November Eighth-Fifteenth, the VALORANT Esports Nations Cup occasion will characteristic a complete of 32 nationwide groups. The competitors’s prize pool has but to be disclosed; nonetheless, its qualification format has been revealed. 

Based on a launch, nationwide groups will qualify for the bi-annual match by way of a combination of direct invitations, on-line qualifiers and ‘wildcard slots’.

Out of the 32 individuals, 16 groups will probably be immediately invited via a brand new ‘VALORANT Nationwide Crew Rankings’ system. This method will calculate particular person participant achievements in regional and worldwide VALORANT Champions Tour occasions. While the precise level system hasn’t been shared, factors will probably be cut up equally throughout an organisation’s teammates who participated. 

The rating of a nation will probably be determined by accumulating the factors of the highest 5 gamers on the submitted nationwide roster. The Esports World Cup Basis has famous that the deadline for the nationwide rating is June twenty first, 2026.

If a nationwide group fails to safe a direct invite, 14 extra slots will probably be out there via regional on-line qualifiers. In complete, there will probably be seven regional qualifiers, all of which is able to characteristic double-elimination brackets. Each area — North America, South America, Western Europe, Japanese Europe, Southeast Asia and Oceania, MENA, and Asia — will qualify two nations every.

Apparently, the Esports World Cup Basis famous that 22 nations have been represented at 2025’s organisation-focused Esports World Cup VALORANT occasion. 

It has but to be revealed how the 2 wildcard slots will probably be decided. Furthermore, extra particulars and guidelines surrounding nationwide group participant choice are prone to be introduced quickly. 

Commencing on November Eighth, the VALORANT 2026 ENC occasion will begin with a 32-team round-robin Group Stage, with 4 teams of eight nations. All Group Stage matches will probably be best-of-one. 

The highest 4 nations from every group will then advance to a 16-team single-elimination Playoff bracket. Each Playoff match, except for the Grand Last, will probably be best-of-three, with the champion topped by way of a best-of-five sequence.  

VALORANT turns into the most recent title to affix the Esports Nations Cup’s debut line-up. Earlier this 12 months, the likes of Apex Legends, Dota 2, Cell Legends: Bang Bang and Chess, amongst others,  have been additionally introduced as individuals.

In complete, the competitors will characteristic 16 titles, with the remaining video games but to be confirmed. The Esports Nations Cup can even have a $20m (~£14.4m) prize pool along with a $20m Esports Nations Cup Improvement Fund and a $5m (~£3.7m) quantity distributed to organisations that enable gamers to compete.  

While the Esports Nations Cup is anticipated to have a revolving host metropolis, its debut in Riyadh, the place the Esports World Cup takes place, is prone to increase considerations from the neighborhood relating to the nation’s human rights document. Prior to now, distinguished VALORANT personalities have expressed frustrations over the sport being chosen as a part of EWC final 12 months.