As part of Esports Nations Cup 2026, a unified national partnership system has been created across more than 100 countries, and the Hungarian Esports Federation is among its members. The new model integrates federations, clubs, and ecosystem stakeholders, while elevating the global role of national teams to a new level.

The Esports Foundation (EF) has awarded National Partner, or National Team Partner, status to organizations and individuals across more than 100 countries and territories in connection with the 2026 Esports Nations Cup (ENC). The Esports Nations Cup is a global, nation-based esports competition that will debut in Riyadh between November 2 and November 29, 2026. This is the first time that a structured global system specifically designed for national teams is being introduced on a broad scale in esports, adding a new layer to the industry’s ecosystem alongside club-based competition. The ENC does not aim to replace existing frameworks, but to complement them; to do so, it works with the local stakeholders closest to the discipline in order to strengthen connections and support long-term national development.

Hungary will be represented in the ENC’s inaugural season by the Hungarian Esports Federation (HUNESZ). Commenting on the partnership, HUNESZ Secretary General Balázs Biró said: “Since 2021, the Hungarian Esports Federation has operated Hungary’s national esports team system, which has continuously evolved and gained international experience over the past few years. The Esports Nations Cup partnership is the next step in that work, integrating an already existing structure into a new global competition system. This agreement does not mark a new beginning, but rather the international recognition and reinforcement of Hungarian esports. HUNESZ’s goal is to build on this foundation and further strengthen Hungary’s competitiveness and presence on the international esports stage.”

National Partners will be responsible for building national teams, mobilizing local communities, and creating the systems that make participation and local esports growth possible. To ensure global participation, countries and territories without a partner will be supported through regional structures provided by the EF.

The EF evaluated more than 630 applications from 150 countries and territories, clearly reflecting the global interest in nation-based esports and the opportunities within it. Among the partners are long-established esports organizations that have shaped their national scenes for decades, as well as emerging organizations helping define the future of competitive gaming. The list of organizations and individuals granted partner status is available online and will continue to be updated with additional partners.

“The core idea behind the Esports Nations Cup is remarkably simple: players need a clear path to represent their country, and fans need a national team they can rally behind,” said Hans Jagnow, Director of National Teams at the Esports Foundation. “From the very beginning, we focused on the quality of partnerships and on building the structures needed to support the process, at a scale essential for staging a truly global event. The feedback we are receiving from partners around the world confirms for us that the ENC is not just another tournament, but a new and innovative model for national esports, the beginning of an entirely new chapter in esports history.”

Recognizing that esports has developed differently across countries, the ENC takes a partnership-based approach rather than relying on a single model, which represents a milestone in the history of both global sport and esports. By working with recognized local stakeholders, whether institutions, clubs, or community-driven organizations, this model is meant to create room for each nation’s creative and competitive potential to emerge.

National Partners will operate within a wide variety of systems, ranging from well-established national bodies, such as the Korea Esports Association and the Saudi Esports Federation, through club-led coalitions in Brazil and the United States, all the way to hybrid alliances between the public and private sectors in countries such as Germany, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates.

In markets such as Malaysia, Turkey, and Thailand, partners also include federations that work closely with grassroots communities, while in emerging regions such as Indonesia and Mongolia, partners are being supported through structured development so they can represent their nations on the global stage.

For the first time in esports history, national teams will be formed out of these local systems, bringing players together to compete for their countries and opening up a new dimension of fandom built on national identity and pride. From South Korea’s legendary League of Legends dominance and India’s passion for chess, to Brazil’s Counter-Strike tradition, Japan’s fighting game legacy, and the mobile gaming powerhouses of Southeast Asia, the ENC is creating a new global arena for competition.

The ENC will debut in Riyadh in November 2026, after which it will move to a rotational model. Held every two years, the ENC will complement the annual, club-based Esports World Cup (EWC), providing players with a stable framework and guaranteeing long-term investment in national team programs.