The Esports Foundation (EF) today appointed Nodwin Gaming, a global leader in gaming, esports and youth entertainment, as India’s official National Team Partner for the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC).
The ENC is the global nation-based esports competition set to debut in Riyadh from November 2–29, 2026. The appointment reflects Nodwin Gaming’s role in shaping India’s esports ecosystem over more than a decade, delivering national competitions, operating publisher-led circuits, and building connections across players, creators and partners.
As India’s National Team Partner, Nodwin Gaming will spearhead team formation, mobilize grassroots and competitive communities, support coaches across game titles, and coordinate with publishers, Clubs, and ecosystem stakeholders to establish the pathways needed for Indian players to represent the country on the global stage.
Nimish Raut, Global Head of Esports: Partnerships & Special Projects at Nodwin Gaming, said in a statement, “The Esports Nations Cup represents a defining shift in how competitive gaming is structured globally, and for a country like India, this is a truly transformative opportunity.”
Raut added, “We have one of the largest and most passionate gaming communities in the world, but until now, there hasn’t been a unified pathway for players to represent the country on a global stage. As the National Team Partner, our focus will be on building that structure from the ground up, identifying and nurturing talent across titles, and creating a high-performance environment that enables Indian players to compete at the highest level. We are excited to work closely with the EF to unlock this next phase of growth for Indian esports and establish a sustainable foundation for the future.”
Nodwin Gaming joins a global roster of National Team Partners appointed across more than 100 nations, as part of the Esports Nations Cup’s partnership-led model for national team development. The Esports Foundation received more than 630 applications from 150 countries and territories, reflecting the scale of global interest in nation-based esports. The full list of National Team Partners is available on the ENC website and will be updated as additional appointments are confirmed.
The Esports Nations Cup introduces a structured global framework for national teams at scale, adding a new layer to the esports ecosystem alongside club-based competition. Designed to complement existing structures, the ENC works with local stakeholders closest to the sport to strengthen connections, enable participation, and support long-term national development.
“India is a country full of passionate esports fans, building up to be a not-so-silent powerhouse of esports on the global stage”, said Hans Jagnow, Director, Special Projects, The Esports Foundation. “Nodwin Gaming has been a key architect of the Indian community and we couldn’t think of anyone better to bring together the ENC National Team for India and spark national pride for the players competing for a place in Riyadh.”
Nodwin Gaming brings operational expertise and a proven track record of building and scaling esports ecosystems in India and globally. The company has played a key role in shaping the competitive gaming landscape through large-scale tournaments, original IPs, and strategic partnerships across South Asia, Europe, and other international markets.
Last year, Nodwin partnered with the EWCF to manage media rights sales across South Asia for the Esports World Cup and also collaborated with Chess.com and ChessBase India to build the future of chess esports in India, aligning with chess’s inclusion at the inaugural ENC. With a strong foundation in community building, content, and large-scale event execution, the company is well positioned to drive talent development, fan engagement, and international competitiveness as part of ENC 2026.
ENC 2026 is backed by a total investment of $45 million (approx INR 414 crore), including $20 million (approx INR 184 crore) in prize money for players and coaches across 16 titles, $5 million (approx INR 46 crore) in Club incentives, and $20 million (approx INR 184 crore) dedicated to national team development. The tournament will feature a placement-based prize structure with equal payouts across titles, where first place earns $50,000 (approx INR 46 lakh) per player, second place earns $30,000 (approx INR 28 lakh), and third place earns $15,000 (approx INR 14 lakh), with payouts scaling for team-based titles.
The tournament will feature Chess, PUBG Mobile, Rocket League, Dota 2, Valorant, Counter-Strike 2, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Fatal Fury, League of Legends, Trackmania, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, EA Sports FC 26, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Honor of Kings, and Apex Legends.
The ENC will launch in Riyadh in November 2026 before moving to a rotating city model. The biennial ENC complements the annual Club-based Esports World Cup (EWC), providing a stable structure for players and long-term investment in national team programs.
More than 100 nations
Yesterday, The Esports Foundation (EF) awarded National Team Partner status to organizations and individuals across more than 100 countries and territories for the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC).
This marks the first time esports introduces a structured global system for national teams at scale, adding a new layer to the industry’s ecosystem alongside club-based competition. Designed to complement existing frameworks rather than replace them, the ENC will work with local stakeholders closest to the sport to strengthen connections and support long-term national development.
National Team Partners will lead team formation, mobilize local communities and establish the structures needed to enable participation and the growth of esports. To ensure worldwide participation, countries and territories without a partner will be supported through regional structures provided by the EF.
The EF received more than 630 applications from 150 countries and territories, reflecting the global interest in and opportunity for nation-based esports. The partners represent legacy esports organizations that have shaped their national scenes for decades alongside emerging forces driving the next wave of competitive gaming. The list of organizations and individuals who have been awarded this status is available on the ENC website and will be updated as additional appointments are confirmed.
“The Esports Nations Cup introduces something esports has never had before: a global system for national teams at an unprecedented scale,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation, in a statement. “The response we received from across the world shows that communities are ready for this next step. Together with our partners, we are building the structures that will allow players to represent their nations and compete on the biggest stage in esports. With more than 100 nations now part of the system, the Esports Nations Cup moves from concept to reality — establishing national esports as a lasting part of the global competitive landscape.”
Recognizing that esports has developed differently in many nations, the ENC adopts a partnership-led approach rather than relying on a single model, marking a first in global sport and esports alike. By working with recognized local stakeholders, whether institutions, Clubs, or community-led organizations, this model is designed to unlock the full creative and competitive potential of each nation.
National Team Partners will operate through a range of structures, from established national bodies such as the Korea Esports Association and the Saudi Esports Federation, to club-led coalitions in Brazil and the USA, and hybrid public-private alliances in countries like Germany, Canada and the UAE.
In markets such as Malaysia, Turkey, and Thailand, partners include federations working closely with grassroots communities, while in emerging regions like Indonesia and Mongolia, partners are being supported through structured development to represent their nations on a global stage.
For the first time in the history of esports, national teams will be formed from these local structures, bringing players together to compete for their nation and unlocking a new dimension of fandom built on identity and pride. From South Korea’s legendary League of Legends dominance and India’s Chess affinity, to Brazil’s Counter-Strike tradition, Japan’s fighting games heritage and Southeast Asia’s mobile games’ powerhouses, the ENC creates a new global stage for competition.