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Applications are now open for official National Team Partners to help build the foundation for a credible and sustainable nation-based esports competition
EWCF to establish $20 million ENC Development Fund to support the long-term growth of nation-based ecosystems
[Media Kit]
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) today introduced the national team representation framework for the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC), the global nation-based esports competition set to debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in November, by opening the application process for official National Team Partners.
The Esports Nations Cup introduces national team representation to the global esports calendar in a structured, recurring format. It complements the Club-based Esports World Cup by enabling players to compete under their national flag and offering fans an opportunity to connect with elite esports through national identity.
National Team Partners will serve as the official national counterparts for the ENC 2026, within their respective countries and territories, with the responsibility of building and representing their national esports teams on the global stage. In partnership with the EWCF, they will coordinate team representation for the ENC, oversee and support national team coaches per game title, and coordinate with game partners and Clubs within the ENC framework.
Beyond competition, National Team Partners will shape their national team identity through marketing, communications, and community engagement, and collaborate with creators, media, and public institutions to mobilize their local communities to build national fandom for their teams.
While National Team Partners are responsible for the organization and representation of national teams, the competitive integrity and player eligibility remain governed by ENC rules and game partner-aligned processes.
Each selected National Team Partner will nominate a National Team Manager who will serve as the public lead and primary representative of the national team. They will act as the primary contact between the EWCF and the local ecosystem team, supporting coordination, representation and activation at the country and territory level, and are formally confirmed by the EWCF.
To support the long-term growth of nation-based esports, the EWCF will establish the ENC Development Fund, committing at least $20 million annually beginning with ENC 2026. The Fund will support national team programs by covering travel and logistics for participation in the Esports Nations Cup, and by enabling promotional and fan-facing activities that build relevance, awareness, and engagement around national teams beyond the main competition, supported by the commercial, marketing, and operational capabilities required to deliver these activities consistently over time.
This includes support for training camps and bootcamps with structured fan access, exhibition matches and showcase events, official watch parties, national team tours, and appearances at major gaming and sports events.
Further details on scope, eligibility, and implementation will be shared with selected National Team Partners as part of the onboarding process.
"The purpose of the Esports World Cup Foundation is to elevate esports and make it sustainable," said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation. "The Esports Nations Cup is a natural next step in that journey. By opening this application process, we are inviting trusted National Team Partners to help define the framework for how countries and territories are represented in esports with clear roles, aligned governance, and a system that works for players, game partners, and fans alike."
Eligible applicants include esports organizations, Clubs, agencies, NGOs, national esports and sport federations and associations, recognized government-mandated entities, content creators, and experienced esports professionals with strong national ecosystem ties.
Applications are now open at esportsnationscup.com and will close on January 31, 2026. Submissions will be reviewed through a multi-stage evaluation process assessing governance standards, ecosystem standing, operational capability, community reach, and alignment with game partners' requirements.
The first cohort of approved National Team Partners will be announced in early 2026.
Hosted in Riyadh in November 2026 before moving to a rotating city model, the ENC will be held every two years to provide a dependable structure for players and esports organizations, encouraging long-term investment in national team programs.
Additional information about the Esports Nations Cup will be released in the coming weeks. To stay up to date, visit esportsnationscup.com, and follow ENC on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and follow the Esports World Cup Foundation on LinkedIn.
About the Esports Nations Cup
The Esports Nations Cup (ENC) is a biennial global esports competition created by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) that brings national pride to the world stage. Launching in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2026, the ENC will feature the world's best players competing not for their clubs, but for their countries and territories, across a lineup of leading esports titles. Built in collaboration with game partners, clubs, and esports organizations, the ENC establishes the first recurring, large-scale platform for national teams in esports. Beyond competition, it aims to fuel fandom, inspire heroes, and provide sustainable pathways for nations, players, and partners to grow within the global esports ecosystem. esportsnationscup.com
About Esports World Cup Foundation
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) is a non-profit organization based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, dedicated to advancing and professionalizing the global esports industry. Through the annual Esports World Cup (EWC) and the biennial Esports Nations Cup (ENC), EWCF brings together the world's top players, leading clubs, and millions of fans for the biggest stages in competitive gaming. Beyond hosting tournaments, the Foundation works year-round to grow the esports ecosystem, support talent development, and create lasting opportunities for players, teams, and partners worldwide.
Applications are now open for official National Team Partners to help build the foundation for a credible and sustainable nation-based esports competition
EWCF to establish $20 million ENC Development Fund to support the long-term growth of nation-based ecosystems
[Media Kit]
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) today introduced the national team representation framework for the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC), the global nation-based esports competition set to debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in November, by opening the application process for official National Team Partners.
The Esports Nations Cup introduces national team representation to the global esports calendar in a structured, recurring format. It complements the Club-based Esports World Cup by enabling players to compete under their national flag and offering fans an opportunity to connect with elite esports through national identity.
National Team Partners will serve as the official national counterparts for the ENC 2026, within their respective countries and territories, with the responsibility of building and representing their national esports teams on the global stage. In partnership with the EWCF, they will coordinate team representation for the ENC, oversee and support national team coaches per game title, and coordinate with game partners and Clubs within the ENC framework.
Beyond competition, National Team Partners will shape their national team identity through marketing, communications, and community engagement, and collaborate with creators, media, and public institutions to mobilize their local communities to build national fandom for their teams.
While National Team Partners are responsible for the organization and representation of national teams, the competitive integrity and player eligibility remain governed by ENC rules and game partner-aligned processes.
Each selected National Team Partner will nominate a National Team Manager who will serve as the public lead and primary representative of the national team. They will act as the primary contact between the EWCF and the local ecosystem team, supporting coordination, representation and activation at the country and territory level, and are formally confirmed by the EWCF.
To support the long-term growth of nation-based esports, the EWCF will establish the ENC Development Fund, committing at least $20 million annually beginning with ENC 2026. The Fund will support national team programs by covering travel and logistics for participation in the Esports Nations Cup, and by enabling promotional and fan-facing activities that build relevance, awareness, and engagement around national teams beyond the main competition, supported by the commercial, marketing, and operational capabilities required to deliver these activities consistently over time.
This includes support for training camps and bootcamps with structured fan access, exhibition matches and showcase events, official watch parties, national team tours, and appearances at major gaming and sports events.
Further details on scope, eligibility, and implementation will be shared with selected National Team Partners as part of the onboarding process.
"The purpose of the Esports World Cup Foundation is to elevate esports and make it sustainable," said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation. "The Esports Nations Cup is a natural next step in that journey. By opening this application process, we are inviting trusted National Team Partners to help define the framework for how countries and territories are represented in esports with clear roles, aligned governance, and a system that works for players, game partners, and fans alike."
Eligible applicants include esports organizations, Clubs, agencies, NGOs, national esports and sport federations and associations, recognized government-mandated entities, content creators, and experienced esports professionals with strong national ecosystem ties.
Applications are now open at esportsnationscup.com and will close on January 31, 2026. Submissions will be reviewed through a multi-stage evaluation process assessing governance standards, ecosystem standing, operational capability, community reach, and alignment with game partners' requirements.
The first cohort of approved National Team Partners will be announced in early 2026.
Hosted in Riyadh in November 2026 before moving to a rotating city model, the ENC will be held every two years to provide a dependable structure for players and esports organizations, encouraging long-term investment in national team programs.
Additional information about the Esports Nations Cup will be released in the coming weeks. To stay up to date, visit esportsnationscup.com, and follow ENC on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and follow the Esports World Cup Foundation on LinkedIn.
About the Esports Nations Cup
The Esports Nations Cup (ENC) is a biennial global esports competition created by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) that brings national pride to the world stage. Launching in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2026, the ENC will feature the world's best players competing not for their clubs, but for their countries and territories, across a lineup of leading esports titles. Built in collaboration with game partners, clubs, and esports organizations, the ENC establishes the first recurring, large-scale platform for national teams in esports. Beyond competition, it aims to fuel fandom, inspire heroes, and provide sustainable pathways for nations, players, and partners to grow within the global esports ecosystem. esportsnationscup.com
About Esports World Cup Foundation
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) is a non-profit organization based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, dedicated to advancing and professionalizing the global esports industry. Through the annual Esports World Cup (EWC) and the biennial Esports Nations Cup (ENC), EWCF brings together the world's top players, leading clubs, and millions of fans for the biggest stages in competitive gaming. Beyond hosting tournaments, the Foundation works year-round to grow the esports ecosystem, support talent development, and create lasting opportunities for players, teams, and partners worldwide.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Esports World Cup Foundation Introduces National Team Representation Framework for the Esports Nations Cup 2026
Multi-phase, multi-region rollout will deliver advanced AMD AI silicon and the open AMD ROCm software stack to frontier-model, enterprise, and sovereign AI customers across global markets
SINGAPORE, May 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- OneQode, a global provider of mission-critical digital infrastructure, today announced a collaboration with AMD to deploy AMD Instinct™ GPUs, as well as announcing plans to deploy AMD Helios rack-scale solution as the platform foundation for OneQode's global AI infrastructure rollout.
OneQode plans a phased rollout anchored by AMD Instinct™ MI355X GPUs in initial deployments and incorporating AMD Helios solution in the future. The deployment will run on the open AMD ROCm™ software stack, giving customers a standards-based, vendor-neutral foundation for large-scale AI training and inference.
The announcement follows OneQode's recently announced 110MW AI infrastructure agreement with Bitzero in Norway, and reflects the company's broader strategy to deploy high-performance AI capacity across Europe and Asia-Pacific. It leverages their existing cloud and telecommunications footprint deployed across 5 continents over the last 7 years, and will also incorporate their unique low-latency, sovereignty-focused product offerings.
OneQode expects to support a range of high-performance AI workloads, powered by AMD AI solutions, including frontier-model training and inference, enterprise AI, and sovereign AI for governments, research institutions, and AI-first organisations.
"Demanding AI workloads require high-performance compute, scalable infrastructure and an open software ecosystem," said Negin Oliver, corporate vice president, Business Development for AI, AMD. "AMD Instinct GPUs and the unifying AMD ROCm open software stack are designed to help customers accelerate large-scale AI training and inference with the performance, efficiency and flexibility they need. We're pleased to work with OneQode as it expands access to AMD AI solutions for customers globally."
"AMD is shipping some of the most compelling AI hardware in the market," said Matthew Shearing, Founder and CEO of OneQode, "The challenge now is putting that silicon in the right places - close to the customers, sovereign workloads, and AI-first organisations that need it. That's what OneQode does. We've spent nearly a decade building performance infrastructure across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the global south, serving the kinds of workloads where uptime, latency and sovereignty actually matter. We're aiming to be AMD's partner of choice for extending AMD Instinct silicon at scale into the regions that need it most."
"We're genuinely pumped to be working with AMD," said Joe Swinn, Head of Product at OneQode. "We've been deploying infrastructure at scale globally for seven years, including some blazing-fast AMD EPYC processor-based private cloud builds, and this is one we've been waiting for. The AMD Instinct MI355X is a serious piece of silicon, and AMD Helios is built for the kinds of AI workloads our customers actually want to run. The AMD team have been brilliant to deal with, and we can't wait to get this kit in front of customers."
About OneQode
OneQode is a global provider of performance digital infrastructure. With a vertically-integrated platform that spans cloud compute, low-latency networking and sovereign technology across over 30 datacentres in 5 continents, they enable enterprises, governments and performance-hungry businesses to run AI & mission-critical workloads at scale, across the globe. Learn more at oneqode.com.
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
OneQode to Deploy AMD Instinct GPUs and Plans for AMD Helios Rack-Scale Solution for Global AI Infrastructure
