Dota 2 Officially Joins Esports Nations Cup Line-Up

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has officially added Dota 2 to the roster of titles for the 2026 Esports Nations Cup (ENC). This international, multi-title competition is scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November 2026. The inclusion of Valve’s MOBA marks the third confirmed game for the event, joining Trackmania and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang in a planned lineup of 16 titles.

The tournament structure will feature 32 national teams, each composed of five players. The competition begins with a round-robin group stage consisting of four groups of eight teams, followed by a single-elimination playoff bracket. Matches will utilize a best-of-one format for group stages, best-of-three for playoffs, and a best-of-five for the grand final. Qualification is determined by a combination of direct invites based on a national team ranking system—which tracks performance in Tier 1 competitions starting from June 2025—and regional online qualifiers held between June and July 2026.

The ENC 2026 serves as a biennial, nation-versus-nation competition operated by the EWCF. It is positioned as a successor to the collaborative efforts previously explored with the International Olympic Committee. While the event aims to establish a recurring international tournament model, it continues to face scrutiny from international human rights organizations regarding the broader context of government-backed projects in the region.