Valorant: 32 national teams to compete in Riyadh ENC

Riot Games confirmed Valorant will be part of the inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026 in Riyadh, scheduled for Nov. 8–15 as part of a month-long international esports program.

National teams will be assembled from top players in each country, grouping competitors who normally play in separate franchise leagues and regional competitions. Teams will represent national uniforms rather than club or franchise brands.

The Valorant tournament will run eight days in Riyadh. Thirty-two nations will enter the main draw, split into four groups of eight for an opening round-robin stage. Each team will play seven best-of-one matches in group play.

The top four teams from each group will advance to a 16-team single-elimination bracket. Matches in the bracket stage will be best-of-three series and the final will be decided in a best-of-five.

Qualification is divided into three routes. Sixteen countries will qualify via a National Team Ranking that uses player results from official Valorant Champions Tour competitions through June 21, 2026. Fourteen teams will qualify through short regional online tournaments held June 26–28 across seven geographic regions, including North America, Western Europe and Asia. Two wildcard entries will complete the field.

Organizers noted that selection criteria, roster rules and the three qualification paths will affect how national squads prepare in the months before the event.

Compared with other national-team events, the ENC 2026 field moves directly into a 32-team main event. For reference, the 2026 Overwatch World Cup featured 52 teams across its full program and advanced 30 teams to its main stage.

Valorant will run alongside tournaments for Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, Apex Legends and EA Sports FC as part of the broader festival in Riyadh.

Organizers expect online betting platforms in markets including the UK, the US and Australia to add national-match betting markets for the tournament, creating additional variables for odds compilers and bettors during the event window.