Esports Nations Cup League of Legends Qualifiers Begin as 94 Nations Chase Riyadh Spots

The Esports Nations Cup League of Legends qualifiers are underway, with nearly 100 countries competing across seven regional tournaments for a chance to reach Riyadh later this year.

Running from June 19 to June 21, the qualifiers will determine 14 of the remaining 32 nations that will compete at the ENC Main Event, scheduled for November 21-29 in Saudi Arabia. While some of the world's strongest countries have already secured direct invitations through the Esports Foundation's ranking system, the majority of participants must now earn their place through a demanding qualification process that leaves little room for mistakes.

The tournament represents one of the most ambitious national-team projects League of Legends has ever seen. Rather than competing under esports organizations such as T1, G2 Esports, or Bilibili Gaming, players will represent their countries in pursuit of what organizers hope will become the premier international championship outside of Riot Games' official World Championship.

How ENC 2026 Qualification Works

The League of Legends competition at ENC 2026 will feature 32 nations at the Main Event in Riyadh. Sixteen countries have already received direct invitations based on a proprietary ranking system that evaluates player performance throughout Riot's competitive ecosystem during the 2026 season. Two additional teams will qualify through a wildcard process, leaving 14 places available through the regional qualifiers taking place this weekend.

To determine those remaining participants, the Esports Foundation has divided the field into seven regional qualifiers. Each region awards two Main Event spots, creating a highly competitive race for qualification. Around 94 nations are expected to participate across the various tournaments.

ENC League of Legends Qualifiers

Most matches will be played as Best-of-One contests, making every game critical. Only the qualification matches themselves, along with the upper and lower bracket finals, will be played as Best-of-Three series. While the format allows teams a second chance through a double-elimination bracket, a single poor performance can quickly turn a favorable run into a difficult climb through the lower bracket.

Europe Features Several High-Profile Names

The European qualifiers are expected to draw significant attention thanks to the number of recognizable players involved.

In Western Europe, Germany enters as one of the favorites after France, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Greece secured direct invitations to the Main Event. Germany's lineup includes BIG players Joel "Irrelevant" Scharoll, Seyit "Habubu" Cüce, and Steven "Reeker" Chen, alongside Tim "Keduii" Willers and Timo "Tockimo" Bock. The Netherlands, Belgium, and Portugal are also viewed as strong contenders, with players such as Mark "Markoon" van Woensel, Gabriël "Bwipo" Rau, Raphaël "Targamas" Crabbé, and Rodrigo "FlickeR" de Oliveira expected to play key roles in their countries' qualification campaigns.

Eastern Europe appears equally competitive. Romania enters with one of the deepest rosters in the region, featuring Francesco "Shelfmade" Cardia, Alexandru "whiteinn" Kolozsvari, and several players with experience across Europe's regional leagues. Croatia is led by former G2 Esports and Cloud9 star Luka "Perkz" Perković, while Hungary could emerge as a dangerous outsider thanks to veterans such as Tamás "Vizicsacsi" Kiss and Dániel "bluerzor" Subicz.

Asia, Oceania, and MENA Have Clear Favorites

Several regional qualifiers feature teams that stand out on paper.

Japan and Hong Kong are widely viewed as favorites in the Asia qualifier after China, South Korea, and Chinese Taipei secured direct invitations. Hong Kong arrives with momentum following a successful Asian Games qualification campaign and boasts players such as LNG Esports AD Carry Li "1xn" Sau Nam and veteran support Ling "Kaiwing" Kai Wing. Japan's lineup relies heavily on domestic LJL talent but still enters as one of the strongest teams in the field.

The South East Asia and Oceania qualifier appears more open following Vietnam's automatic qualification. Australia enters as the leading contender, though Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and New Zealand all have realistic opportunities to reach Riyadh. Malaysia may have a slight advantage thanks to roster continuity after recently qualifying for the 2026 Asian Games using many of the same players.

The Middle East and Africa bracket is the largest qualifier with 31 participating nations and may ultimately be the most competitive. Algeria is considered the overwhelming favorite thanks to a roster filled with players from European regional leagues, including Mehdi "Potent" Bouchaffra, Kamil "Kamiloo" Haudegond, Khalil "Rin" Sahraoui, and Aymen "Aymen" Zeghina. Behind Algeria, Lebanon, Tunisia, Morocco, and Egypt are expected to battle for the second available qualification spot.

Americas Look Set for Tight Qualification Races

The North America, Central America, and Caribbean qualifier begins with the United States and Canada already qualified, leaving eight nations competing for the final two positions. Mexico appears to be the strongest roster on paper, featuring several former Liga Latinoamérica veterans and active players from Liga Regional Norte. Panama, Honduras, and Guatemala also enter with momentum after recent performances during qualification events for the Central American and Caribbean Games.

South America's qualifier presents one of the weekend's most interesting storylines. Brazil and Argentina have already secured invitations, leaving countries such as Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Chile, and Ecuador to fight for the remaining spots. Colombia and Venezuela are widely viewed as favorites, but the bracket has already created an early challenge by matching the two nations against each other in the opening round. One of the strongest teams in the region will therefore be forced into the lower bracket almost immediately.

Peru also boasts one of the most recognizable players in the entire tournament. Sebastián "Oddie" Alonso Niño Zavaleta has appeared at four Mid-Season Invitationals and four World Championships, giving the country valuable experience that could prove decisive in a qualification format where every series matters.

The qualifiers arrive during a busy period for international esports. Riot Games recently unveiled major changes to its competitive ecosystem through the New VCT 2027 Format, while League of Legends fans are also preparing for MSI 2026 as the Mid-Season Invitational approaches. Meanwhile, Riyadh continues to build toward the Esports Nations Cup itself, with organizers recently opening sales through Esports Nations Cup 2026 Ticket Sales ahead of the tournament's debut later this year.

For now, however, the focus remains on the server. Over the next three days, 94 nations will attempt to turn national pride into qualification success as they battle for a place at one of the most ambitious international League of Legends events ever organized.