EWCF Launches $20M ENC Development Fund to Power ENC 2026

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has unveiled a $20 million USD Esports Nations Cup (ENC) Development Fund to support the national team structures ahead of the Esports Nations Cup 2026. EWCF announced the new fund on Jan 8, 2025, as a part of its broader governance rollout, which also covered the roadmap for the upcoming ENC 2026 and applications for official National Team Partners.

According to EWCF, the fund is structured to cover team operations rather than prize money, with allocations for travelling, training camps, boot camps, exhibition matches, promotional activities, and localized fan engagement. The goal is to build awareness for national esports teams beyond the main competition (ENC) and possibly reduce structural barriers limiting national representation in esports, which is predominantly club-based.

The appointed fund will also be used for other promotional activities, such as national team tours, significant gaming and sports events participations, and official watch parties. EWCF confirmed that further details on the funding will be detailed and realized through approved national bodies (selected National Team Partners), during the onboarding process.

EWCF CEO, Ralf Reichert, framed the initiative as a foundational step for standardizing how countries participate in national esports and making it sustainable. In a statement accompanying the framework announcement, Reichert said the foundation aims to define “clear roles, aligned governance, and a system that works for players, game partners, and fans alike,” for national representation.

ENC National Team Partners and the ENC 2026 Roadmap

The new development fund will support EWCF’s National Team Representation Framework for ENC 2026. Under this model, National Team Partners will be “the official national counterparts for the ENC 2026” for their respective countries. 

They will be responsible for assembling and managing their national squads for the global platform. These partners will oversee player selection, support national coaches, coordinate with esports Clubs and gaming partners, and act as the primary liaison with ENC on compliance and logistics.

Even though National Team Partners will be responsible for representing and managing the national esports teams, “competitive integrity and player eligibility” will be decided via a combination of ENC-provided guidelines and game partners’ appointed process.

Beyond overseeing the competitive framework, the National Team Partners will also oversee the community engagement, marketing, and “collaborate with creators, media, and public institutions” to shape the national identity of the team. They will also select a National Team Manager for the respective team, who will act as the “public lead and primary representative of the national team” for EWCF.

The application process for National Team Partners is now live and will close on Jan 31, 2026. The organizer has announced that the first cohort of the selected National Team Partners will be announced in early 2026. EWCF has confirmed that National Team Partners applications are open for (but not limited to) Clubs, esports organizations and agencies, NGOs, recognized government entities, national esports and sport federations and associations, experienced esports professionals, and content creators.

EWCF also circulated a Roadmap for ENC 2026 that entails that by June 2026, the body intends to announce the national rosters, national coaches, and team partners. Selected games for the first edition of  ENC and respective formats will be announced by February 2026, with tickets for the main championship going live in May 2026.

ENC 2026 is scheduled in November 2026, and EWCF has confirmed the competition format and qualifier structure for ENC on Jan 6. Taken together, the fund, the representation framework, and the standardized qualifiers mark a decisive shift toward treating esports like other global sports with formal national representation.