The Esports Foundation and adidas officially announced on Thursday, July 30 a partnership that makes the German brand the official kit supplier of every delegation competing in the first edition of the Esports Nations Cup, which begins on November 2, 2026 in Riyadh.
It is one of the most concrete bridges ever built between traditional sport and competitive esports. As Official Kit Partner and Global Partner of the ENC, adidas will design and produce the competition apparel of more than 100 countries and territories. In total, some 2,000 players and coaches will receive custom-tailored jerseys and tracksuits, designed to reflect the national identity of each delegation. The jerseys will be unveiled in the coming weeks, at esportsnationscup.com/jerseys.
The Esports Foundation stresses the symbolic weight of the jersey.
National team jerseys carry identity, pride and the ambition of an entire country or territory. By partnering with adidas, one of the most iconic brands in global sport, we are giving esports athletes the opportunity to represent their nations on the world stage with the same sense of meaning and prestige seen across traditional sport. This partnership will help the Esports Nations Cup create powerful national moments and inspire a new generation of players and fans.
— Mohammed Al Nimer, Chief Commercial Officer, Esports Foundation
An argument the brand takes up on its own account, drawing on its track record as a kit supplier at the biggest international competitions.
At adidas, we've spent decades outfitting athletes at the world's biggest sporting events, and we understand the role a jersey plays in identity, belonging and competition. The Esports Nations Cup gives us the opportunity to bring that experience into esports at a global scale.
— Phillip Waller, SVP Brand Development, adidas
An unprecedented format
The Esports Nations Cup is the first esports competition built around national teams. Created by the Esports Foundation, it will run for four weeks from November 2, with 16 titles on the programme, and will return every two years.
Financially, the ENC is announcing a $20 million prize pool distributed according to an equal-pay-per-placement principle: at equal placement, players and coaches receive the same amount, whatever the title. The whole thing is part of an overall commitment of $45 million, including $20 million earmarked for a Development Fund intended for National Team Partners, local ecosystem development, travel and national team operations.
An event still announced in Riyadh
Last May, the Esports Foundation announced the relocation of the Esports World Cup 2026 to Paris, citing "the current regional situation." The foundation has, however, never called into question holding the ENC in Riyadh: ticketing for Boulevard City has been open since June, the New Global Sport Conference will be held there from October 30 to November 1 as a curtain-raiser to the tournament, and the organisation's communications — today's included — continue to set the event in the Saudi capital, from November 2 to 29.
The structure
To make this model hold together, the Esports Foundation has built the framework of the competition: the appointment of Official National Team Partners, National Team Managers and more than 700 national coaches. They are responsible for player selection and team development in each of the selected titles.
Enough to lay down the first genuine national-team ecosystem in the history of esports — ahead of a first full-scale test in November in Riyadh.
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Esports Nations Cup
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