MUSCAT: Oman has officially entered the international esports landscape after confirming its participation in the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC), a new global national-team competition scheduled to be held in Riyadh in November 2026. The tournament is being positioned as the first large-scale international esports event built around official national team representation, with qualification pathways across seven regions.
The announcement marks an important step for the Sultanate of Oman’s growing esports sector, with the Omani Gaming & eSports Committee set to represent the country on the global stage. In a statement published through the committee’s platforms, chairperson Eng Saba al Busaidy described the move as a strategic milestone in Oman’s esports journey, saying the partnership reflects the country’s commitment to empowering national talent and opening new opportunities for Omani players to compete at the highest level.
The scale of the tournament further underlines the significance of Oman’s participation. According to the announcement, the Esports Foundation received more than 630 applications from over 150 countries and territories before selecting official national team partners across more than 100 nations. The inaugural edition is also backed by a total investment of $45 million, including $20 million in direct prizes, $5 million in club incentives, and $20 million dedicated to national team support, development and operational infrastructure
The broader tournament project is being led by the Esports World Cup Foundation, which has confirmed that the inaugural ENC edition will form part of a four-week festival in Riyadh. The competition is also intended to strengthen national esports ecosystems through cooperation with domestic federations, committees and local gaming communities, rather than focusing only on a single championship appearance.
ENC WORLD CUP
Alongside the announcement, Hamad al Jahwari, national team manager, said that Oman’s presence comes as part of its participation in the ENC World Cup for national teams, underlining the start of the next phase of technical and administrative preparations.
Player Firas al Ghabari also expressed confidence ahead of the event, saying that he and his fellow players are ready to compete in the ENC, reflecting the ambition surrounding Oman’s upcoming international appearance.
According to the tournament’s published setup, national team managers are responsible for appointing coaches for each title and overseeing squad formation, with coaching nominations due by April 7, 2026, and proposed final player line-ups to be submitted by April 26, 2026. The rules also require players to have held the nationality of the country they represent for at least one continuous year before the final roster deadline.
The ENC has announced a wide range of game titles, including VALORANT, Rocket League, League of Legends, PUBG MOBILE, Counter-Strike 2, EA Sports FC, Dota 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Honor of Kings, and Chess, offering Oman several possible avenues for competitive participation depending on local readiness across each title.
For Oman, the announcement signals more than just entry into a tournament. It represents a move toward structured international representation in esports, with the coming months expected to focus on squad selection, technical preparation and building a competitive national presence for the tournament’s first edition.
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