ENC 2026 OKs 730+ VALORANT Head Coaches for Riyadh

The Esports Nations Cup 2026 has approved more than 730 VALORANT head coaches representing over 100 countries, published the full coach list and opened player registration ahead of the Riyadh tournament in November 2026.

ENC 2026 will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2 to 29, with the VALORANT main event scheduled for November 8–15. The VALORANT competition will feature 32 national teams competing for a $1.5 million prize pool. The event is organized by the Esports World Cup Foundation and is the first ENC series announced at the New Global Sport Conference in August 2025.

Thirty-two slots are allocated through three paths: 16 direct invites based on the VALORANT National Team Rankings, 14 spots from seven continental qualifiers (two per qualifier), and two wildcard slots. National rankings use VCT results, with event points shared equally among club members who played; each nation’s ranking totals the points of the top five players on its submitted roster. The ranking cutoff date is June 21, 2026.

Coaches were required to submit names by April 7, 2026; more than 730 head coaches were approved. Player rosters have an extended deadline of May 10, 2026. Each national roster may name five players and up to two substitutes. All players must hold the nationality of the country they represent; coaches may represent any nation. Enc rules limit roster composition so that no more than three members, including substitutes, may come from the same esports organization.

The organizer released the approved head coach list by region, covering Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Notable entries include Benedict “Benkai” Tan as Singapore’s head coach and Türkiye listing Mert “KEY” Çelebi as head coach alongside Berke “Vlad” Kantürk as an additional coach. The approved coaches include former professional players and regional staff.

After coach approval and the roster deadline, regional qualifiers will determine the remaining places in Riyadh. Organizers expect more than 100,000 qualifier participants from over 100 countries to compete across seven regional events. NODWIN Gaming has been appointed India’s National Team Partner and will manage selection and coordination for India across multiple titles, including VALORANT.

National federations and team staff have been asked to monitor official ENC channels for updates and to confirm final player lists. The VALORANT main event runs November 8–15, 2026, in Riyadh, with 32 national teams and a $1.5 million prize pool.