The Esports Foundation (EF) and sportswear giant Adidas (https://www.adidas.com/us) have announced a partnership naming Adidas the official kit partner for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC). The agreement will see Adidas design and supply custom competition apparel for all national teams participating in the event, set to debut on November 2, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The Esports Nations Cup is positioned as the first nation-based esports event of its scale, featuring over 100 participating countries and territories. As part of the arrangement, approximately 2,000 athletes and coaches will receive uniquely tailored jerseys and tracksuits. These kits are intended to reflect national identity while competing across 16 esports titles. National team jersey designs are scheduled for reveal in the coming weeks.
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Adidas: Partnership Details and Event Structure
As an Official Kit Partner and Global Partner of the ENC, Adidas’s role extends to developing apparel that aims to provide esports athletes with gear comparable to traditional sports. The partnership underscores a broader trend of convergence between esports, conventional sports, and entertainment industries.
Mohammed Al Nimer, Chief Commercial Officer for the Esports Foundation, emphasized the significance of national representation. “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,” Al Nimer stated.
Phillip Waller, Adidas SVP Brand Development, highlighted the company’s experience in outfitting athletes at major sporting events. “The Esports Nations Cup gives us the opportunity to bring that experience into esports at a global scale,” Waller commented.
The Esports Nations Cup (https://www.esportsnationscup.com) is structured to introduce recurring nation-based competition into the global esports calendar. This framework aims to enable countries to organize teams, develop talent pathways, and expand esports participation worldwide. The Esports Foundation has already appointed Official National Team Partners and over 700 national team coaches across the participating nations to manage player selection and team development.
The ENC also features a $20 million prize pool, designed with equal pay per placement across all 16 titles. The event is backed by a $45 million overall funding commitment, which includes a $20 million Development Fund. This fund is allocated to support National Team Partners, local esports ecosystem development, travel logistics, and national team operations.
This development follows a period of significant growth and investment within the competitive gaming sector, reflecting ongoing industry growth in competitive gaming as detailed in recent reports on TechnoSports (https://technosports.co.in/).
