The Esports Foundation (EF) today announced the appointment of more than 700 game coaches representing National Team Partners (NTPs) from over 100 nations and territories for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC). This development marks the official commencement of team roster selections for the global nation-based esports competition, scheduled to debut in Riyadh from November 2-29, 2026.

The appointed coaches, drawn from over 90 prominent esports organizations globally, are now responsible for identifying players, defining team strategies, and constructing competitive lineups. The deadline for roster selections is set for May 10.

Diverse Coaching Pool Assembles for ENC

The cohort of coaches encompasses a range of experience, from world champions and established leaders to emerging talents contributing to local esports scenes. This diversity is intended to link localized team development with international competitive standards.

Among the notable appointments:

League of Legends: Dylan Falco (Canada), coach for G2 Esports in the LEC, is joined by rising coaches such as Quentin “Zeph” Viguié (France) and Jonas “Memento” Elmarghichi (Morocco).
Rocket League: Jos “ViolentPanda” van Meurs (Netherlands), a world-champion veteran, will coach his national team. Abdulrahman Saad “d7oom-24” Bin Fayez, at 22, represents the youngest coach appointed and will lead Saudi Arabia’s team.
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege: Fabian “Fabian” Hällsten, a Swedish veteran, will coach the United States team. Brazil’s Guilherme “gohaN” Alf will coach Indonesia.

The appointments also highlight an increasing number of women coaches. In PUBG MOBILE, Camila “Mia” López (Chile), an experienced manager, analyst, and coach, joins Nikol “Kehayoyo” Kehayova (Poland). Sabrina “SYA” Starke (Germany) will head the Honor of Kings team, Angela “Kaylio” Sun Zhou (Australia) for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Felicia “Felly” Cersac (Moldova) alongside Syeda “Skel” Samman (Pakistan) for VALORANT teams from emerging esports markets.

Strategic Importance of Coaching in Nation-Based Esports

Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation, emphasized the strategic role of these appointments. “Appointing team coaches is a critical layer in the structure of the Esports Nations Cup,” Reichert stated. “Coaches provide identity, direction, and standards to each team, making nation-based competition tangible and credible for players and fans.”

Further announcements regarding coaches for the remaining nations and territories, including those without a National Team Partner, are expected at a later date. Attention will also turn to finalizing player selections, with competitors for solo-player games and other team-based titles to be identified through open qualifiers. Details for these qualifiers are anticipated in the coming weeks.

The (https://www.esportsnationscup.com/) aims to introduce a structured, recurring format for nation-based competition into the global esports calendar. By facilitating national team organization and talent pathways, the ENC seeks to foster new opportunities for players and strengthen connections between local esports ecosystems and international competitive events.

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