Esports Nations Cup to Feature PUBG
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16 February 2026 13:16
TL;DR
- PUBG: Battlegrounds has been confirmed as a title for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup in Riyadh from November 11th to 15th.
- 24 national teams will compete through a Group Stage and Smash Rule Finals format.
- Teams qualify through KRAFTON’s national ranking system, online qualifiers, and wildcard slots.
PUBG: Battlegrounds has officially joined the lineup for the first-ever Esports Nations Cup, adding one of the most iconic battle royale titles in the world to the international competition.
The tournament will take place from November 11th to 15th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where 24 national teams will compete for the title of ENC champion. With national pride on the line, the event is set to bring together some of the strongest PUBG talent from around the globe.
Contents
Tournament Format Explained
The PUBG competition at the Esports Nations Cup will begin with a Group Stage featuring all 24 teams. They will be split into three groups of eight, with five matches played in each group.
From there, the top 16 teams will advance to the Finals. The remaining eight teams will be eliminated.
The Finals will follow the Smash Rule format, a system designed to raise the stakes. Teams must first reach a specific points threshold. Once that threshold is achieved, they must then secure a match victory to claim the championship. This format often creates tense, high-pressure scenarios where multiple teams are fighting to close out the event.
How Teams Qualify
Of the 24 participating nations, 12 will receive direct invitations based on KRAFTON’s PUBG Ranking system. Under this structure, organisations competing in official tournaments earn ranking points, which are distributed equally among the players. Each country’s national ranking is then calculated using the combined points of the top four players eligible for that nation.
In addition to the invited teams, 10 spots will be decided through regional online qualifiers held from July 10th to 12th.
The regional slot distribution is as follows:
Two slots for the Americas
Two slots for Asia
Two slots for Southeast Asia and Oceania
Four slots for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa
The final two positions in the tournament will be allocated as Wildcards.
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16 February 2026 13:16
TL;DR
- PUBG: Battlegrounds has been confirmed as a title for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup in Riyadh from November 11th to 15th.
- 24 national teams will compete through a Group Stage and Smash Rule Finals format.
- Teams qualify through KRAFTON’s national ranking system, online qualifiers, and wildcard slots.
PUBG: Battlegrounds has officially joined the lineup for the first-ever Esports Nations Cup, adding one of the most iconic battle royale titles in the world to the international competition.
The tournament will take place from November 11th to 15th in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where 24 national teams will compete for the title of ENC champion. With national pride on the line, the event is set to bring together some of the strongest PUBG talent from around the globe.
Tournament Format Explained
The PUBG competition at the Esports Nations Cup will begin with a Group Stage featuring all 24 teams. They will be split into three groups of eight, with five matches played in each group.
From there, the top 16 teams will advance to the Finals. The remaining eight teams will be eliminated.
The Finals will follow the Smash Rule format, a system designed to raise the stakes. Teams must first reach a specific points threshold. Once that threshold is achieved, they must then secure a match victory to claim the championship. This format often creates tense, high-pressure scenarios where multiple teams are fighting to close out the event.
How Teams Qualify
Of the 24 participating nations, 12 will receive direct invitations based on KRAFTON’s PUBG Ranking system. Under this structure, organisations competing in official tournaments earn ranking points, which are distributed equally among the players. Each country’s national ranking is then calculated using the combined points of the top four players eligible for that nation.
In addition to the invited teams, 10 spots will be decided through regional online qualifiers held from July 10th to 12th.
The regional slot distribution is as follows:
Two slots for the Americas
Two slots for Asia
Two slots for Southeast Asia and Oceania
Four slots for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa
The final two positions in the tournament will be allocated as Wildcards.
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Sponsorships
Jan 13, 2026
Brazilian esports team Alpha7 Esports has won the 2025 PUBG Mobile Global Championship, also known as PMGC. The tournament was...
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Dec 15, 2025
Krafton and PUBG Studios have revealed a brand-new game called PUBG: Black Budget, a spin-off of the popular PUBG: Battlegrounds....
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Nov 21, 2025
Krafton has officially announced the much-anticipated details for the PUBG Global Championship (PGC) 2025, slated to take place in Bangkok...
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