The inaugural Esports Nations Cup has been delayed by one year and will now take place in Riyadh in November 2027. The Esports Foundation announced the postponement on August 18, citing an assessment of the "wider regional situation" following consultation with industry stakeholders. The move comes after months of squad selection and qualification rounds for competing nations.
Team GB has already qualified for the Dota 2 competition after progressing through EU West qualifiers in July, with the squad led by Robson "TeaGuvnor" Merritt. The country has also confirmed rosters for Rainbow Six Siege, Rocket League, and League of Legends, the latter featuring Jordan "Shikari" Pointon, Matthew "Deadly" Smith, and Raymond "Kasing" Tsang.
The Esports Foundation confirmed that existing Development Fund commitments to National Team Partners will continue despite the delay. Work with publishers and national partners will proceed over the coming year to clarify how qualification pathways and the revised timeline affect the competition.
