Bangladesh set for debut at Esports Nations Cup 2026

 
Bangladesh is poised to step onto the global digital arena as it prepares to compete for the first time in the Esports Nations Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this November.

The announcement was made on Wednesday at a press conference in Dhaka by the Bangladesh Youth Development and Electronic Sports Association (BYDESA). 

The tournament, regarded as a World Cup-style competition for esports, will feature national teams rather than clubs, bringing together players from across continents under their respective flags. The inaugural edition is set to run from 2 to 29 November and will include competitions across 16 major game titles, reflecting the breadth and diversity of modern esports. 

BYDESA President Dr Brig Gen (retd) M Munirul Islam described the participation as a 'historic milestone', noting that Bangladesh will compete in 15 different titles with a squad of around 50 gamers. He further highlighted the tournament's substantial prize pool and its stature as one of the largest nation-based esports events globally.

Globally, the competition is expected to draw participation from over 100 countries, with tens of thousands of players involved in qualification pathways throughout the year. 

On the other hand, Team manager Aga Rafsan indicated that Bangladesh will initially face Asian rivals in the qualifying stages, with a top-three finish on the leaderboard required to secure a place in the main event.