The Azerbaijan Esports Federation has raised concerns following its exclusion from the National Team Partner (NTP) and National Team Manager (NTM) selections for the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026, after the Esports Foundation announced partnerships across more than 100 countries.
In an official statement, the federation confirmed that it was not selected in the recent process, calling the outcome “disappointing” despite its existing relationships with major publishers including Electronic Arts, Tencent Games, and MOONTON Games.
However, it is worth noting that on the International Esports Federation’s website, the mention of Azerbaijan Esports Federation returns a 404.
Federation Flags Transparency Concerns
The Azerbaijan Esports Federation, which is officially recognized by the country’s Ministry of Youth and Sport, stated that it had undertaken structured efforts to build both international and grassroots esports development within the region.
However, it noted that no formal communication had been received at the institutional level regarding the entity selected to represent Azerbaijan. According to the statement, this includes a lack of clarity even through government channels.
The federation also highlighted that it was not given an opportunity to present its case through direct engagement during the selection process, raising broader concerns around transparency and institutional alignment in decisions related to national representation.
ENC Expands Global Footprint
The development comes shortly after the Esports Foundation confirmed National Team Partner appointments across more than 100 nations for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026, set to take place in Riyadh.
The tournament is expected to feature a prize pool of $45 million across titles under the broader Esports World Cup ecosystem, positioning it as one of the largest investments in competitive gaming to date.
In India, NODWIN Gaming was named the official National Team Partner, tasked with leading team formation and national representation for the event.
Uncertainty Around Azerbaijan Representation
At the time of writing, the Esports Foundation has not publicly clarified the selected partner or representative body for Azerbaijan.
The Azerbaijan Esports Federation stated that it will continue engaging with stakeholders to ensure that national representation reflects the interests of its players and broader community.
Further updates are expected as additional details emerge regarding the selection process and Azerbaijan’s representation at the Esports Nations Cup 2026.