The ENC Malawi team roster announcements are rolling out as players get into the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) online qualifiers running from 28 May to 15 August 2026. The tournament heads to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia later in the year from 2–26 November.
ENC brings together more than 130 countries across 16 game titles. Malawi is currently competing in Rocket League, League of Legends, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, VALORANT, DOTA 2, PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, and PUBG MOBILE.
Getting here hasn’t looked like the polished version people usually see online.
Most of these teams have been preparing around normal life — classes, work, side jobs, and whatever time they can find to get online together. Practice usually means late-night scrims, reviewing mistakes, rebuilding strategies, and trying again the next day.
And the biggest battles haven’t always been inside the game.
Internet has been one of the hardest parts. Players have had to deal with unstable connections, expensive data, power cuts, equipment limits, and trying to get entire teams online at the same time. Some sessions end early because someone disconnects. Sometimes plans change because power disappears. Sometimes people train anyway.
There’s also the reality that Malawi’s esports scene is still growing. Most players don’t have dedicated setups or organisations backing them. A lot of the work happens because players want it enough to keep showing up.
Still, the teams have kept preparing.
The focus has been simple: improve communication, understand each other’s playstyles, stay disciplined, and give themselves the best shot possible in qualifiers.
At the same time, ENC opened another route for players who didn’t make the national rosters.
Selected Open Qualifier registrations are now open and give more people a chance to compete internationally without needing to be picked for a national team first.
The Open Qualifiers focus on more accessible one-versus-one titles:
EA SPORTS FC
Chess.com
Trackmania
Fatal Fury
Street Fighter 6
For players sitting at home thinking they missed their chance — this is another way in.
You don’t need a full roster. You register, compete, and see where you stand. It’s a chance to get experience, test yourself against players from other countries, and maybe put your name where people start paying attention.
Registration is available through esportsnationscup.com.
Across the full tournament, ENC features Apex Legends, Chess, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, EA SPORTS FC, Fatal Fury, Honor of Kings, League of Legends, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, PUBG MOBILE, Rainbow Six Siege, Rocket League, Street Fighter 6, Trackmania, and VALORANT.
For Malawi’s players, qualifiers aren’t the finish line.
Right now it’s about logging in, showing up, competing, and proving that even with fewer resources, there’s talent here.