Bangladesh will participate for the first time in the Esports Nations Cup, often called the World Cup of esports, scheduled for November 2026 in Saudi Arabia. The announcement came at a press conference organized by the Bangladesh Youth Development and Electronic Sports Association (BYDESA) in Dhaka, where its president, Dr. Brigadier General (Retd.) Md. Munirul Islam, confirmed the country’s debut. Bangladesh will compete in 15 different esports titles, with a total prize pool exceeding Tk 2.2 billion, one of the largest among global esports events.

Around 150 countries are expected to take part in the tournament. Bangladesh’s 50-member team will first face Asian nations in the qualifiers, aiming to finish among the top two or three to reach the main round. Team manager Aga Rafsan said preparations are underway with that goal in mind. Coaches Farhan Islam, Md. Abid Hossain, and Nazmus Sakib stated that the national team was selected through a transparent process after 1,500 gamers registered nationwide.

The debut is being viewed as a major milestone for Bangladesh’s growing esports community.