The Esports Foundation (EF) has officially revealed the players who have received direct invitations to participate in the EA SPORTS FC tournament at the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026. Among them is India's Charanjot Singh, who earned his place through the FC Pro World Rankings. The 23-year-old will represent India at this inaugural global esports competition, scheduled to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2 to 29, 2026, according to a press release.

The EA SPORTS FC tournament at ENC 2026 is set to occur from November 17 to 22, boasting a prize pool of USD 600,000 (approximately Rs 5.7 crore). A total of 128 players will compete in this prestigious event.

The EF has allocated 64 direct invitations based on the official FC Pro World Rankings, granting one invite to the highest-ranked eligible player from each country or territory. The remaining 56 spots will be filled through regional online qualifiers, which are scheduled from July 29 to August 9, while the final eight slots will be awarded through wildcard invitations.

Charanjot Singh is recognized as South Asia's top EA SPORTS FC player, having represented India in various prestigious tournaments, including the Hangzhou Asian Games and the FIFAe Nations Cup. Domestically, he has won multiple major titles, including the eISL Season 3 championship, solidifying his status as one of India's most successful EA SPORTS FC competitors. His outstanding performances last season led him to become the highest-ranked Indian player in the FC Pro World Rankings, securing his direct qualification for ENC 2026.

Reflecting on his qualification for the Esports Nations Cup 2026, Charanjot Singh expressed, "I have had the opportunity to compete on some incredible stages over the years, and every tournament has taught me something new while helping me grow as a player. The Esports Nations Cup is the next big challenge in that journey, bringing together the best players from across the world on one of the biggest stages in esports. Now the focus is on making the most of this opportunity and delivering the level of performance I know I'm capable of."

The online qualifiers for EA Sports FC will be conducted through the in-game FC Pro Live Events mode and the Battlefy tournament platform. These regional qualifiers will occur in two phases and are open to all eligible players, with no cap on the number of participants from each eligible country or territory.

In Phase 1, players will engage in a ladder-based format from July 29 to August 2, with matches available around the clock. Competitors will be matched against others with similar Skill Ratings. At the end of the ladder stage, the top players from each region, based on their peak Skill Rating, will progress to the Playoff Stage on Battlefy. A maximum of two players from each country or territory may qualify for ENC 2026, including those who have already received direct invitations. With Charanjot securing one of India's two spots, another Indian player can still qualify through the South Asia regional qualifier, where four players will advance to the main event.

With this announcement, India has secured representation in seven titles at ENC 2026: Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), Chess, EA Sports FC, Honor of Kings, Rocket League, Trackmania, and VALORANT. The nation received special invites for BGMI and Honor of Kings. In Chess, Grandmaster Nihal Sarin qualified directly through the official ENC Rankings, while Mitrabha Guha earned his spot through the regional qualifiers. Additionally, India's Rocket League team, VALORANT team, and Trackmania star Kunal Upreti (Spark) also qualified for the global event through their respective regional qualifiers.

Attention now shifts to the remaining titles. India's MOBA Legends: 5v5! roster, previously announced by NODWIN Gaming, the National Team Partner (NTP) for ENC 2026, is still in contention for a direct invitation to the main event. If necessary, the team will compete in regional qualifiers scheduled for August 15 to 16.