The Esports Foundation (EF) announced the appointment of over 700 Game Coaches representing National Team Partners (NTPs) from more than 100 countries, highlighting the event's extensive international participation. As India's NTP, NODWIN Gaming has named coaches for key games who will oversee player identification, team strategy, and the construction of competitive line-ups.

Moin Ejaz (NO_Chanc3) will lead India's DOTA 2 team, bringing over ten years of competitive experience, including securing a bronze medal for India at the 2022 Commonwealth Esports Championships in Birmingham. Rahul (Ayogi) has been appointed BGMI coach; he has previously coached teams such as Blind Esports and Team SouL to titles including BGMI Pro Series 2023 and BGIS 2026.

Abhishek Bajaj (GodspeedxD), with a strong coaching background including victories with Reckoning Esports and Velocity Esports, will coach VALORANT. Pankaj Upadhyay (KAKA), regarded as one of India's top League of Legends players, will head that team.

Steve Vitug (Dale) from the Philippines will coach MOBA Legends: 5v5!, drawing on his experience leading teams to top-six finishes at World Championships with Omega Esports and Falcon Esports. Pratik Mehra (Aurum), who helped Fnatic secure wins at PUBG Mobile All Stars India 2019 and podium finishes at subsequent events, will coach PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS.

Ashrit Goyal (notyAshritB) has been appointed Rainbow Six Siege coach, having achieved a second place at the South Asia Nationals 2022 and consistent top-seven finishes in Asia Pacific tournaments. Nirjhar Mitra (jocse), who represented India at the Asian Nations Cup qualifiers and Commonwealth Esports Championships 2022, will lead Rocket League.

Indonesian coach Gradyano Valendy (Rinnqt) will manage Honor of Kings, bringing experience from coaching Rex Regum Qeon and competing in qualification events for the Esports World Cup 2024 and the Honor of Kings World Championship 2024.

Nimish Raut, Global Head of Esports: Partnerships & Special Projects at NODWIN Gaming, said, "The appointment of coaches marks a crucial milestone in India's journey towards the Esports Nations Cup 2026. Each coach has been selected for their deep understanding of the game, competitive experience, and ability to identify and nurture talent within their respective titles. We are confident that this coaching group will lay a solid foundation for India's campaign on the global stage."

The overall coaching pool across the ENC encompasses more than 90 leading esports organisations worldwide, with world champions and emerging figures contributing to team development at the highest level of competition.

Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation, said, "The Esports Nations Cup is being built step by step, and appointing team coaches is the next critical layer in that structure. If teams are what make esports intuitive for a mainstream audience, coaches are what make them credible for players and fans. They bring identity, direction, and standards to each team. With more than 700 coaches now in place across over 100 National Team Partners, we're turning the idea of nation-based competition into something people can understand instantly and believe in - a system that is structured, real, and ready to perform on the world stage."

Attention now turns to finalising player selections ahead of the ENC's global qualification pathway. The roster submission deadline is May 10, with team announcements beginning in mid-May. Competitors in solo-player and remaining team-based titles will be determined via open qualifiers, with further details to be revealed soon.

The ENC introduces nation-based competition to the global esports calendar in a consistent format, enabling countries and territories to organise teams, develop talent pathways, and compete internationally. This initiative aims to create new opportunities for players while strengthening links between local esports ecosystems and the global stage.