2026 MENA Esports Championship Roars Into Sixth Season Completely Transformed

Saraha news- Since launching in 2021, the MENS Esports Championship has rocketed from a simple regional idea into the largest esports racing championship in the region. The mission has stayed the same since day one: to give the region’s youth – from nearly every Arab country – a genuine route into motorsport. No car, no track, no massive budget required. Just a simulator rig and talent.

The concept has proven itself in practice. Four competitors who emerged from this championship went on to win the Toyota GR Yaris Cup Qatar, a real-world car racing championship, without ever having sat behind the wheel of an actual race car before. That alone captures the core idea – simulation is no longer merely a game, but a true gateway to the track.

Across five editions between 2021 and 2025, more than 2,000 competitors from 20 countries went head-to-head, drawing over six million livestream views. The 2025 season alone blew past every projection, pulling in 735 competitors and becoming the first edition held under the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile’s (FIA) official global calendar of events – whereas previous editions had been held under the direct oversight of the FIA, represented by Jordan Motorsport.

With preparations for 2026 now underway, the championship has locked in an extended agreement with the FIA covering both the 2026 and 2027 editions – meaning it is no longer a temporary seasonal sanction, but a long-term partnership with the highest governing body in world motorsport, organized by Desert Fox in collaboration with Jordan Motorsport.

The second major change is the addition of an entirely new discipline. Gran Turismo 7 remains the official platform, but this season sees iRacing join the championship for the first time, opening the door to a new category of competitors and content.

That growth comes with four cups: the Junior’s Cup, the Women’s Cup and the Universities Cup, alongside a dedicated iRacing Cup. Building on this expansion, the championship has raised its target to 1,000 competitors from 20 countries across the MENA region this season.

National Qualifiers kicked off in Libya on 28 July 2026, rotating among participating countries over six weeks. Regional Qualifiers launch on 18 September, the decisive round that sends finalists through to the MENA Finals, set for 22 – 24 October at The ARC in King Hussein Business Park in the Jordanian capital, Amman, run under the direct auspices of the FIA. There, the region’s best will battle for a spot on the podium of motorsport’s highest global governing body.

2026 Qualifiers and Finals Calendar
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Libya
28 Jul

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Cyprus
29 Jul

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Sudan
30 Jul

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Mauritania
31 Jul

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Palestine
01 Aug

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Iran
04 Aug

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Bahrain
07 Aug

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Kuwait
10 Aug

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Qatar
13 Aug

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Oman
16 Aug

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Tunisia
19 Aug

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Lebanon
22 Aug