By Gary Symons
TLL Editor in Chief
When the FIFA World Cup 2026 arrives next summer, football fans will have a new way to engage with the tournament beyond the stadium and the screen.
FIFA is launching a newly reimagined football simulation game that will be available exclusively through Netflix Games, marking a major shift in how the world’s most recognizable sports brand approaches interactive entertainment.
Developed and published by Delphi Interactive, the game is designed to coincide with the World Cup, which will be hosted across Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Unlike traditional console-heavy football simulations, the new FIFA title is built for accessibility, allowing Netflix members to play directly on their phones and, in select markets, on TVs using a mobile device as a controller.
Netflix Games President Alain Tascan said the goal is to make football gaming as universal as the sport itself.
“The FIFA World Cup is going to be the cultural event of 2026, and now fans will be able to celebrate their fandom by bringing the game right into their living rooms,” Tascan said. “We want to bring football back to its roots with something everyone can play with just the touch of a button.”
According to Netflix, the game will emphasize fast, intuitive gameplay rather than complex controls, allowing players to jump in quickly for solo play or online matches with friends. Access to the game will be included with a Netflix subscription, removing the upfront cost barrier typically associated with major sports titles.
EA Games and FIFA End Licensing Partnership in ‘Amicable Divorce’
FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the project as a turning point for the organization’s digital strategy.
“FIFA is very excited to team up with Netflix Games and Delphi Interactive ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026,” Infantino said. “This major collaboration is a key milestone in FIFA’s commitment to innovation in the football gaming space, which aspires to reach billions of football fans of all ages everywhere in the world, and will be redefining the pure notion of simulation games.”
Infantino added that making the game available to Netflix members at no additional cost represents “a great historic step for FIFA” and signals the start of what he called “a new era of digital football.”
For Delphi Interactive, the project represents its most high-profile release to date. Founder and CEO Casper Daugaard said the studio’s focus is on approachability and global appeal.
“Football is the biggest thing in the world,” Daugaard said. “As lifelong FIFA fans, we’re honoured to help usher in the bold, next generation and reimagine the future of the franchise. Our mission is simple: make the FIFA game the most fun, approachable, and global football game ever created.”
The FIFA title will join Netflix’s growing games catalog, which is increasingly integrated into the streaming platform’s TV interface. Millions of subscribers already access Netflix through their televisions, and the company is expanding its push into casual, accessible games that sit alongside films and series rather than traditional gaming platforms.
Netflix says more details about gameplay, modes, and availability will be released in 2026. Initially, the game will be playable on select TVs in certain countries, with broader rollout planned over time.
Why FIFA Moved On From EA — And What Comes Next#
For decades, FIFA’s name was synonymous with EA Sports’ annual football franchise, one of the most commercially successful video game series of all time. That partnership ended in 2023 after negotiations over licensing terms broke down, with EA opting to rebrand its series as EA Sports FC and FIFA choosing to retain control of its name and future gaming direction.
At the core of the split was strategy. FIFA sought greater flexibility, broader platforms, and more experimentation across gaming formats, while EA continued to focus on a premium, console-centered model built around yearly releases. By reclaiming its gaming rights, FIFA opened the door to partnerships with multiple developers rather than a single exclusive publisher.
The Netflix collaboration reflects that new approach. Instead of competing directly with traditional console simulations, FIFA is positioning itself in the rapidly growing casual and mobile gaming space, where accessibility and global reach matter as much or more than realism and graphics. Partnering with Netflix also gives FIFA instant access to hundreds of millions of users worldwide, many of whom may not own gaming consoles at all.
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, FIFA’s new Netflix game will serve as the first major test of whether that strategy can translate its global appeal into a new generation of digital football experiences.