FIFA makes its gaming comeback through Netflix Games ahead of the 2026 World Cup

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Story Highlights

  • A new FIFA football game will launch on Netflix Games in time for the 2026 World Cup.
  • The game will be free for Netflix members and playable solo or online with friends.

FIFA is coming back to video games with a brand new title, and it’s partnering with Netflix Games to make it happen. The game, a reimagining of the classic FIFA football experience, is scheduled to launch in 2026, coinciding with the FIFA World Cup. Best of all, it will be available to all Netflix subscribers at no additional charge.

Delphi Interactive is creating and releasing the game. Netflix subscribers can play by themselves or with friends online, all on their phones. Netflix describes the game as easy for anyone to start playing.

The announcement ends years of speculation after FIFA and EA split in 2022

This announcement is important because it resolves years of questions about the future of the FIFA video game license. After FIFA and Electronic Arts ended their decades-long relationship in 2022, there’s been a lot of talk about which company might take over, with 2K Games frequently mentioned as a potential candidate.

FIFA is getting a fresh start! This summer, Netflix Games will release a completely redesigned FIFA football game, created by Delphi Interactive, and perfectly timed for the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

— Netflix (@netflix) December 17, 2025

Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick clarified that creating a realistic soccer simulation like FIFA is surprisingly difficult. He explained that simply having the FIFA license doesn’t grant access to all the players, teams, and leagues needed for the game. This is why the talk about a potential ‘FIFA 2K’ game eventually faded away.

Now that Netflix is working directly with FIFA, we might see future FIFA video games available on Netflix as part of its expanding game selection. Netflix is already testing games on TVs, using phones as controllers, and FIFA is a well-known, popular brand that would be a great fit for this approach.

This decision reflects Netflix’s broader goals in both entertainment and gaming. As the company rapidly grows its offerings and is rumored to be in discussions to buy Warner Bros., it’s becoming clear that Netflix aims to be much more than just a streaming service.

FIFA is making a comeback through games on Netflix, starting a fresh new direction for the series. We can expect to learn more about these plans in 2026.

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2025-12-17 21:11