Netflix is entering World Cup season with a major gaming push, releasing the official video game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup through its own games platform.
FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition will become available worldwide on 11 June for Netflix subscribers, at no extra cost. The company says the title will include no adverts and no in-game purchases, keeping it within the same subscription model used for the rest of Netflix Games.
The release is notable not only because of the World Cup brand, but also because it marks a clear break from the long-running association between FIFA football games and Electronic Arts. This edition has been developed by Delphi Interactive, the studio also working on the James Bond game 007 First Light.
A broader play by Netflix
The move fits into Netflix’s wider effort to make gaming a more visible part of its entertainment offer. The platform has already been building a catalogue that includes titles such as Red Dead Redemption, Into the Breach and Football Manager 2026.
The FIFA partnership gives Netflix something different: a game tied directly to one of the most watched sporting events in the world. It also allows the company to test whether major live-sport moments can be used to draw more subscribers into its games section.
Built for casual players
Rather than aiming only at experienced gamers, FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition has been designed as an accessible football game that can be played quickly and easily.
The game will feature all 48 national teams competing at the 2026 World Cup, together with 1,248 licensed players and the 16 stadiums being used across the United States, Canada and Mexico. It will offer single-player mode and local multiplayer for up to four people in the same room.
Players will be able to launch the game on a smart TV or computer and use their phone as the controller. Actions such as passing and shooting will be handled through swipe gestures on the phone screen via the Netflix app.
Following the tournament in real time
A key part of the game is that it will change as the actual World Cup unfolds. Variety reported that Netflix plans daily updates, with new challenges and features shaped by events on the pitch.
That means a dramatic comeback, upset or memorable match in the real tournament could be turned into a digital challenge soon after, asking players to replay or recreate the moment.
Netflix and FIFA also plan to extend the format beyond the men’s World Cup. The game is expected to be updated in 2027 for the Women’s World Cup in Brazil, giving the title a second major tournament cycle.
Source: CNN.gr
