New FIFA game confirmed for 2026 but you can only play it via Netflix

Netflix has partnered with FIFA on a new football sim to coincide with next year’s FIFA World Cup, so should EA Sports FC be worried?

Ever since EA dropped the FIFA licence and rebranded its football game series to EA Sports FC, there’s been a question over whether any more officially licensed FIFA games will emerge.

FIFA has promised to release new video games, but the only one so far has been FIFA Heroes – an arcade style game filled with cuddly mascots, from small New York-based developer ENVER.

That’s clearly no rival to EA Sports FC, but FIFA has made another unexpected partnership, this time with Netflix Games, on what’s described as a ‘newly reimagined FIFA football simulation game’.

There aren’t many details on the untitled project, but it will be released exclusively on Netflix Games, sometime next summer, to coincide with the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be hosted across the US, Canada, and Mexico.

For anyone expecting a console-level experience to rival EA Sports FC, however, you should probably keep your expectations in check. Like other Netflix Games offerings, this will be played through the streaming service, using your phone as a controller.

Netflix’s description also suggests it will be somewhat simplified, describing the project’s format as ‘fast to learn, thrilling to master, and built for anyone to jump in’. However, you will be able to play solo or with friends online through the service.

The game is being developed and published by Delphi Interactive, a studio only known for its collaboration with IO Interactive on the upcoming 007: First Light. As reported by Variety last year, the studio hired former Nordisk Games CEO Mikkel Weider, in its bid to become an independent player in the AAA space.

Speaking about the project, Casper Daugaard, founder and CEO of Delphi Interactive, said: ‘Football is the biggest thing in the world. 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.’

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‘FIFA is very excited to team up with Netflix Games and Delphi Interactive ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026,’ FIFA president Gianni 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.

‘Our reimagined game truly marks the beginning of a new era of digital football. It will be available for free to Netflix members and is a great historic step for FIFA.’

Considering Netflix’s efforts in the gaming space so far, it’s hard to know what to expect from a partnership with FIFA. The only other sports game available on Netflix Games right now is Football Manager 2024 Mobile, while other titles range from World Of Goo to GTA: San Andreas, so we’re not expecting anything triple-A.

This comes after Netflix’s bid to acquire Warner Bros., which includes the company’s slate of game studios, responsible for the likes of Hogwarts Legacy and Mortal Kombat. Although the gaming side of things is probably not foremost on their mind at the moment.

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