FIFA is returning in 2026 with a new game — this time on Netflix
The football body is partnering with Netflix Games to launch a mobile-first FIFA title ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
After four long years away from the world of video games, FIFA is officially making a comeback in 2026. But if you’re expecting a familiar setup a big console release backed by a major game studio, think again. This time, FIFA’s return is happening under the Netflix banner.
The football governing body has partnered with Netflix Games to release a brand-new FIFA video game ahead of the 2026 World Cup, marking a surprising new chapter for one of the most successful franchises in gaming history. The game will be exclusive to Netflix subscribers and playable through the Netflix app on iOS and Android, as well as on select TVs using a phone as a controller.
It’s a bold move, and one that’s already dividing fans.
Emmanuel Umahi
How FIFA and EA went their separate ways
For three decades, FIFA and Electronic Arts (EA)were inseparable. From the first FIFA game released in 1993 to the final entry before the split, the franchise became a cultural institution, pulling in an estimated 150 million players worldwide, and turning into one of the most profitable brands gaming has ever seen.
That relationship ended in 2023, largely over licensing costs and control. EA walked away from the FIFA name but kept everything else the gameplay, the engine, and the player base rebranding the series as EA Sports FC. The gamble paid off. EA FC 24 became the best-selling game in the UK in 2023, proving that fans were more attached to the experience than the name.
FIFA, meanwhile, was left with one of the most recognizable brands in sports but no game.
Why Netflix makes sense for FIFA (even if it feels strange)
Netflix stepping in might feel odd at first, but it fits into a much bigger strategy. Over the past few years, Netflix has been quietly building its gaming division, using mobile-first games as a way to keep subscribers engaged beyond films and TV shows.
By bringing FIFA into its ecosystem, Netflix gets instant global recognition, especially ahead of the 2026 World Cup. For FIFA, the deal offers something equally valuable: guaranteed distribution. Instead of convincing people to buy a new game, FIFA’s new title will be “free” to anyone already paying for Netflix.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has framed the partnership as the start of a “new era of digital football,” positioning accessibility as the core idea.
A new studio, a big responsibility
The game itself will be developed and published by Delphi Interactive, a California-based studio that hasn’t released a video game before. That alone has raised eyebrows, given the size and expectations attached to the FIFA name.
However, Delphi is currently working with IO Interactive on an upcoming James Bond game, 007: First Light, which suggests the studio isn’t entirely untested. Still, taking on FIFA as your first major release is no small task.
Delphi’s CEO Casper Daugaard says the goal is to make the game “the most fun, approachable, and global football game ever created.” That wording matters. This doesn’t sound like a direct competitor to EA Sports FC on consoles. It sounds like something broader, lighter, and designed to reach as many people as possible.
Emmanuel Umahi
FIFA fans are curious and skeptical
Reaction so far has been mixed. Some fans are excited to see what a fresh take on FIFA could look like without EA’s long-standing formula. Others aren’t convinced that a mobile-first, Netflix-backed approach is the right future for a franchise that built its reputation on deep, competitive gameplay.
Comments across social media reflect that tension. Some feel FIFA never should have left EA. Others are waiting to see what this new version actually delivers before passing judgment.
At this point, the biggest question isn’t whether the game will be popular it probably will be but whether it will feel like FIFA as players remember it.
The takeaway
FIFA’s return to video games isn’t about reclaiming the past; it’s about redefining its future. By partnering with Netflix, FIFA is betting on accessibility, global reach, and a new generation of players who may never touch a console at all. Whether that gamble pays off will depend on one thing: if the game feels fun, authentic, and worthy of a name that once defined football gaming.
Emmanuel Umahi
