Netflix to launch FIFA World Cup video game

Netflix is set to launch an official FIFA football simulation game exclusively on its gaming platform in summer 2026, coinciding with the FIFA World Cup, the company announced Wednesday. Developed and published by Los Angeles-based Delphi Interactive, the game will be available to all Netflix subscribers and can be played on a smartphone, either solo or online with friends.

While the game does not yet have an official title or a precise release date, Netflix said further details will be revealed in 2026. “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,” said Alain Tascan, president of games at Netflix.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the project as “a great historic step for FIFA” and emphasized the goal of reaching “billions of football fans of all ages everywhere in the world.” The game marks FIFA’s return to the gaming world after parting ways with EA Sports, the U.S.-based developer behind the best-selling FIFA video game series, in 2022 due to disagreements over licensing fees. For nearly 30 years, FIFA-branded games dominated consoles such as PlayStation and Xbox.

Earlier this year, FIFA released FIFA Rivals, a free-to-play cartoon-style mobile game, signaling its intention to expand its digital footprint. Meanwhile, Delphi Interactive, the studio behind Netflix’s new FIFA game, is also developing a premium James Bond game in collaboration with Amazon and Danish publisher IO Interactive.

Netflix first entered the gaming market in 2021 as part of a broader effort to diversify its entertainment offerings beyond streaming. Its current gaming catalog primarily includes mobile titles, with some now playable on TV devices, all available at no extra cost for Netflix subscribers.

With this upcoming FIFA game, Netflix aims to combine the excitement of global football with interactive gameplay accessible to millions of users worldwide. By offering a dedicated football simulation during the peak of the World Cup, Netflix is positioning itself as a new player in the sports gaming market, potentially filling the void left by the long-running FIFA video game franchise on traditional consoles.

This move reflects Netflix’s continued investment in gaming as a key component of its broader entertainment strategy, blending live sports enthusiasm with digital interactivity.