FIFA has announced that it will roll out a new football video game, FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition, on Netflix Games on June 11—set to line up with the opening of the 2026 Men’s World Cup.
Key takeaways
- FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition is scheduled to arrive on Netflix Games on June 11.
- Netflix subscribers can access the game with no extra charge.
- The title is built as an easy-to-enter football simulation for participating in the tournament experience.
- Users can select from all 48 World Cup teams and compete across venues used in the competition.
- FIFA says the smartphone-to-TV setup works through a QR code connection.
- The release follows FIFA’s end of its long partnership with EA Sports and signals a new multi-partner gaming direction.
A tournament-focused game for launch day
FIFA says the game will be released on Netflix Games on June 11, timed to match the start of the 2026 World Cup. The organisation also confirmed the title will be available exclusively to Netflix members at no additional cost, as it aims to deepen fan engagement through a revised digital strategy.
In terms of development, FIFA states that the project has been created in collaboration with Netflix Games and Delphi Interactive. The game is intended to function as an accessible football simulation, designed so players can take part in the World Cup experience.
FIFA further explained that the game features all 48 teams that will compete at the World Cup. It will allow players to play through matches staged across the tournament’s 16 stadiums, and FIFA says more than 1,200 players are included in the game.
On the technical side, FIFA said the system uses smartphones as controllers. Players can link a phone to a television by scanning a QR code, enabling the game to be played on the TV screen while using the smartphone for input.
New gaming strategy after EA Sports
FIFA described the launch as part of a wider shift in its approach to gaming after the conclusion of its long-running partnership with EA Sports. The governing body said it is moving toward a multi-partner framework, intended to broaden its presence across different platforms and audiences.
The organisation also framed the game as the beginning of a longer-term initiative, with additional features and wider platform support planned after the initial release.
World Cup kick-off date
The 2026 World Cup—taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico—gets underway on June 11.
