Out of nowhere, Netflix announced a new FIFA game on Tuesday. Only those who subscribe to the streaming service will be able to play it, as the soccer simulation will be released exclusively for Netflix Games.
Anyone who assumed that FIFA would leave the virtual playing field for the 2026 World Cup to EA SPORTS or focus entirely on FIFA Rivals is wrong. Many social media users were astonished when Netflix announced a new FIFA game on Tuesday afternoon. Why? Because it will be available exclusively through the streaming service.
The soccer simulation, which has not yet been publicly named, will be part of Netflix Games. Delphi Interactive, a studio founded in 2020 that is involved in the upcoming 007 First Light, among other projects, will serve as the developer and publisher.
A “new era of digital soccer”
Gianni Infantino is “very excited about the collaboration with Netflix Games and Delphi Interactive.” The FIFA president praises the “significant cooperation” as an “important milestone.” And, as usual, he doesn’t hold back with big announcements: The upcoming title is set to “redefine the very concept of simulation games.”
According to Infantino, a “new era of digital soccer” is also on the horizon. He speaks of nothing less than a “historic step for FIFA.”
Beginner-friendly with online feature
The new FIFA game will include a single-player mode and an online mode for matches against friends. Netflix announces a format that is “quick to learn, exciting to master, and designed so that anyone can jump right in.”
“The FIFA World Cup will be the cultural event of 2026. Fans can celebrate their enthusiasm by bringing the game right into their living rooms,” says Alain Tascan, President of Games at Netflix: “We want to bring soccer back to its roots with something that anyone can play at the touch of a button.”
FIFA game without a real money option?
“All you need is Netflix and your smartphone,” announces the streaming service. What initially sounds like a purely mobile title will probably be a hybrid. This is because many games on Netflix Games can also be played on smart TVs or PCs – but sometimes with the help of a cell phone. The new FIFA is set to be ready in time for the World Cup in the summer of 2026 – and will be free for Netflix subscribers.
What’s exciting about the choice of platform is that the games on Netflix Games will reportedly not require any in-app purchases. This stands in stark contrast to FIFA’s gaming history, as can be easily seen in the old soccer spin-offs from EA SPORTS and FIFA Rivals.
