Look Sports Media – The digital football landscape is poised for a seismic shift as streaming giant Netflix officially enters the fray, announcing a groundbreaking partnership with global football governing body FIFA. This collaboration will see the release of an exclusive mobile football simulation game, strategically timed to coincide with the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup 2026™. This move marks a pivotal moment for the iconic football franchise, coming on the heels of its high-profile separation from long-time development partner, EA Sports.
The curtain officially fell on EA’s two-decade tenure with the FIFA brand following the closure of FIFA 23’s online servers, signaling the end of an era that defined virtual football for millions. However, FIFA is not dwelling on the past. Its new venture with Netflix promises a distinct experience, diverging significantly from the traditional console and PC-focused gameplay that fans associated with the EA FC series.
The upcoming title, developed by the relatively nascent studio Delphi Interactive, will be exclusively available on Netflix Games. Players will require an active Netflix subscription to access the game on their mobile devices. Delphi Interactive’s public portfolio is lean, with their most notable contribution being support for IO Interactive’s forthcoming AAA James Bond title, "First Light 007." Despite their limited track record, Netflix’s official statement paints an optimistic picture, describing the simulation as "fast to learn, thrilling to master, and built for anyone to jump in." The game will offer both solo play and online multiplayer modes, ensuring a dynamic experience for all subscribers.
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With the 2026 World Cup as its launchpad, the game is expected to debut no later than June 11, 2026, aligning perfectly with the tournament’s kickoff. This mobile-first strategy is just one facet of FIFA’s expanded gaming vision for the upcoming World Cup cycle. The organization has also forged a multi-year alliance with Sports Interactive, the creators of the revered Football Manager series, to introduce a fully licensed World Cup mode within their management simulation.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed immense enthusiasm for the Netflix collaboration, highlighting its significance for the future of digital football. "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," Infantino stated. He further emphasized, "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."
Meanwhile, the competitive landscape for EA Sports FC 26 appears more challenging regarding international football representation. Having severed ties with FIFA, the upcoming EA FC installment faces a notable deficit in licensed national teams. With the recent removal of New Zealand post-FC 25, the game reportedly features only 28 international squads. This roster falls short of the 32 required for a classic World Cup format, let alone the expanded 48-team structure planned for 2026.
Despite these limitations, industry observers anticipate that EA FC 26 will still offer some form of World Cup content. This will likely manifest as World Cup-themed Ultimate Team cards and a dedicated offline tournament mode. However, for many long-time fans, the absence of a robust, standalone World Cup Ultimate Team experience, reminiscent of beloved iterations like FIFA 14 and FIFA 18, remains a point of contention.
As the 2026 World Cup draws closer, the gaming world watches intently. Netflix’s entry, coupled with FIFA’s renewed focus on diverse gaming partnerships, signals a bold new chapter for football simulation, challenging established norms and potentially reshaping how fans engage with the beautiful game digitally.
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