Three years after a tectonic disruption in the sports video game market, when a thirty-year partnership between FIFA– and EA Sports, the umbrella world football organization has finally made the next move. Instead of a direct “console war” with the giant EA Sports FCFIFA struck an unexpected alliance with the streaming giant – Netflix.
It has been officially confirmed that a new, as yet unnamed FIFA football simulation will be launched exclusively on Netflix Games platform during the summer of 2026, timed to coincide with the World Cup being held in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
While EA continues to dominate the big-budget simulation market on consoles and PC, FIFA and Netflix are targeting a different audience. The studio is behind the development Delphi Interactive whose founders promise a game that is “quick to learn, exciting to master and made for everyone”.
Key features of the new title are that the game will be available to all Netflix users without additional costs or microtransactions, which is a sharp departure from EA’s loot box model.
The focus is on mobile-first experience, but the game will also be available on selected smart TVs, where the mobile phone will be used as a controller. There will be solo play as well as online matches with friends.
“We want to bring football back to its roots with something that anyone can play at the push of a button,” said Alan Taskan, president of gaming at Netflix, clearly signaling that they are targeting the mass, casual market rather than loyal fans. Ultimate Team moda.
The words of the FIFA president: “A new era of digital football”
Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, did not mince words of praise, describing the collaboration as a “key milestone” in the organization’s commitment to innovation.
“This partnership with Netflix Games and Delphi Interactive will allow us to reach billions of fans. Our redesigned game truly marks the beginning of a new era of digital football,” Infantino said.
What does this mean for the market?
The decision to tie the FIFA brand to Netflix Games may seem like a “step backwards” for fans who were expecting a AAA title to match the graphics and depth. EA Sports FC 26. However, strategically speaking, this is a smart move. FIFA avoids a direct collision with EA’s established dominance and instead uses Netflix’s base of over 280 million subscribers as a launching pad.
If Delphi Interactive manages to deliver an addictive and fun experience, FIFA could regain some of its lost influence among a younger and less demanding audience, just as soccer fever is sweeping North America. It remains to be seen whether “playing phone on TV” will be enough to justify the weight of the legendary FIFA name.