FIFA is officially making its return to video games, announcing a newly reimagined football simulation game that will launch exclusively on Netflix Games in the summer of 2026, just in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to a press release published by Netflix, the upcoming title is being developed and published by Delphi Interactive and will be available at no additional cost to Netflix subscribers. Designed as a fast-to-learn, accessible experience, the game aims to capture the emotion and drama of the World Cup in a format built for both solo play and online multiplayer. Players will be able to jump in using their phones, with support for playing on select TVs in certain countries, using mobile devices as controllers.
FIFA is changing the game.
— Netflix (@netflix) December 17, 2025
Get ready for a newly reimagined FIFA football simulation game developed by Delphi Interactive exclusively on Netflix Games this summer — just in time for FIFA World Cup 2026. pic.twitter.com/i4SRfbKrd7
Try as I might, I couldn’t find any kind of substantial information on Delphi or any games it’s developed. The company’s official website and LinkedIn say, “Delphi has pioneered a proven model to de-risk titles, reduce development costs, and create unprecedented alignment between IP owners, creatives, and developers.” According to Variety, Delphi has largely operated as a triple-A IP licensor, a connector between IP holders and external dev teams. The only project listed is IO Interactive’s Project 007 — now known as 007 First Light — a James Bond game it was reportedly helping finance.
Talking A Big Game
Netflix President of Games Alain Tascan described the project as an effort to make football gaming more accessible during what is expected to be one of the largest global sporting events in history. “We want to bring football back to its roots with something everyone can play with just the touch of a button,” Tascan said, highlighting Netflix’s goal of reaching a broad audience beyond traditional console players.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino framed the partnership as a significant step in the organization’s post-EA Sports gaming strategy. He called the collaboration a “key milestone” in FIFA’s push to innovate within the football gaming space, adding that the project is intended to reach billions of fans worldwide and “redefine the pure notion of simulation games.”
The Netflix-exclusive nature of the release suggests this will not be a traditional, feature-heavy competitor to the EA FC or eFootball series, but rather a streamlined experience designed for ease of entry and wide distribution. Still, the use of “simulation” language raises questions about how authentic the on-pitch experience will be, as well as what level of licensing will be included.
