After their partnership with EA Sports ended, FIFA plans on making a return to the gaming landscape following a four-year absence. This time, it would not be through a traditional video game publisher, but rather via an unexpected partnership with streaming giant Netflix.
The new game is set to launch ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the collaboration will supposedly mark a bold new direction for one of gaming’s most recognizable franchises and raise intriguing questions about the future of sports gaming.
With football being the most popular sport on the planet, fans and bettors are checking fresh football tips today on trusted websites to see expert predictions for upcoming matches. But the 2026 FIFA World Cup is definitely the most anticipated football event of the year, and linking the video game release to a buzzing event seems like the right marketing move, but it will be all futile if the product ends up underdelivering. In this article, we will look at the potential which the collaboration between FIFA and Netflix promises.
A New Chapter for FIFA After the EA Split
The FIFA gaming franchise enjoyed decades of success in collaboration with Electronic Arts, being one of the most profitable brands in the history of gaming with an estimated 150 million players across the globe. However, the partnership ended abruptly in 2023, reportedly due to costly licensing disputes. EA subsequently rebranded its flagship football title as EA Sports FC, which proved that the franchise’s strength was more than just a name. EA FC 24 maintained its status as one of the best-selling games of the year.
Now, it has come time for FIFA to make its move, and they are charting their own course with a completely reimagined approach in digital football, partnering with Netflix Games and developer Delphi Interactive to create an experience that prioritizes accessibility and global reach over traditional simulation complexity.
Accessibility as the Core Strategy
The most striking aspect of this collaboration is its platform-first approach. Rather than competing directly with EA Sports FC on consoles and PCs, the new FIFA game will be exclusively available through Netflix’s gaming platform on iOS and Android devices, as well as select smart TVs using phones as controllers. This mobile-first strategy represents a fundamental shift in how FIFA views its gaming future.
According to Alain Tascan, President of Games at Netflix, the goal is to “bring football back to its roots with something everyone can play with just the touch of a button.” This philosophy suggests a game designed for quick sessions and intuitive controls rather than the deep tactical complexity that has defined football simulations for decades. The emphasis on being “fast to learn, thrilling to master” indicates Delphi Interactive is targeting a broader, more casual audience than traditional FIFA games have reached.
There are several unique advantages that Netflix could bring to this partnership. The streaming platform already has millions of subscribers worldwide who already watch content on their TVs and mobile devices, a built-in distribution that few game publishers can match. The new FIFA game will be free for Netflix members, eliminating the traditional $60-70 price barrier that prevents many potential players from trying sports games.
This bundled approach could prove particularly powerful in markets where football is beloved but gaming consoles have limited penetration. By meeting players where they already are—on their phones and smart TVs—FIFA and Netflix are betting they can reach “billions of football fans of all ages everywhere in the world,” as FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated.
Questions and Challenges
Despite the ambitious vision, the partnership faces significant challenges and has generated mixed reactions from the gaming community. Many longtime FIFA fans are skeptical that a mobile-focused game can capture the depth and authenticity they’ve come to expect from EA FC. A commonly held belief is that FIFA should have never broken up their partnership with EA, with concerns that the new direction may prioritize accessibility at the expense of quality.
There’s also the matter of Delphi Interactive’s track record—or lack thereof. The California-based studio has yet to release a video game, though it is working on a James Bond title with IO Interactive. Entrusting a beloved franchise’s revival to an unproven developer is a considerable risk, even with Netflix’s resources behind them.
Furthermore, launching ahead of the 2026 World Cup gives Delphi Interactive limited time to develop, test, and refine what needs to be a compelling gaming experience. The timing is strategic for marketing purposes, but it also creates pressure to deliver.
While the FIFA-Netflix partnership represents a fascinating gamble on the future of sports gaming, whether the vision will resonate with fans or leave them longing for the EA days remains to be seen. If the quality is not there, this move will be seen as another desperate cash-grab from FIFA, turning the fans against the product.
Heather Neves is working as a freelance content writer. She likes blogging on topics related to parenting, golf, and fitness, gaming . She graduated with honors from Columbia University with a dual degree in Accountancy and Creative Writing.
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