Fifa will finally deliver its much-trailed return to video games in 2026, years after a bitter split with developer EA.
But not a major game studio, Netflix has claimed the rights to the upcoming football game.
At one stage one of the most lucrative video game brands in history, Fifa’s previous publisher Electronic Arts stopped using the name in 2023 – partly because paying for a licence was expensive – choosing to call its biggest seller EA Sports FC.
Netflix added Fifa would produce and develop the new game with Delphi Interactive – a company that has never published a video game – to be launched before the 2026 World Cup.
It added that subsribers can play via the Netflix app on their iOS or Android devices – or via select TVs by using your phone as a controller.
EA Sports published the first Fifa game in 1993 and maintained control over the franchise for three decades before becoming ‘large enough to go it alone’.
FIFA is returning in 2026… but on Netflix 🤨🎮 pic.twitter.com/RPKYKeBFIE
— GiveMeSport (@GiveMeSport) December 17, 2025
The series had an estimated 150 million players.
But the renamed title still hit all the right notes with fans - and EA FC 24 became one of Britain’s biggest-selling games in 2023.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino said the football governing body was “very excited” to join forces with Netflix Games just in time for the 2026 World Cup.
“Our reimagined game in every sense of the word is just the start of a new era for digital football and soccer.”
“It will be available to Netflix members for free and is an historic moment for Fifa.”
California-based Delphi Interactive, the developers of the game, are also collaborating with IO Interactive on a new James Bond project, 007: First Light.
Boss of the firm, Casper Daugaard, said as “lifelong Fifa fans” they sought to help produce a game that was “the most fun, approachable and global football game ever”.
News of the announcement was so far mixed, with some fans questioning whether the Netflix mobile-first focus would be right for the franchise.
“FIFA should have never left EA,” wrote one person on social media site X.
“Let’s see what the new game has.”
