Published on 6/16/2026
The Netflix platform, in cooperation with the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA), announced the launch of the game “FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition” exclusively through the Netflix Games service.
This launch coincided with the starting whistle of the World Cup tournament in North America, and represents the official return of the “FIFA” brand to the digital arena after its historic separation from EA Sports in 2022.
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This step is one of the most prominent moves linking the digital entertainment industry and sports games, at a time when technology companies are competing to keep users within their digital systems for as long as possible.
According to Netflix’s official announcement, the game has become available exclusively to the platform’s subscribers as of June 11, at no additional cost to subscribers. The company described the game as a new experience that aims to convey the World Cup atmosphere directly to homes in a simplified and quickly accessible way.
According to Netflix, the user can play the game on a TV or computer and use the smartphone as a controller, without the need for traditional gaming devices or specialized platforms.
What does the game offer?
“FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition” allows players to choose any of the 48 teams participating in the World Cup, and play in all 16 stadiums hosting the tournament. The game also includes more than 1,200 players representing the participating teams, giving it an official character directly linked to the global event. FIFA indicates that the game was designed to be easy to learn and quick to use, targeting a broader audience of football fans and not just professional players.
The game supports group play for up to four players at the same time, with a focus on the social experience that can be played at home or online. Netflix confirms that the goal was not to develop a complex simulation that competes with traditional games, but rather to provide an entertainment experience related to the atmosphere of the global tournament that any user can enjoy within minutes.
Why is the move important for Netflix?
In recent years, Netflix has invested billions of dollars in producing original content, but since 2021 it has begun gradually expanding into the electronic games market. However, its games have remained far from popular interest compared to its streaming services.
The launch of an official World Cup game represents a clear attempt to change this reality. The tournament is the most watched sporting event in the world, giving Netflix the opportunity to reach hundreds of millions of fans around the world simultaneously. Analysts believe that the company seeks to transform the viewer from a consumer of content into a participant in it, which is a growing trend in the digital entertainment industry.
After the end of the EA Sports era
The game gains additional importance because it comes years after the end of the historic partnership between FIFA and EA Sports, which lasted for nearly 3 decades. After the two parties separated in 2023, FIFA began searching for new models of presence in the digital games market, which prompted it to cooperate with Netflix Games as part of a broader strategy for digital transformation and expanding its presence outside the scope of traditional sports broadcasting.
According to FIFA, the launch of the game is in line with its new digital football strategy, which aims to provide easier and more accessible experiences to fans via smartphones and cloud platforms instead of completely relying on home gaming devices.
More than one game…an integrated sports content system
Netflix not only launched the game, but also accompanied the tournament with a wide range of documentaries and programs related to football, including works that deal with the history of prominent teams and players and famous events in the history of the World Cup. Forbes magazine stated that the company seeks to exploit the public momentum of the World Cup by providing an integrated experience that combines watching, playing, and documentary content within one platform.
This trend reflects a broader shift in the media industry, as broadcast platforms tend to integrate entertainment content with digital interactive services with the aim of increasing user loyalty and reducing their dependence on the traditional viewing model only.
The future of interactive broadcasting
The exclusive World Cup game represents an important test of Netflix’s ability to compete in the cloud gaming and interactive entertainment sector. If the experience succeeds in attracting subscribers and keeping them engaged, we may see more games related to major sporting events or even original content produced by the company in the future.
In light of the increasing competition between technology companies for user time, the boundaries between broadcasting, gaming and sports seem to be gradually disappearing. Through “FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition,” Netflix is trying to prove that the future of entertainment will not be limited to watching events, but will include participating in them as well.
