The popular football video game FIFA is set to make a comeback, this time exclusively on Netflix, marking a major shift in the franchise’s history.
The game has been offline for several years following FIFA’s split with EA, which ended a long-running partnership. EA stopped using the FIFA name in 2023 due to licensing issues and rebranded its football series as EA Sports FC.
In a surprising move, FIFA has chosen Netflix, a streaming platform rather than a traditional game studio, to host its revival. Netflix has acquired the exclusive rights to develop and distribute the new FIFA game, which is scheduled to launch ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino welcomed the partnership, calling the remake “the beginning of a new era of digital football.” He highlighted that the game will be free for Netflix subscribers, describing it as a significant milestone for FIFA’s digital expansion.
The announcement has received mixed reactions from fans. While many welcomed FIFA’s return, some expressed concerns about the mobile-first approach of the game.
The new FIFA title will be developed by Delphi Interactive, a California-based studio that has not yet released a video game. Despite being a new developer, the studio has been entrusted with bringing back one of football gaming’s most recognised names.
Netflix subscribers will be able to play FIFA online through the Netflix app on iOS and Android devices, as well as on select TVs, using their phones as controllers.
