Par Euronews Culture
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FIFA is preparing to make its return to the video game market after announcing a partnership with American media giant Netflix.
The deal opens a new chapter in the world football governing body’s video game strategy, following its high-profile breakup with Electronic Arts, which produced the FIFA video game franchise for three decades.
For decades, FIFA relied on American publisher Electronic Arts to produce one of the world’s most profitable sports video games. This partnership ended amid disagreements over licensing rights, leading EA to abandon the FIFA brand and continue the hugely popular series under the EA Sports FC name.
As part of the deal, Netflix will offer the new football game exclusively to its subscribers at no additional cost. The title, developed by the Delphi Interactive studio, is planned for 2026, shortly before the Men’s World Cup.
Alain Tascan, President of Gaming at Netflix, said: “The FIFA World Cup will be the cultural event of 2026, and now fans will be able to celebrate their passion by bringing gaming straight into their living rooms. »
Gameplay details remain limited, but Netflix says players will be able to play solo or online with friends on a mobile phone. “All you need is Netflix and your phone,” the company said.
Describing this collaboration as “a key step in FIFA’s commitment to innovation in the world of football video games”, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the organization was “very excited to partner with Netflix Games and Delphi Interactive in the lead-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”
“Our redesigned game truly marks the start of a new era of digital football,” he added. “It will be available free of charge to Netflix subscribers and represents a major historic step forward for FIFA. »
