Yes. FIFA has announced plans for a new football game, with a launch targeted for 2026 through Netflix Games. It is a separate project from EA Sports FC, the series that continued after EA and FIFA ended their licensing partnership.
That announcement confirms a new game is in development, but it does not answer every practical question. Here’s what has been announced, how the project differs from EA’s football games, what players still need to wait to learn, and how to judge future updates without mistaking rumors for confirmed features.
will fifa make a new football game? What has been announced
Yes—FIFA has announced a new football game planned for 2026. The project is being made with Delphi Interactive and is set to launch through Netflix Games. That makes it a new FIFA-branded game, not a return of EA’s former FIFA series.
The announcement establishes the project and its intended launch year. It does not, by itself, confirm a precise release date, a full list of modes, or every device the game will support. Treat those details as unconfirmed until FIFA, Netflix, or the developer publishes them directly.
The Netflix connection is important because it affects how players may access the game. The project has been presented as a Netflix Games release, with play on Netflix-supported TVs and a phone used as a controller. The final device requirements, regional availability, and account conditions should be checked against official launch information when it appears.
For now, the clearest answer is: a new FIFA game is planned, but it is a different project from the annual EA Sports FC releases. The name FIFA alone does not mean EA is making it.
Why the FIFA and EA partnership ended
For decades, EA Sports released football games under the FIFA name through a licensing agreement with the international governing body. The last game released under that partnership was FIFA 23. After the agreement ended, EA continued its football series under the name EA Sports FC, beginning with EA Sports FC 24.
The split concerned the use of FIFA’s name and related rights. It did not mean EA stopped making football games, and it did not mean FIFA had to stop licensing its own brand to other companies. The two organizations could pursue separate products and partnerships.
This distinction clears up a common source of confusion: EA Sports FC is the direct continuation of EA’s former series, while the new FIFA game is a separate title. EA’s established game, teams, features, and release schedule do not automatically transfer to the FIFA-branded project.
FIFA is football’s governing organization, not a game studio that previously built the EA titles itself. A company developing a game under a FIFA partnership handles the actual production. FIFA’s name and participation do not guarantee that a new title will feel or play like the EA games.
What is known about the new FIFA game so far
Public information remains limited compared with a fully revealed game. The core confirmed points are the FIFA brand, the partnership with Netflix Games, Delphi Interactive’s development role, and a planned 2026 launch. The project is intended to be a football simulation, but that label alone does not explain its depth or exact style.
| Question | What is currently known | What remains unclear |
|---|---|---|
| Who is involved? | FIFA, Netflix Games, and developer Delphi Interactive are associated with the project. | Further studios, partners, or licensing arrangements have not necessarily been detailed. |
| When is it due? | The announced target is 2026. | A specific launch day, early-access period, or regional schedule. |
| Where will people play? | It is being developed for Netflix Games, with TV play and a phone-controller setup described. | Exact compatible devices, operating systems, and availability by country. |
| What kind of game is it? | It has been described as a football simulation. | Match modes, online play, career features, team selection, and gameplay systems. |
| Will it cost extra? | The Netflix Games connection has been announced. | Final subscription requirements, any extra charges, and account rules at launch. |
This table separates confirmed direction from details that still need an official answer. In particular, do not assume that the game will include the same club licenses, player roster, or modes found in EA Sports FC. Those rights and features depend on separate agreements and product decisions.
How the new FIFA game differs from EA Sports FC
The main difference is who is making and publishing each product. EA Sports FC is EA’s established football franchise. The new FIFA-branded game is a separate Netflix Games project developed with Delphi Interactive.
That separation can affect nearly every part of the experience: controls, presentation, team licenses, online infrastructure, game modes, updates, and how players access the game. Familiarity with EA’s series may help you understand football-game conventions, but it does not predict how this new title will work.
| Feature | New FIFA-branded game | EA Sports FC | Practical takeaway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand and project | FIFA title made through a new partnership | EA’s football series under its own brand | They are separate products, not two names for one game. |
| Developer and platform connection | Delphi Interactive and Netflix Games have been announced | Developed and published by EA | Check each game’s official requirements before choosing. |
| Release information | Targeted for 2026; specific date details remain to be confirmed | Part of EA’s existing release series | Do not treat the new title as an EA annual installment. |
| Teams and licenses | Full lineup and rights have not been fully established publicly | Uses EA’s own licensing agreements | Wait for confirmed team and competition lists. |
| Access | Planned through Netflix Games | EA’s supported game platforms and services | Subscription, device, and availability terms may differ. |
There is also a difference between a FIFA-branded game and FIFA’s wider gaming activity. FIFA can take part in esports events, licensing, or other football-related digital projects without those projects being the new console-style or TV-playable game. A partnership tied to one competition does not confirm features in another product.
Will the game have real teams, players, and leagues?
That has not been fully confirmed in the information available about the project. FIFA’s name does not automatically grant a developer every club, league, player, stadium, or national-team license. Many rights are held by separate organizations or negotiated individually.
For example, a game may have permission to use one competition but not every club competing in it. Player likenesses, club badges, league names, and stadium designs can also involve different agreements. A convincing list of licenses will need to come from an official announcement, not an assumption based on the FIFA label.
When a roster or licensing list is eventually published, check whether it names specific competitions and clubs. “Official football game” is broad marketing language; it does not tell you which teams are playable. The same applies to national teams and tournament branding.
Do not assume the new game will have the same licenses as EA Sports FC. EA’s agreements belong to EA’s product, and FIFA’s partnership does not automatically move those rights to another developer.
Will it be like the old FIFA games?
It may share the familiar idea of controlling teams in simulated football matches, but no one should assume a one-to-one recreation of EA’s former FIFA games. A shared sport and brand do not guarantee the same engine, animation, tactics, presentation, or match feel.
Gameplay depends on choices the developers have not fully explained publicly. These include how players move, how passing and shooting work, whether matches are played in real time, and how the game handles difficulty. Online features and competitive modes can also shape the experience as much as the on-field controls.
Access is another major difference. A game designed around Netflix Games and TV play may be built for a different setup than a traditional console release. Using a phone as a controller could make it easier to start a match on a compatible TV, but it is not the same setup as using a console controller. Wait for hands-on details before judging comfort or control precision.
The most reliable way to assess similarity will be to watch official gameplay and read the final feature list. A short teaser can establish a visual style, but it cannot prove how the game feels across a full match.
What players should watch for before launch
As more information arrives, focus on practical details rather than broad promises. These answers will tell you whether the title suits your devices, preferred play style, and expectations.
- Check the supported devices. Confirm whether your TV or other device can run Netflix Games and whether a phone controller is required. Compatibility can vary by model and region.
- Read the access terms. Look for the required Netflix plan, account conditions, availability, and any additional fees. Do not assume that “included with Netflix” means every plan or country is covered.
- Look for complete gameplay footage. A full match reveals pace, camera options, controls, and match presentation more clearly than a cinematic trailer.
- Verify the licensed content. Find the official club, league, competition, and player lists. Do not rely on fan-made graphics or unverified roster claims.
- Check the modes and online requirements. Find out whether the game supports solo play, local play, online matches, or career-style progression, and whether those modes need an internet connection.
- Wait for final launch details. A planned year can change. Confirm the release date and local availability before making a decision based on a rumored launch window.
This checklist helps avoid a common mistake: deciding that the game is “good” or “bad” based only on the FIFA name. The name tells you who is associated with the project, not whether its controls, modes, and access model match what you want.
Why the 2026 target does not guarantee a release date
A target year is a public plan, not a promise of a particular day. Game production can involve development milestones, testing, platform approval, and regional release arrangements. Until the partners publish a firm date, “2026” is the clearest timeline to use.
It is also possible for early announcements to leave important questions unanswered. A game may be revealed well before its content, device support, and launch schedule are ready to share. That does not prove a delay is coming; it simply means those details should not be filled in by guesswork.
For accurate updates, prioritize announcements from FIFA, Netflix, and Delphi Interactive. Reputable reporting can add useful context, but distinguish a reported possibility from a confirmed feature. If a post claims a precise date or a full team list without linking to a credible announcement, treat it cautiously.
What this means if you want a football game now
If you want to play a football game before the new project launches, EA Sports FC is a separate option with an established series and its own platform support. Other football games may also suit you, depending on whether you prefer licensed club competition, mobile play, management, or a different style of simulation.
Choose based on the product that exists today, not on features the upcoming FIFA game may or may not receive. Check supported devices, current modes, online requirements, and licensing before buying or subscribing. If you are mainly interested in the FIFA-branded project, waiting for its official gameplay and access details is the sensible choice.
One useful point is easy to overlook: a game’s availability through a subscription service can change how you think about ownership. Check the service terms and the title’s access rules before expecting it to work like a permanently owned disc or a standalone download. That practical detail matters even if the game itself looks appealing.
Yes, will fifa make a new football game has a straightforward answer: FIFA has announced a separate game planned for 2026 through Netflix Games, with Delphi Interactive involved. It is not a new EA Sports FC title, and the confirmed details do not yet settle questions about teams, modes, devices, or an exact release date.
For now, treat the 2026 launch as a target and wait for official gameplay, platform requirements, and licensing information. Before choosing a game, compare those details with the devices and football features you actually want.