Netflix is bringing FIFA to its games lineup in time for the FIFA World Cup 2026, and it wants the living room to be part of it. The plan is a reimagined FIFA football simulation game, exclusive to Netflix Games, that you can play on your phone and, in some places, on your TV.
If your goal is to play FIFA on Netflix TV, the core idea is simple: you launch the game on a supported TV and use your phone as the controller. Netflix also says you can play solo or online with friends, and it is pitching the experience as quick to learn but satisfying to stick with.
What Netflix is not saying yet matters, too. It has not named the countries included at launch, the TV models that will support it, or a firm release date beyond “this summer” tied to World Cup 2026. Netflix adds that more details will arrive in 2026.
Use your phone as a controller
Netflix is leaning into a low-friction setup. It says games can sit on your TV alongside shows and movies, then your phone handles the controls. That approach dodges the need for a separate console, but it also means the experience will hinge on which TVs and regions make the first cut.
Netflix’s language around the game suggests it is aiming for broad appeal, not a niche sim that takes hours to understand. The company calls it “fast to learn” and “thrilling to master,” and frames it as something anyone can jump into to play the best games available.
A World Cup-sized pitch
Netflix Games president Alain Tascan calls the FIFA World Cup 2026 “the cultural event of 2026,” and says Netflix wants to “bring football back to its roots” with play that works “with just the touch of a button.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino backs the partnership as a step toward more innovation in football gaming, and highlights the biggest consumer hook: it will be free for Netflix members. Netflix says Delphi Interactive is developing and publishing the game.
What to watch before kickoff
For now, this is an announcement built around a promise. The next update needs to answer three practical questions: where TV play launches first, which TVs are supported, and what online play looks like once real players are on the servers. Netflix says that next wave of information is coming in 2026, so that’s when it should become clear whether this is a day-one living room staple or a slower rollout.
