EA Sports FC 26, FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition on Netflix, Football Manager 26, eFootball and UFL: these are the games to know for experiencing the 2026 World Cup from a gaming perspective. [page:1][page:2][page:3][page:4]
The 2026 FIFA World Cup can also be played with a controller in hand. Between special updates, tournament modes, national teams and new official experiences, several football games already let you extend the competition on console, PC, mobile or smart TV. [page:1][page:2][page:3][page:4]
Table of Contents
- Why the World Cup also captivates video game players
- The best games for experiencing the 2026 World Cup
- How to simulate the 2026 World Cup in each game
- Which game should you choose based on your profile?
- Useful links
Why the World Cup also captivates video game players
The World Cup is the ideal event for football games because it makes you want to replay the fixtures, take control of a national team and redo the entire tournament your own way. In 2026, that effect is even stronger thanks to the arrival of a new official game on Netflix, EA Sports FC 26’s international update and the return of international management in Football Manager 26. [page:1][page:2][page:3]
The football gaming landscape is also more varied than before: some games focus on immediate accessibility, others on simulation, while others simply offer a free pitch for playing with clubs or national teams. [page:1][page:2][page:3][page:4]
The best games for experiencing the 2026 World Cup
EA Sports FC 26
On June 4, 2026, EA Sports FC 26 launched the free The World’s Game update. According to EA, it adds a standalone tournament mode with 48 teams, a group stage followed by knockout matches, as well as 53 licensed national teams, including 41 qualified nations. [page:2]
EA also specifies that this content is available at no additional cost in EA Sports FC 26 and EA Sports FC Mobile, with standalone international matches in Kick-Off mode and an extension into Career Mode. [page:2]
Official EA Sports FC 26 source
FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition
FIFA and Netflix Games have officially announced FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition, a new football video game available exclusively on Netflix Games from June 11, 2026. FIFA says the game includes all 48 qualified teams, the competition’s 16 stadiums and more than 1,200 international players. [page:1]
The same source states that the game works with a smartphone paired with a smart TV, that the smartphone acts as a controller via QR code and that up to four people can play together. [page:1]
Football Manager 26
Football Manager 26 added international management in update 26.3.1. The official Football Manager website confirms that this update is available on several platforms and adds new tools, gameplay improvements and official visuals for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. [page:3]
The same page also states that 47 of the 48 qualified nations are playable at the initial launch of this feature, and that a second update is planned to add more official kits as well as the final 26-player squads. [page:3]
Official Football Manager 26 source
eFootball
The official eFootball website confirms that the game is free, available on console, PC and mobile, and allows players to use real clubs and national teams in Authentic Team mode. It is therefore a credible option for playing international football without an initial purchase. [page:4]
However, to remain strictly within what can be verified, it is better not to claim here that there is a special 2026 World Cup mode or a precise schedule for adding national teams until those details are confirmed by an official source. [page:4]
UFL
UFL can be mentioned in the article as an alternative in the world of football games, but the sources collected here do not officially and thoroughly document a mode directly connected to the 2026 World Cup. For a rigorous article, it is therefore better to mention it briefly rather than attribute specific unverified features to it. [web:35]
How to simulate the 2026 World Cup in each game
- EA Sports FC 26: use The World’s Game mode to start a 48-team tournament. [page:2]
- FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition: choose one of the 48 qualified teams and play on a smart TV with a smartphone as the controller. [page:1]
- Football Manager 26: start an international career with the new national-team management feature. [page:3]
- eFootball: play with real national teams in Authentic Team mode. [page:4]
Which game should you choose based on your profile?
| Profile | Recommended game | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want a clear and immediate tournament mode | EA Sports FC 26 [page:2] | Standalone mode with 48 teams, national teams and a free update. [page:2] |
| You want the official 2026 World Cup game | FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition [page:1] | 48 qualified teams, 16 official stadiums and access through Netflix Games. [page:1] |
| You want to manage a national team like a real coach | Football Manager 26 [page:3] | International management, preparation tools and playable qualified nations. [page:3] |
| You want to play for free | eFootball [page:4] | Free game with authentic clubs and national teams. [page:4] |
Useful links
If you want to know the complete tournament schedule in EA Sports FC 26, including all matches and groups, you can read our dedicated guide:
EA Sports FC 26 and the 2026 World Cup: complete match schedule
Toward EA FC 27: What the World Cup changes for the future
The 2026 World Cup evolvable cards mark the end of the EA FC 26 cycle, but they also hint at what awaits players when the new season begins. To learn everything about the new features expected in the next game, read our report: EA FC 27: First verdict on the new features.
And to master the tactics dominating the current meta, our FC 26 gameplay and tactics guide remains the go-to reference.
