EA Sports FC 26 has introduced The World’s Game, a 48-team international tournament mode inspired by the summer of football in 2026. The content follows the structure of a major national-team competition, with a group stage, knockout rounds and a final, but without using the official FIFA World Cup branding.
🏆 2026 Esports World Cup Result
The tournament was won by jafonsogv (Luna Galaxy)!
🏆 2026 Esports World Cup Result
The tournament was won by jafonsogv (Luna Galaxy)!
Key takeaways
- The World’s Game is a standalone 48-national-team international competition mode in EA Sports FC 26.
- The tournament features 12 groups of four teams; each national team plays three matches before the knockout stages.
- EA announces 53 fully licensed national teams, with official kits, badges and player likenesses.
- The mode is inspired by the format of the 2026 World Cup, but EA does not present it as an officially licensed FIFA World Cup.
- The update adds the Gillette Stadium, BMO Field and the fictional Central Maw stadium.
- International Manager Live challenges, along with new ICONs and new international Heroes in Player Career, accompany the event.
- The 2026 World Cup mode in FC 26
- How does the 48-team tournament work?
- Teams, licenses and stadiums in The World’s Game
- FIFA World Cup or EA mode: what is the difference?
- Manager Live and Player Career
- The legacy of the former FIFA World Cup modes
- FAQ: The World’s Game in EA Sports FC 26
- More to read on game.fr
The 2026 World Cup mode in FC 26
EA Sports FC 26 does offer a complete international competition tied to the summer of 2026, but it is called The World’s Game. EA describes this content as a new 48-national-team tournament mode designed to let players progress from the group stage through to the final.
The connection with the 2026 World Cup is obvious: the real tournament also adopts a 48-team format. However, it is important to use the correct terms: FC 26 offers an international tournament inspired by this context, not a FIFA World Cup announced under the organization’s official license.
The update also adds several national-team football features. EA cites new stadiums, international-themed Manager Live challenges and additional Player Career content.
A standalone tournament in FC 26
The World’s Game is accessible from the FC 26 main menu. Select the mode, start a competition, then choose a national team before beginning the tournament.
You can resume the mode during a later session using the option to continue the competition. It is also possible to start a new campaign with another national team.
Good to know: The World’s Game is a separate mode: tournament-specific challenges must be completed in this mode and cannot be completed in other modes, including Football Ultimate Team.
How does the 48-team tournament work?
EA’s format is based on 48 national teams divided into 12 groups of four. Each team plays three matches during the group stage before moving on to the knockout rounds.
This structure gives the mode a complete progression: choose a team, play the group stage, qualify, compete in knockout matches and reach the final. The goal is to offer a major international competition experience within a single campaign.
The stages of the competition
- Choose a national team from the 48 teams available in the tournament.
- Play three matches during the group stage.
- Qualify for the knockout rounds.
- Progress to the final and try to win the tournament.
Why the 48-team format matters
The choice of 48 teams directly links the mode to the new international format for 2026. Above all, it allows more nations to be represented and offers a larger bracket than a traditional 32-team tournament.
In FC 26, this format is therefore more than an exhibition match between national teams. EA offers a complete progression, with groups and knockout rounds, designed as a standalone competition.
Teams, licenses and stadiums in The World’s Game
EA announces 53 fully licensed national teams for The World’s Game. These licenses include official kits, badges and player likenesses for the teams concerned.
This total of 53 licensed national teams should be distinguished from the tournament format itself, which features 48 teams. The first figure describes the overall selection of licensed national teams available in the content; the second corresponds to the number of participants in a The World’s Game competition.
53 licensed national teams, 48 teams per tournament
| Element | What EA confirms |
|---|---|
| Licensed national teams | 53 national teams with official kits, badges and player likenesses |
| The World’s Game format | 48 national teams in a complete competition |
| Group stage | 12 groups of four; three matches per team |
| Tournament progression | Qualification for knockout rounds leading to the final |
The new stadiums
The update adds stadiums associated with international football. EA specifically confirms the Gillette Stadium and BMO Field, as well as Central Maw, a fictional venue designed to recreate the atmosphere of top-level international football.
- Gillette Stadium
- BMO Field
- Central Maw, a fictional stadium created for the event
Key point: The World’s Game is more than a fixture list. EA supports it with licensed national teams, new venues and a presentation focused on international football.
FIFA World Cup or EA mode: what is the difference?
EA Sports and FIFA ended their long-standing partnership in 2022. Electronic Arts’ football series then continued under the EA Sports FC name, with its own licensing agreements.
This separation explains why the FC 26 content is called The World’s Game. EA uses the terms “international competition” and “international football” without presenting the mode as an official FIFA World Cup.
What FC 26 includes
- A 48-team international tournament
- A group stage and knockout matches
- Official national teams and authentic stadiums
- A presentation focused on the international summer of football
What FC 26 does not claim
- The official “FIFA World Cup” brand
- Presentation of the tournament as an officially licensed FIFA competition
In other words, the content offers a global tournament experience in EA Sports FC 26 while remaining within the EA Sports FC brand and its own licenses.
Manager Live and Player Career
The World’s Game also ties into the other FC 26 modes. EA announces international-themed Manager Live challenges, with new scenarios focused on national-team football.
Player Career, meanwhile, receives new ICONs and new international Heroes. These additions extend the international-football theme beyond the main tournament.
Related content
- International-themed Manager Live challenges
- New international ICONs in Player Career
- New international Heroes in Player Career
- Official national teams, kits and badges for licensed teams
The legacy of the former FIFA World Cup modes
Older FIFA games regularly offered World Cup-related content when the partnership with FIFA was still active. These modes made the official tournament, its presentation and its licenses central elements of the experience.
FC 26 follows some of this approach with its 48-team international tournament, but the licensing context has changed. The World’s Game therefore replaces the FIFA World Cup brand with an identity specific to EA Sports FC.
The main difference lies in the name and the tournament’s official presentation. The core gameplay foundations, however, remain close to what players look for in an international competition mode: choose a nation, progress beyond the group stage and try to reach the final.
A global tournament without the FIFA brand
EA Sports FC 26 confirms a complete international mode with The World’s Game: 48 teams, a group stage, knockout rounds, a final, 53 licensed national teams and new stadiums. The content is clearly part of the international summer of football in 2026.
The key point remains the license: this is not an officially announced FIFA World Cup, but an international tournament created under the EA Sports FC identity. For players, the experience focuses on choosing a national team, progressing through the competition and engaging with the event’s related content.
Also check out our complete EA Sports FC 26 hub, featuring guides, news and content dedicated to The World’s Game mode.
FAQ: The World’s Game in EA Sports FC 26
- Does EA Sports FC 26 have an official FIFA World Cup?
- No. EA presents The World’s Game as an international competition mode without using the official FIFA World Cup brand.
- How many teams take part in The World’s Game tournament?
- The tournament features 48 national teams.
- How is the 48-team tournament organized?
- The mode features 12 groups of four teams. Each national team plays three group matches before the knockout rounds.
- Why does EA announce 53 licensed national teams?
- The 53 national teams represent the selection of fully licensed national teams, while a The World’s Game competition brings together 48 teams.
- Which stadiums are added with The World’s Game?
- EA specifically confirms the Gillette Stadium, BMO Field and Central Maw, a fictional stadium designed for the event.
- How do you launch The World’s Game in FC 26?
- From the main menu, select The World’s Game, then “Play Competition” and choose your national team.
- Do the tournament challenges count in Ultimate Team?
- No. The World’s Game challenges must be completed in this mode; their progress does not count in Ultimate Team or the other modes.
