The 2026 World Cup made history with 48 teams, 104 matches and Spain crowned champions. Now that the tournament is over, it’s the perfect time for football fans to relive the competition with a controller in hand on FC 26 and try to rewrite history.
Key takeaways:
- The 2026 World Cup was played from June 11 to July 19, with a group stage followed by a huge 32-team bracket.
- FC 26 features The World’s Game, a standalone 48-team international tournament inspired by this format.
- An official FIFA World Cup game on Netflix lets you play as all 48 nations in the tournament’s 16 stadiums, using a smartphone as a controller.
Understanding the 2026 World Cup Schedule
The tournament runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with 48 nations split into 12 groups of four. Each team plays three matches, then the top two teams from each group, plus the eight best third-placed teams, advance to a huge 32-team bracket. The competition ended with Spain’s 1-0 victory over Argentina. To find the full score details and the impact on Ultimate Team cards, check out our complete review of the 2026 World Cup on FC 26. Now that the competition is over, you can play through the entire knockout bracket at your own pace and create your own scenarios (what would have happened if France had won the third-place playoff differently?).Recreating the Tournament in EA Sports FC 26
FC 26 features The World’s Game, a standalone 48-team international competition mode that follows the logic of the 2026 World Cup without an official license. It’s the ideal foundation for experiencing the competition alongside the real schedule.Quick access to The World’s Game mode
From the main menu, go to “Game Modes”, then “The World’s Game”. You can launch the game’s official tournament or use a custom tournament if you want to match the real draw more closely.Matching FC 26 to the real schedule
- Start the tournament by selecting the nation you want to lead to the title.
- Play through the group stage at your own pace, then adjust your pace during the Round of 32 and the subsequent rounds.
- For even more realism, use our complete feature on The World’s Game and our FC 26 tactics guide to adjust your formations, camera and difficulty.
Recreating the World Cup in FIFA Netflix and Other Games
Alongside FC 26, an official game developed by FIFA is coming to Netflix Games: FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition (sometimes called Kick-Off/Launch depending on the communications). It features the 48 qualified teams, 16 stadiums and more than 1,200 players from the real tournament, playable at no additional cost for Netflix subscribers.Playing the World Cup on Netflix Games
The principle is simple: launch the game from the Netflix app, scan a QR code, and your smartphone becomes the controller for up to four players on the same TV. You then choose one of the 48 teams and play through the matches in the actual 2026 stadiums. The game is intended to be more arcade-like than FC 26, but it’s a perfect alternative for quick sessions between real matches. For details on each game (Football Manager, eFootball and mobile titles), check out our article “2026 World Cup in football games: which games can you use to play, simulate and relive the tournament?”.Challenges and Scenarios: Extend the Virtual Experience
Once your schedule is set up, the next step is to turn each matchday into a challenge. The idea is to create a simple, clear and shareable appointment for your community.Match of the day and surprise challenge
- Match of the day: replay the day’s headline fixture (France–Brazil, a group-stage clash or a derby) in FC 26 or the Netflix game, with the requirement to use the likely lineup or overturn a specific score.
- Surprise challenge: impose a fun restriction (score only with defenders, win without shooting from distance or play as a “small nation” facing a favorite).
Connecting the schedule, gameplay and community
To maintain momentum for more than a month, the trick is to connect three elements: the official schedule, your progress in FC 26 and community challenges. A small screenshot of the tournament bracket, a goal clip or a “Match of the Day” recap is enough to fuel your social media while directing people to your other guides.Final verdict
Reliving the 2026 World Cup in your football games turns a simple tournament mode into a historic experience. With The World’s Game in FC 26 on one side and the official FIFA game on Netflix on the other, you have everything you need to relive every day of the World Cup at your own pace, on your preferred platform. To take things further, there are two natural follow-ups to this guide: our complete analysis of The World’s Game mode in FC 26 and our tactical guide to winning the 48-team tournament if you want not only to experience the World Cup, but also to win it all.FAQ
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What are the official dates of the 2026 World Cup?
- The competition will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with the group stage lasting until June 27, followed by a 32-team bracket through to the final.
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Does FC 26 feature the official World Cup?
- No. FC 26 features The World’s Game, a 48-team international tournament inspired by the 2026 format, but without an official FIFA World Cup license.
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What does the FIFA World Cup game on Netflix Games offer?
- FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition provides access to 48 teams, 16 official stadiums and more than 1,200 players, with arcade gameplay playable by multiple people using smartphones as controllers, at no additional cost for Netflix subscribers.
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How can you easily follow the schedule day by day?
- The easiest way is to use our World Cup schedule and results overview to choose the knockout-stage fixtures you want to rewrite.
🔎 Special series: 2026 World Cup & football games
Want to extend the World Cup experience with a controller in hand? Here are our essential guides for experiencing the 2026 World Cup in your favorite games.- Understanding the FC 26 mode: EA Sports FC 26: The World’s Game, the “fake” 48-team World Cup mode
- Choosing the right game: 2026 World Cup in football games: which games can you use to play, simulate and relive the tournament?
- Following each matchday: Complete 2026 World Cup schedule and matches to recreate in FC 26
- Becoming champion in FC 26: 2026 World Cup: Recreate the Real Schedule in Your Video Games
Tip: bookmark this page during the competition to find all our 2026 World Cup content in one click.
