FIFA shifts to multi-partner gaming model, teases Netflix title

On May 28, 2026 FIFA announced an updated Digital Football Strategy that replaces a single exclusive licensing model with a multi-partner gaming ecosystem ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

The program names partners including Roblox, Epic Games, Konami, SEGA/Sports Interactive, Gamefam, Mythical Games and Solace Games. It covers products from hyper-casual mobile titles to professional esports under the FIFAe brand.

FIFA stated the structure allows multiple developers and publishers to work with the organization at the same time, enabling a wider variety of football games, entertainment projects and esports events. The strategy aims to lower entry barriers while maintaining unified global standards for players and national associations.

FIFA Super Soccer, created with Gamefam on Roblox, has more than 10 million monthly active users and more than 1 billion game launches. On mobile, FIFA Rivals has surpassed 2.5 million downloads and includes commercial integrations such as adidas.

In esports, qualification events held on Konami’s eFootball involved more than 16 million players from over 120 national associations. Tournament broadcasts generated more than 1.1 billion views last year.

FIFA will reveal details in June about a World Cup title developed by Netflix and Delphi Interactive. The initial release, FIFA World Cup – Launch Edition, will act as the base for later expansions across consoles, PC and mobile.

A new title called FIFA Heroes is planned first for mobile and PC, with console versions to follow. FIFA also plans non-simulation projects that link football with entertainment and cultural franchises.

On the competitive side, FIFA confirmed five FIFAe Continental Championships will act as qualifiers for the FIFAe Finals 2026. FIFA plans to stage the first FIFAe Festival, a hybrid event that brings traditional and digital football together; the host city will be announced in upcoming communications.

FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström framed the strategy as building “a scalable gaming and esports foundation that creates new opportunities for interaction between FIFA’s 211 national associations and commercial partners.”

The new approach replaces FIFA’s prior single-partner licensing model and is intended to provide multiple entry points for casual players, mobile users and competitive players while coordinating standards across FIFA’s membership and commercial partners.