Netflix is set to launch its new football game, FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition, exclusively through Netflix Games on June 11, coinciding with the opening day of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The game will be included with a Netflix subscription and offers a unique gameplay experience where a smartphone serves as the controller while the game runs on a television.
Game Features and Availability
Players can choose from all 48 teams participating in the tournament, compete in 16 real-world stadiums, and take control of any of the 1,248 players featured in the competition. A limited test of the game has already begun in Brazil ahead of the official release. At launch, Netflix's TV gaming service will be available in 20 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Australia, Brazil, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, and Switzerland. Netflix has stated that it will add support for additional countries over time as its TV gaming platform expands.
How to Play
Netflix has designed the game to be accessible through its TV gaming platform. To start playing, users need to open the Games tab on a supported TV, launch the game, and scan an on-screen QR code using their smartphone. Once connected, players can use swipe controls on their smartphones to pass, shoot, and control gameplay. The game also supports multiplayer sessions for up to four players, allowing friends and family to play together on the same screen.
Netflix described the title as the beginning of a longer-term project. In a blog post, the company stated, 'The Launch Edition represents our Kickoff — a streamlined, high-energy game that will evolve over time but gives the immediate rush of playing along during this historic World Cup event.'
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