This year will go down in history for being not only the first World Cup with 48 teams on the fields of the United States, Canada and Mexico, but also the year in which
Electronic Arts’ dominance in the world of soccer video games was shaken. The industry is undergoing an unprecedented transformation, and the result is games that are more varied than ever before.
It is no longer a matter of just playing whichever version of EA Sports FC you like best. Now there are four big contenders vying for your time, each with a different strategy and a specific audience in mind.
EA Sports FC 26: The Champion That Doesn't Let Its Guard Down
EA Sports FC 26 has shown that it
didn't need the FIFA name to remain a moneymaking machine. At its launch in late 2025, Electronic Arts' game ranked number one in sales in 16 of the 17 major European markets, reaffirming its dominance among those looking for a premium, fully licensed experience.
HyperMotion V technology has elevated realism in the FC games to the point of resembling a live television broadcast. However, this commercial success is now facing competitors who are not looking to sell you an expensive box, but to conquer the challenges between friends without charging a cent.
eFootball: Konami's Invisible Giant
Konami has struck a blow of authority that few saw coming. Its eFootball franchise has established itself as a giant in 2026, reaching
1 billion downloads worldwide thanks to its free-to-play model.
With free seasons and a focus on the mobile market, Konami built a platform where users can play on the subway, during a break at work, and then continue the same game on their console when they get home. The gameplay, considered by many veterans to be more organic and less automatic than its rival, positions eFootball as a true soccer simulator.
While EA dominates the wallets of those who buy consoles and build teams in Ultimate Team, Konami has installed itself on the screens of a billion people who just want to play without paying a penny.
UFL: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Project Against “Pay to Win”
If there is an ambitious counterpuncher in this battle, it’s UFL. After a long gestation process, the game became a reality thanks to the $40 million that Cristiano Ronaldo injected along with a group of investors.
This is not the first time we have seen CR7 in virtual soccer—he was once the cover star of EA’s FIFA game—but now he has entered the world of video games to declare war against the “pay to win” system. With its “Fair to Play” philosophy (alluding to "fair play"), UFL has managed to attract more than 25 million active users since December 2024.
The hook is simple but powerful: in UFL, your team progresses thanks to your victories and skill on the field, not by how much money you invest. By having Ronaldo involved, the game takes on a competitive mystique that is forcing rivals to rethink their business models.
Netflix and FIFA: The Bombshell That Changes Everything
The real disruptive move that is making PlayStation and Xbox look sideways is the alliance between FIFA and Netflix. It’s a move that really defines 2026: the entry of a streaming platform into the world of digital soccer.
Netflix isn't just launching a game, it's eliminating the need to own a console. Through its cloud gaming service—that same technology that Xbox
has been betting on in recent years—the new title developed by Delphi Interactive allows its more than 300-million-plus subscribers to play the World Cup directly from their TV app, using their smartphone as a remote control.
This integration is a masterstroke: The user can watch a documentary or a soccer movie and, with a single click, jump to play on a virtual pitch. This makes Netflix’s FIFA game one of the most accessible around. If you have internet and an account, you can play. Not even Pep Guardiola saw this move coming.
A Fragmented Market, but Better Than Ever Before
The new era of soccer video games presents a scenario where the fragmentation of the market is positive: more competition means better quality for players. They have the technical simulation and luxury of EA Sports FC 26, the massive free-to-play domination of eFootball, the competitive and fair spirit of UFL backed by CR7, and the technological revolution of Netflix’s FIFA offering promising to bring the game to those who have never touched a console.
This story originally appeared on
WIRED en Español and has been translated from Spanish.
<small>Source: Wired</small>
