Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterWhen EA Sports and FIFA went their separate ways in 2023, gamers immediately began to speculate what the next game carrying the FIFA name would look like and on the evidence of FIFA World Cup Launch Edition, which you can now play on Netflix, FC 26 has absolutely nothing to worry about.To be fair to FIFA, the game is incredibly easy to play. If youve got a Netflix account you can get it up and running on your TV or laptop in a couple of minutes; you just need to download the Netflix Controller app to your phone and youre good to go.The game only has three modes: Kick-Off for one-off exhibition matches; Tournament, which lets you play through a full World Cup finals as one of the 48 qualified teams; and Penalty Shootout, which does exactly what it says on the tin. That Launch Edition suffix suggests there might be more on the way eventually, but for now, thats your lot.Early warning signsThe benefits of that FIFA licence are immediately obvious. The line-up graphics include real photos of the players, all the official kits have been recreated, and every stadium is present and correct. On commentary you get FIFA alumni Clive Tyldesley and Andy Townsend, which is probably the first warning sign.The generic duo were axed from EAs series almost a decade ago, but much of FIFA World Cup Launch Edition feels even more dated than that. You may like I tried the BBC World Cup 3D Experience: This is what I found How does the Nike 'Rip the Script' 2026 World Cup advert rank against previous iconic campaigns? BBC's 3D experience creates hilarious video of referee going down with cramp Each Tournament match you play begins with a fairly detailed pre-amble from Tyldesley. The veteran commentator has plenty to say about each host city and stadium, and he nicely outlines the qualifying campaigns and recent World Cup history of the two teams, but play just a handful of games and youll hear the same phrases over and over again.Lines of commentary are sometimes even repeated twice in a row, and the names of the teams were clearly recorded separately and inserted afterwards, which is intensely nostalgic for anyone who played football games in the 90s, but not great for one released in 2026.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.On multiple occasions, Tyldesley had embarked on one of his scene-setting monologues when a goal was scored, but he was so caught up in detailing the teams pedigree that he failed to respond until long after the game had kicked off again, doing so as excitedly as if the goal had only just gone in.Using your phone to navigate the fairly basic menus is slick, but if youve never played a game using a touchscreen instead of an actual gamepad (which isnt supported here), it might take a while to get the hang of.The controls are simple enough though. The left-hand side of the screen controls movement, while tapping, swiping and holding the right-hand side allows you to pass, shoot, tackle and sprint. At least, thats the idea theres often a general sense of disconnection between what youre doing with your hands and what happens on the pitch, particularly when it comes to defending. What to read next FIFA World Cup 2026 fixtures & complete schedule I went to the FIFA Museum in New York and there was one piece of memorabilia transported me back to my first World Cup England vs Croatia proves all the fun of the fair on thrillseekers' doorstep - but only for the neutral On the default difficulty setting its not a major hindrance; the AI-controlled opposition isnt proficient enough to cause you any real problems. But winning every game comfortably is no fun.Take the difficulty up a notch and even with an England side packed with midfielders, gaps the size of the Grand Canyon would often appear on the pitch. Defenders tend to have all the urgency of a glacier, tackling is vague and imprecise, and the game frequently changes the player youre controlling at the worst possible time, allowing opposition attackers to saunter through and take a free shot on goal. Considering attempts from outside the box seem to go in about 90% of the time, thats a fairly major problem.It feels a bit better if you get the ball at your feet and run at the opposing defence. The touchscreen means you can make some fairly exact adjustments with your left thumb to scamper down the touchline, but often the players move with all the agility and grace of a paddle steamer. Even when you hold the screen to sprint, you have to wait two to three business days for the player to pick up the pace.Then there are the graphical glitches. The very first goal I scored in the game saw the ball go right through the back of the net; players sometimes just skate across the turf without moving their legs; and even when they do work the animations make even a 20-year-old Pro Evo game look cutting edge.To be fair, the big-name players are generally recognisable, although it does look like Instagrams Badly Drawn Footballers was responsible for drawing their faces. This games version of Harry Kane wouldnt get much work as a lookalike, but I do like how much Anthony Gordon looks like Rambo.Its all just so rough around the edges, with each half ending incredibly abruptly, sometimes even as a goal-bound shot is about to cross the line. Fortunately, though, there are no hydration breaks. Youd think FIFA would insist on including them in order to shoehorn in a few adverts.Im not hugely surprised that FIFA World Cup Launch Edition is so underwhelming. It is, after all, a free-to-play game on Netflix, not a big-budget alternative to FC 26, but its still disappointing.The conscious uncoupling that occurred between EA and FIFA should have presented footballs all-powerful governing body with an opportunity to go away and, with the huge resources it has at its disposal, fund the creation of a game worthy of the World Cup name.Instead we have a half-arsed game that plays like something that was released more than two decades ago. Perhaps thats why the soundtrack includes Blurs Song 2, which famously featured on FIFA 98, and should act here as a warning to anyone expecting something more modern than that.TOPICSHarry KaneAnthony GordonWorld Cup 2026Tom WigginsTom Wiggins is a freelance writer and editor. He has written for various magazines and websites for the past 17 years, including FourFourTwo, Stuff, GQ, Esquire, TechRadar, Yahoo Sport UK, Red Bull, TrustedReviews, ShortList, Wareable, FACT Magazine, Louder, Metro, The Set Pieces, Decrypt Media, In Bed With Maradona, and The Ambient.
