FIFA has outlined a major expansion of its digital football strategy, reinforcing its commitment to the rapidly growing gaming and esports sector ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
Under the strategy, FIFA is set to expand into various gaming categories. In addition, the institution will create new pathways for participation – from hyper-casual to competitive play – whilst ensuring that FIFA competitions and Member Associations, as well as gaming and esports partners, remain connected. This approach extends across football esports, in which FIFA continues to develop a structured, competition-driven ecosystem around the FIFAe brand, with low barriers to entry, global consistency and long-term direction.
“By establishing a scalable foundation in gaming and esports, we’re creating new opportunities for our 211 Member Associations and our Commercial Partners to participate and collaborate, which in turn will provide fans with greater options to engage with football,” said FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström. “Our ambition is to build a sustainable and adaptable ecosystem that reflects how football is experienced today and how it’ll continue to evolve in the future.”
The global governing body revealed that its FIFAe ecosystem attracted more than 1.1 billion views over the past year and now engages over 16 million players worldwide, establishing itself as one of the largest nation-based esports ecosystems globally.
As part of its evolving digital roadmap, FIFA announced several key initiatives designed to strengthen fan engagement and broaden its presence across football gaming.
Among the headline developments, FIFA confirmed that additional details regarding its new FIFA-branded football simulation title, being developed in partnership with Netflix and Delphi Interactive, will be unveiled ahead of the game’s scheduled June release.
FIFA also announced the upcoming launch of FIFA Heroes on mobile and PC platforms, with console versions set to follow at a later date.
In addition to traditional football simulation experiences, FIFA plans to continue investing in new gaming formats that combine football with entertainment and cultural content, aiming to attract a wider global audience.
On the esports front, five FIFAe Continental Championships will serve as qualification pathways to the FIFAe Finals 2026, further expanding the competitive ecosystem.
FIFA also confirmed that it will soon reveal the host city for the inaugural FIFAe Festival, a flagship event designed to unite traditional football supporters and digital football communities under one global platform.
Through these initiatives, FIFA is positioning itself at the forefront of football gaming and esports while seeking to deepen fan engagement and enhance the sport’s digital footprint in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup.
(With inputs from FIFA)
