In case you didn’t know, the World Cup is here and in full flow, and it will be so until June 19. The action has well and truly kicked off, and for the next month or so, the planet is football (not soccer) mad. That being said, sporting fans the world over are looking for the top football games to play during the World Cup to keep them in good spirits.
If you’ve been hunting the top soccer games (there, I said it) to play during the World Cup, you’ll want to scroll down. I’ve got the definitive list of football-themed games right here, and some of them are free and raring to go right now.
Best Football Games to Play While Watching the World Cup
Let’s say it’s a while until your team plays, you’ve already been knocked out, or your World Cup fantasy venture isn’t going the way you’d like. Why not relax (kind of) and explore another avenue by playing a football-themed game or two? Here’s the spread you need to make sure you’re capturing every soccer video game opportunity out there.
FIFA World Cup Launch Edition – Netflix
Netflix has opened up a fresh road into football-related games with FIFA World Cup Launch Edition, a new experience that’s free for anyone with a Netflix subscription and a mobile device. It’s a short-form, multiplayer-focused game that can be played in your living room or on the go via the Netflix desktop application, and it’s probably the newest World Cup game out there.
EA Sports FC 26 – Electronic Arts
It wouldn’t be a recommendation-based list for the world’s top football games without EA Sports FC getting a spot. Once known simply as FIFA, EA Sports FC 26 remains the top-tier offering in the soccer gaming space, and right now, you can leap headfirst into a tried and tested World Cup mode that features the full roster of 48 teams.
FC Mobile 26 – Electronic Arts
What happens if you’re out on the move and want to enjoy some EA Sports FC 26 action? Well, you resort to FC Mobile 26, of course! At the start of June, EA introduced the ‘World’s Game’ mode to FC Mobile 26, which invites players to assume control of one of 50 national teams and take part in a special themed event.
Free Fire – Garena
This is more of an honorable mention, but the incredibly popular battle royale game, Free Fire, is hosting the Fire Kickoff event now. The developer has bestowed a soccer-themed update across the game’s ecosystem, all in line with the World Cup 2026 tournament. There are fresh challenges to undertake, football jersey collectibles, and some maps have received football-themed makeovers.
RELATED: Get Free Diamonds in Free Fire Now
Football Manager 26 – Sports Interactive
If you’re more of a strategy fan with a mind for tactics, facts, and figures, then you’ll want to dive into Football Manager 26, arguably the most complex football game to play during the World Cup. In May, the team at Sports Interactive unveiled the International Management update, bringing in a fully licensed World Cup experience for all players to enjoy.
Rocket League – Epic Games
It’s another honorable mention, but if you want a high-octane, energetic, and free game to play during the World Cup that has a football-centric theme to it, you can’t overlook Rocket League. This game is available on basically every platform, won’t cost you a penny, and offers extremely entertaining car-based soccer action. Oh, and there’s a limited-time World Cup event to enjoy, too.
Rematch – Sloclap
Rematch is another super energetic game that offers satisfying, short-form matches with a five-vs-five structure. It’s an online game where you’re given sole command of an individual player in a team, and collaboration means the ultimate separation between winning and losing. On June 11th, a ‘Nations Cup’ mode kicked off.
Goals – Goals AB
Goals is an honorable mention of sorts, as while it lands on this list for the obvious fact that it’s a football game, it doesn’t have any links to the World Cup. Or, at least, it didn’t have any connection at the time of writing. Goals is another free-to-play game with fast-paced matches, so it’s no risk to give it a try!
eFootball – Konami
As a chief competitor to EA Sports FC 26, eFootball, a free-to-play title, is a great shout for a soccer-based game to play during the World Cup. It doesn’t have much in the way of a link to the World Cup 2026, but it’s still a great game that costs nothing to get involved, and it’s a cross-platform title to boot (no pun intended).
Angry Birds 2 – Rovio
Let’s cap this list off with another outsider that you wouldn’t expect to make the cut. In Angry Birds 2, you’ll find that there’s a special World Cup event live now called the Season of Football, and it boasts stacks of soccer-themed challenges and exclusive rewards. It’s also free and bundles of fun outside of the limited-time event.
Let us know on the Insider Gaming Discord server if you’ve got a better game to play during the World Cup!
For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that Modern Warfare 4 will have campaign early access
Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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