Football gaming news to watch out for in 2026 | OneFootball

Football gaming fans are in for a treat in 2026, with the upcoming schedule packed with major global events, exciting game releases and more.

The 2026 eSports World Cup in Saudi Arabia is the standout event of the year, and will once again feature some of the best exponents of the iconic EA FC series.

Sports bettors worldwide will be clamouring to find top eSports odds next summer, and bookmakers are guaranteed to be inundated with requests for new accounts.

Betting on eSports has become a hugely lucrative business in recent years, and the 2026 World Cup will generate a significant revenue spike when it is staged.

Outright odds, match-related markets and player-focused bets will form part of what promises to be a comprehensive offering from online sportsbook operators.

Read on as we look at the top football gaming news to watch out for in 2026, starting with EA Sports’ quest to keep fans engaged with its most popular title.

World Cup and international football in EA FC 26

EA Sports recently confirmed that the FIFA World Cup 2026 is coming to EA FC 26, marking one of the most significant updates in the game’s history.

The developers will deliver enhanced stadium atmospheres, lifelike player reactions, official tournament branding, national anthems, crowd reactions and more.

From the group stage to the final showdown, gamers will experience the intensity of the real-life World Cup tournament in a digital environment.

The update reflects EA’s ongoing quest to create a vibrant ecosystem of club and international football, replicating the global set-up in professional football.

EA FC at the 2026 eSports World Cup

The eSports World Cup (EWC) returns to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 6 to August 23, 2026, with another comprehensive line-up of top-class games.

Tactical shooters, fighting games and strategy are among the genres which reflect the eSports World Cup Foundation’s mission to unite the global gaming ecosystem under one umbrella.

EA FC 26 is one of 21 games confirmed for the World Cup, which featured gamers from more than 100 countries in 2025.

EWC 2025 reached global audiences, with 750 million online viewers and three million live attendees, making it one of the most-watched eSports events in history.

FM26 – Managing at the 2026 World Cup

Sports Interactive (SI) recently confirmed they have signed their first partnership with FIFA, football’s world governing body.

The multi-year deal brings official licences for FIFA’s biggest competitions to the Football Manager series, including the 2026 World Cup, which will be staged in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The inclusion of officially branded FIFA competitions will start in FM26 with the World Cup, Women’s World Cup and Club World Cup. 

The official kits of all 48 teams will be included in FM26 when they are launched alongside immersive broadcast graphics, tournament branding and more.

FM 27 – SI under pressure to get things right

Having cancelled the release of FM25 because they were unhappy with the game’s quality, SI desperately needed to deliver a flawless FM26.

However, it would be fair to say that things have not gone to plan, with fans of the series bemoaning that the revamped user interface is not fit for purpose.

The new game engine has been widely criticised, while missing features and a plethora of bugs have left many gamers feeling that FM26 is a waste of money.

SI desperately need to address the game’s shortcomings with FM27, which is scheduled to be released in its traditional slot during the early part of November.