The countdown to the greatest show on earth is on, and the virtual pitch is heating up between EA FC 26 vs. eFootball 2026.
With the FIFA World Cup 2026™ fast approaching, fans are desperate to know: which game will let us lift the iconic trophy with authentic presentation?
Recent developments suggest that EA SPORTS FC 26 will be the exclusive home of the licensed FIFA World Cup 2026™ on consoles and PC.
While an official announcement is still pending, the evidence hidden within the game’s database is becoming impossible to ignore.
EA FC 26 FIFA World Cup 2026 Licenses
Licensing Competition
Konami/eFootball confirmed it will not include the licensed FIFA World Cup 2026™ and instead plans an unbranded “International Cup”.
That decision increases the odds that EA will be the only mainstream simulation on consoles and PC to offer the real, licensed World Cup experience in 2026 — if EA chooses to activate their existing assets.
This is in addition to the FIFA game produced by Netflix Games on television and the video game for simulating football management (Football Manager).
In any case, EA will soon announce whether it will offer a licensed version of the FIFA 2026™ World Cup in EA SPORTS FC 26. We hope so.
The “Deep Dive” Database Leaks
The most convincing evidence comes from the EA FC 26 database files. Dedicated data miners have discovered hidden assets specifically tied to the 2026 tournament, including:
- Commentary Lines: New audio files referencing the World Cup format.
- Broadcast Packages: Placeholders for the official FIFA graphics and overlays.
- National Team Data: New entries for the Brazil National Team, which has been a missing piece of the puzzle for years.
It is highly likely that EA will follow the successful template used for UEFA EURO 2024, launching the World Cup as a massive, free post-launch game mode featuring the official branding, match balls (including the stunning new Adidas Trionda), and the iconic trophy.
All 48 National Teams
A full FIFA license would allow EA to expand the national team roster significantly. The 2026 tournament will feature 48 teams, meaning we could see a wave of new licensed nations added to the current lineup:
Already in-game: Heavy hitters like Argentina, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Qatar, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Spain, and United States.
Set to be added: If the license is confirmed, expect the return of Algeria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Senegal, South Africa, South Korea, Tunisia, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and others.
The New Stadiums
Some World Cup host venues are already in EA FC 26; others show up in the game database as new IDs (a classic sign an official stadium roll-out is being prepared). Examples already present:
- BC Place
- Lumen Field
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Database traces suggest four additional licensed host stadiums are queued (new internal IDs), and the community’s likely candidates include major North American venues such as:
- MetLife Stadium
- SoFi Stadium
- AT&T Stadium
- Hard Rock Stadium
Though EA has not publicly confirmed which exact grounds will ship at launch.
Other frequently mentioned hosts in community leaks and data scans include: Gillette Stadium, Arrowhead Stadium, NRG Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, Levi’s Stadium and BMO Field.
Note: Estadio Azteca appears less likely to use a new ID because older FIFA-era codes would normally be reused, so any “new ID” stadiums are almost certainly North American.
Final Whistle
While EA has yet to make an official announcement, the stars are aligning. The World Cup is coming, and it might just be landing in EA SPORTS FC 26.
With the competition stepping aside and evidence building within EA FC 26’s own files, the prospect of a fully licensed FIFA World Cup 2026™ game mode is becoming increasingly real.
It would bring the joy, the pageantry, and the drama of the world’s biggest tournament directly to our consoles and PCs this summer.
ReFIFA will continue to monitor every development. As soon as EA makes an announcement, we’ll bring you the full details, including all confirmed teams, stadiums, and features.
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