Forget Ultimate Team for a second. This might be the most immersive international football experience EA has ever built FC 26 Coins.
EA just pulled the curtain back on a brand-new tournament mode called The World’s Game, and it’s not hiding inside Ultimate Team. It’s not a reskinned exhibition match. It’s a full-blown World Cup experience-complete with cinematic intros, national anthems, customizable groups, and yes, Neymar Jr. is back.
If you’ve ever wanted to feel what it’s like to actually win a World Cup instead of just packing cards, this is your mode.
First Thing You Need to Know: This Is NOT Ultimate Team
Let’s get this out of the way. The World’s Game lives in the main menu, under its own dedicated section. No FUT. No packs. No market. Just you, your country, and the road to glory.
The moment you enter, you’re hit with a cinematic blast featuring Brazil, Spain, England, Germany, Croatia, and the Netherlands-the heavy hitters-before you even touch a controller. It immediately sets the tone: this is serious.
Bottom line: This mode was built for international football fans, not card collectors. If that’s you, keep reading.
Pick Your Nation. Feel the Weight of It.
Choosing your country isn’t just a menu screen-it comes with historical context. World Cup appearances, past titles, tournament pedigree. Pick Brazil and you see five stars. Pick a smaller nation and you see an underdog story waiting to be written.
That small detail does something powerful: it makes you care.
Suddenly you’re not just playing a match-you’re leading a nation.
Whether it’s Argentina, France, Germany, or a team most people overlook, the emotional hook is instant.
Bottom line: National pride isn’t just a feature here-it’s the entire point.
Customize the Groups. Build Your Dream Tournament.
This is where things get fun. Before a single ball is kicked, you can rewrite the entire group stage.
Swap teams between groups. Drop in nations you think should have qualified. Build dream matchups. Create scenarios that will never happen in real life but absolutely should.
Want a group with Brazil, France, and England? Done. Want to see what happens when Croatia meets the Netherlands in the first round? Make it happen.
This isn’t just a gimmick-it adds serious replay value. You can run the same tournament five different ways and never get bored.
Bottom line: You’re not just playing a World Cup. You’re designing one.
The Presentation? It Actually Feels Like a Real Tournament.
EA went all in on atmosphere here.
Pre-match cinematics. National anthems that hit different when your country is playing. Player walkouts. Team photos. Crowd reactions that shift based on the moment. Stadium introductions that make you feel like you’re watching a broadcast, not playing a game.
Compared to a standard exhibition match, this feels like a completely different product. The weight is real. The stakes feel real.
Even the camera angles feel real.
Bottom line: This is the closest EA has ever come to making you forget you’re holding a controller.
Neymar Is Back-And He’s as Ridiculous as Ever
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Neymar Jr. is in Brazil’s squad.
His flair, his dribbling, his skill moves-all of it is back, and it’s just as buttery as you remember. Pair him with Vinicius Jr., Raphinha, Casemiro, and Ederson, and Brazil isn’t just a team-it’s a highlight reel waiting to happen.
For anyone who’s missed using Neymar regularly, this mode is basically a love letter. He’s not locked behind a paywall or a pack. He’s just there, ready to carry your tournament run.
Bottom line: Brazil is going to be the most-played team in this mode. Zero doubt.
Authentic Gameplay: Slower. Tactical. Way More Satisfying.
Here’s the biggest shift: EA recommends Authentic Gameplay for this mode, and it changes everything.
No more sprinting the entire pitch. No more arcade goals from 40 yards. Instead, you get:
Realistic passing sequences that actually build play
Positional football that rewards patience
Tactical build-up that feels like watching a real match
A pace that mirrors actual international football
It’s slower at first. You’ll feel it. But once it clicks, it feels right-like the gameplay finally matches the atmosphere.
Bottom line: If you want the World Cup to feel like a World Cup, use Authentic Gameplay. Don’t fight it.
Don’t Expect a Gameplay Revolution-But That’s Okay
Let’s be honest: the core engine is the same FC 26 you’ve been playing. The latest patch brought pressing adjustments, defensive rebalancing, and physical play improvements-and yes, those carry over.
But this mode isn’t selling you a new gameplay system. It’s selling you immersion, structure, and atmosphere. And honestly? That’s what most players have been asking for.
Bottom line: The magic here isn’t in the mechanics-it’s in the feeling.The Tournament Format Actually Has Stakes
Group stage standings. Match stats that matter. Squad management between rounds. Knockout tension that builds with every result.
Every win feels earned. Every loss stings. Watching the standings shift after each fixture gives you something exhibition matches never could: consequences.
It’s structured like a real tournament because it plays like a real tournament.
Bottom line: This is the first mode in years that makes you actually care about the group stage.
Why This Mode Could Be the Sleeper Hit of FC 26
Here’s the truth: not everyone wants to grind Ultimate Team every single session. Not everyone wants to go online and sweat against a 4-2-3-1 sweat squad.
Some players just want to:
Lead their country to glory
Relive that World Cup feeling
Try a nation they’ve never played before
Enjoy football that feels real
The World’s Game delivers all of that. No hoops. No friction. Just pure tournament football.
Bottom line: This is the mode for players who love football more than they love menus.
Quick-Start Tips Before You Kick Off
Tip Why It Matters
Use Authentic Gameplay It’s the whole point. Trust it.
Don’t tweak sliders mid-tournament Let the mode breathe.
Customize your groups Build the tournament you actually want.
Try a nation you’d never pick Some of the best runs come from surprise picks.
Manage your squad between matches Rotation wins tournaments.
Save your progress often You’ll thank yourself later.
Crank up the difficulty if you want a fight Authentic + high difficulty = elite football.
Play possession-based in Authentic Patience is your best weapon.
Final Verdict: Who Should Play This?
Everyone. Seriously.
Casual players will love the presentation and accessibility. Hardcore fans will obsess over custom groups and tournament runs. Ultimate Team refugees will finally have something that feels fresh. And Neymar fans? You already know.
The World’s Game doesn’t try to reinvent football-it tries to recreate the feeling of football’s biggest stage. The pressure. The atmosphere. The pride of wearing your nation’s jersey.
Whether you’re lifting the trophy with Brazil or pulling off an impossible run with a 100-1 underdog FC Coins, this mode makes every match feel like it matters.
And for the first time in a long time, it actually does.
