The official FIFA World Cup 2026 fantasy game is now live, giving fans a fresh way to follow the tournament by building a 15-player roster. Backed by Aramco, the game lets users compete for global, confederation, and country-based honors while targeting stars such as Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, and Erling Haaland.
What Players Need to Build
Managers must balance price, position coverage, and tournament strategy from the opening whistle. The setup is simple on paper, but the constraints create plenty of difficult choices.
- Squad size: 15 players total, including 2 goalkeepers, 5 defenders, 5 midfielders, and 3 forwards.
- Starting budget: $100 million, with an extra $5 million added when the knockout rounds begin.
- Price stability: Player values do not rise or fall during the competition.
- Country limits: No more than three players from one nation during the group stage.
- Transfers: Unlimited changes are allowed before the opening match on Thursday, 11 June, and again before the Round of 32.
Matchday Control
Users can still make useful adjustments while matches are underway. Bench swaps and captain changes can be used during active Matchdays to protect points and push for a stronger return.
Five chips are also available across the tournament: Wildcard, 12th Man, Maximum Captain, Qualification Booster, and a Mystery Booster that will be revealed before the Round of 32.
How the Scoring Works
Fantasy points are tied to real match action, which means every minute and every touch can matter. The scoring model rewards both attacking output and defensive contribution.
- Minutes played
- Goals scored or conceded
- Assists
- Cards and own goals
- Penalties won or conceded
- Tackles, chances created, and shots on target
There are also extra rewards for scoring directly from free kicks. A scouting bonus is available when a player owned by fewer than 5% of managers scores more than four points in one match.
Where the Big Names Sit in the Rankings
Finding elite talent within the budget will be one of the game’s biggest challenges, especially in a 48-team World Cup. The priciest forwards are expected to draw the most attention, with Haaland, Kane, and Mbappe listed at $10.5 million each. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo follow at $10 million.
Among defenders, Portugal’s Nuno Mendes leads the way at $5.8 million. In goal, the premium options include Brazil’s Ederson and Alisson Becker, along with Spain’s David Raya and Unai Simon.
Player pricing also tracks closely with the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking. The top six nations account for 20 of the 25 most expensive players, and England and France stand out with five high-priced options each.
Historical note: Mbappe won the adidas Golden Boot at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. The award began as the Golden Shoe in 1982 and was renamed in 2010 to honor the tournament’s top scorer.
Value Picks Beyond Europe
The new Confederation Challenge Leaderboard adds another layer of strategy by tracking how different regions perform based on user selections. That makes strong non-European options especially important.
- Africa: Mohamed Salah at $10 million and Omar Marmoush at $7.8 million lead the region.
- Asia: Son Heungmin at $7.4 million and Salem Al Dawsari at $7.2 million are the standout names.
- North America host nations: Jonathan David, Raul Jimenez, and Christian Pulisic are each priced at $7 million.
- Oceania: Chris Wood is New Zealand’s top attacking option at $6.5 million.
