So soon after the 2025/26 Premier League season’s conclusion comes the official, free-to-play Fantasy game for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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It’s the first time that this global showcase will feature 48 participating nations, running from 11 June to 19 July.
In this article, we’ll guide you through the game’s rules.
HOW TO PLAY FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 FANTASY: BASIC RULES
Much like FPL, managers must pick a squad of 15 players, who will score points based on their on-field performances: two goalkeepers, five defenders, five midfielders and three forwards.
From these, pick a starting 11 in one of the following formations:
- 4-4-2
- 4-3-3
- 4-5-1
- 3-4-3
- 3-5-2
- 5-4-1
- 5-3-2
Initially, there is a budget of $100.0m to build this squad, which increases to $105.0m from the Round of 32 onwards.
Player prices will NOT change throughout the tournament.
Meanwhile, the ‘per nation’ maximum limits depend on the stage of the tournament:
TOURNAMENT STAGERESTRICTIONGroup stageMaximum of 3 players per nationRound of 32Maximum of 3 players per nationRound of 16Maximum of 4 players per nationQuarter-finalMaximum of 5 players per nationSemi-finalMaximum of 6 players per nationFinalMaximum of 8 players per nation
You can make unlimited changes to your squad until the first match kicks off. That’s at 20:00 (UK time) on Thursday 11 June.
TEAM MANAGEMENT
Substitutions
Even once a Matchday has started, managers can keep tweaking their squad’s starting XI, although a new entrant from the bench must not have yet played their fixture.
Doing so means you’ll only get points from the new player, and this change is irreversible.
Automatic substitutions will only replace a DNP (did not play) individual with someone from the bench if the Matchday’s lineup stays untouched throughout.
That autosub will bring in the first player (prioritised one to three) that successfully meets a valid formation.
Captaincy
As usual in Fantasy games, captains score double points.
Vice captains take up that mantle if your selected captain fails to feature at all during the Matchday – but only if you haven’t made any other changes to your team during a live Matchday.
Similarly to the above, you can change the captain an unlimited number of times during a live round manually, but it can’t be done in hindsight. The new one’s match must not have yet happened.
If you choose to change your old captain during a live round, you will lose their double points, and your new captain will score double instead.
TRANSFERS
Meanwhile, each manager is given several free transfers to use:
TOURNAMENT STAGEALLOCATIONPre-tournamentUnlimited free transfersBefore Matchday 22 free transfersBefore Matchday 32 free transfersBefore the Round of 32Unlimited free transfersBefore the Round of 164 free transfersBefore the Quarter-finals4 free transfersBefore the Semi-finals5 free transfersBefore the Final6 free transfers
During the group stage, managers can roll over one transfer into the next Matchday. This does not, however, apply from Matchday 3 into the round of 32, as you’ll already have an unlimited supply at that stage.
Any additional transfers made will cause a three-point deduction.
Furthermore, any transfers made during a live Matchday won’t change your current team; they would only apply from the next Matchday.
HOW TO SCORE POINTS
When it comes to gaining (and losing) points, it’s a familiar system for FPL managers, but with a few differences.
For example, each position gets one more point for a goal, winning and conceding a penalty has consequences regardless of that spot kick’s outcome, plus there are no defensive contribution (DefCon) rewards.
Instead, midfielders are rewarded with a +1 for every three tackles made, as well as every two chances created. Forwards receive a +1 for every two shots on target.
Defenders and goalkeepers who have played for at least 60 minutes will do better (+5) for keeping a clean sheet, but there’s comparatively less leniency with goals conceded – each one after the first is penalised.
All Players
Goalkeepers + Defenders
Midfielders + Forwards
Bonus points
On top of that, a couple of ideas that we saw in 2025’s Club World Cup Fantasy game for all players:
BOOSTERS
Called chips in FPL, there are five of these to activate across just eight rounds. Only use one at a time.
WildcardUnlimited free transfers for a specific round (except the Round of 32)12th ManAllows an extra player to bring points… one who isn’t already in your squad, without any budget or player-per-team restrictionsMaximum CaptainGuarantees that your XI’s highest scorer gets the armband for double pointsQualification Booster
(from the Round of 32 onwards)Awards 2 points to all players in the starting XI who win/progress, as long as they’ve played at least 1 minute of itMystery Booster
(from the Round of 32 onwards)To be revealed before the Round of 32 deadline
Now that the game is live and you’ve caught up with the rules, head over and create a first draft!
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