The anticipation for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ continues to build with the official launch of the tournament’s fantasy football game, powered by Aramco. Football fans worldwide can now test their managerial skills by drafting a 15-player squad of global superstars to compete for global, confederational, and national rankings. Top-tier talents like Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, and Erling Haaland are already expected to be highly sought-after picks.
Gameplay Mechanics and Rules
Building a competitive roster requires strategic budget management and an understanding of the tournament structure:
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Squad Composition & Budget: Managers must select a 15-player squad consisting of 2 goalkeepers, 5 defenders, 5 midfielders, and 3 forwards. The initial budget is set at $100 million, which will increase by an additional $5 million once the knockout stages begin. Unlike other fantasy formats, player values will remain fixed and will not fluctuate during the tournament.
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Squad Limitations: The number of players allowed from a single country is restricted based on the tournament phase, beginning with a maximum of three players per nation during the group stage.
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Transfers & Deadlines: Managers have the freedom to make unlimited changes to their lineups until the tournament’s opening match kicks off on Thursday, 11 June. Unlimited transfers will also be granted prior to the Round of 32. For all other stages, standard transfer limits will apply.
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In-Game Management: During active Matchdays, users can maximize their scoring potential by utilizing bench substitutions and changing their team captain.
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Available Boosters: Five unique chips can be deployed throughout the competition: Wildcard, 12th Man, Maximum Captain, Qualification Booster, and a Mystery Booster (to be unveiled before the Round of 32).
How Points Are Scored
Points are awarded based on a comprehensive set of real-world statistics, including:
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Minutes played
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Goals scored and conceded
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Assists
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Cards received and own goals
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Penalties won or conceded
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Tackles, chances created, and shots on target
Bonus Points: Players can earn extra points for scoring directly from free-kicks. Additionally, a “scouting bonus” is awarded if a player owned by fewer than 5% of all managers scores more than four points in a single match.
Player Pricing and Premium Selections
Fitting the world’s best players into a $100 million budget will be a major challenge for managers heading into this historic 48-team tournament in North America.
Predictably, elite forwards command the highest price tags. Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Kylian Mbappe lead the game as the most expensive options at $10.5 million each. Legendary icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo follow closely behind at $10 million.
Looking at other positions:
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Defenders: Portugal’s Nuno Mendes is the most expensive defensive option at $5.8 million.
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Goalkeepers: The premium choices in goal feature Brazilian duo Ederson and Alisson Becker, alongside Spanish internationals David Raya and Unai Simon.
Powerhouses Dominate the Market
The player valuations heavily reflect the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking, with the top six nations dominating the pricing scales. Out of the 25 most expensive players in the game, 20 belong to these top six countries. England and France lead the depth of talent, boasting five premium players each.
Historical Note: Kylian Mbappé claimed the adidas Golden Boot at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. First introduced as the Golden Shoe in 1982 before being rebranded in 2010, the award honors the tournament’s top scorer, while the runners-up receive the Silver and Bronze Boots respectively.
Global Options and Host Nation Stars
With the introduction of the Confederation Challenge Leaderboard—which tracks the performance of different global regions based on user selections—finding value outside of Europe is crucial.
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Africa: Egypt’s Mohamed Salah ($10m) and Omar Marmoush ($7.8m) are the top-priced talents.
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Asia: Son Heungmin of South Korea ($7.4m) and Saudi Arabia’s Salem Al Dawsari ($7.2m) lead the region.
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Host Nations (North America): Canada’s Jonathan David, Mexico’s Raul Jimenez, and the USA’s Christian Pulisic are all priced at $7 million.
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Oceania: Striker Chris Wood ($6.5m) represents the premium option for New Zealand as they return to the world stage.