Fantasy World Cup Picks Go Live

The official FIFA World Cup 2026 fantasy game has arrived, giving fans a new way to follow the tournament through a 15-player squad built around real match performance. Backed by Aramco, the game invites managers to compete on global, confederation, and national leaderboards while chasing the best possible lineup of stars such as Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, and Erling Haaland.

How the Game Is Set Up

Each squad must follow a fixed structure: two goalkeepers, five defenders, five midfielders, and three forwards. Managers start with a $100 million budget, and that total rises by $5 million when the knockout rounds begin. Player prices stay locked in place throughout the competition, so success depends more on planning than on market swings.

Country limits also matter. During the group stage, no more than three players can come from the same nation, which forces managers to spread their selections across several teams. Unlimited transfers are available before the opening match on Thursday, 11 June, and again before the Round of 32. After that, transfer rules become more restrictive.

Live Decisions During Matchdays

The format rewards active management. Users can change captains and use bench options while a Matchday is underway, making timing just as important as player selection. The game also includes five chips: Wildcard, 12th Man, Maximum Captain, Qualification Booster, and a Mystery Booster that will be revealed before the Round of 32.

What earns points

Scoring is tied to real football output. Players collect points for minutes played, goals, assists, clean-sheet impact, goals conceded, cards, own goals, penalties won or conceded, tackles, chances created, and shots on target. Free-kick goals bring extra value, and 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 Biggest Prices Sit

Fitting elite talent into the salary cap will be one of the hardest parts of the game. Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Kylian Mbappe sit at the top of the price list at $10.5 million each, while Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are just behind them at $10 million. At defender, Portugal’s Nuno Mendes leads the category at $5.8 million.

In goal, the premium names include Ederson and Alisson Becker for Brazil, along with Spain’s David Raya and Unai Simon. The pricing clearly favors the strongest national teams, and the top six nations account for 20 of the 25 most expensive players in the game. England and France are especially deep, with five high-end options each.

Historical note: Kylian Mbappé won the adidas Golden Boot at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. The award began as the Golden Shoe in 1982 and adopted its current name in 2010 to recognize the tournament’s top scorer.

Strong Picks Beyond Europe

The new Confederation Challenge Leaderboard adds another layer by tracking how users perform across different regions. That makes value picks outside Europe more important than ever, especially for managers trying to gain an edge through less obvious selections.

In Africa, Egypt’s Mohamed Salah is priced at $10 million and Omar Marmoush at $7.8 million. In Asia, South Korea’s Son Heungmin leads at $7.4 million, with Saudi Arabia’s Salem Al Dawsari close behind at $7.2 million. Among the host nations in North America, Canada’s Jonathan David, Mexico’s Raul Jimenez, and the United States’ Christian Pulisic are each valued at $7 million. Oceania’s top option is New Zealand striker Chris Wood at $6.5 million.