The 2026 World Cup has your child football-mad this summer. Here’s where to take that passion next – on screen and off.
In partnership with Family Gaming Database – a trusted resource created to help parents, carers and guardians gain a deeper understanding of video games and board games – we’ve put together this list of great games for kids who love football. With England kicking off their World Cup campaign against Croatia on 17 June, this is the summer when young football fans will be at their most receptive to anything connected to the beautiful game. The right game at the right moment can turn a passing interest into a lasting one.
One game you won’t find on this list is EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA). We’re fairly confident you already know it exists – and while it’s a perfectly fine game, there are more interesting options out there that parents are less likely to have come across. Here’s how to match the right one to your child’s age and interests.
Ages 5-8
Pup Champs (Free – iOS, Android, PC)
A football puzzle game in which players position their player to score goals, working within a limited number of moves and avoiding obstacles. The concept is simple enough for young children to grasp immediately, but the puzzle logic introduces genuine spatial thinking and forward planning without any pressure. Free to play, available on phones and tablets, and – crucially – something a football-mad five-year-old can genuinely engage with rather than just watch. A lovely entry point for children who love football but aren’t yet ready for the reflexes demanded by action games.
Mario Strikers Battle League (Switch)
Five-on-five football with Mario characters, power-ups, and cheerful chaos. Mario Strikers strips football back to its most fun essentials – scoring goals, tackling opponents, and unleashing special moves – in a format that’s immediately joyful rather than demanding. The Switch’s local multiplayer makes it a natural choice for siblings or family play, and the Nintendo presentation means it’s warm and visually accessible rather than intimidating. Best from around age 6, and an excellent sofa co-op game during World Cup evenings.
Ages 8-12
Despelote (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox)
One of the most distinctive football games made in years. Despelote is set in the streets and parks of Quito, Ecuador, seen through the eyes of eight-year-old Julián – a child obsessed with football in the same way your child probably is. Players dribble through neighbourhoods, join pickup games, and absorb the culture of a city where football is everything. It’s less a traditional football game and more a vivid portrait of what it feels like to love the game as a child. Thoughtful, beautifully made, and genuinely unlike anything else in the genre. A perfect alternative choice for the World Cup summer.
Ages 10+
Rematch (PC, PS5, Xbox)
A football game that strips the sport back to its simplest, most physical form – you control a single player in a team, using button combinations to pass, tackle, and shoot. The result is something that plays more like a multiplayer sports game than a traditional football sim: fast, direct, and satisfying in a way that rewards instinct over system mastery. The full-contact tackles and high-energy pace make it best suited to older children, but for a ten-year-old who finds FIFA overwhelming, Rematch offers a more accessible route into competitive football gaming.
Football Chairman Pro (iOS, Android)
A football club management simulation with over two million downloads – and one of the few games in this genre that’s genuinely accessible to children rather than requiring hours of learning. Players run a football club from the boardroom: hiring managers, signing players, managing finances, and making strategic decisions that determine whether their club rises through the divisions or collapses. For children whose interest in football runs to the tactics and business of the game – who read the back pages as well as watching the matches – Football Chairman Pro is deeply engaging. Excellent for long journeys during the tournament.
And now for something completely different…
Subbuteo (ages 6+)
A special mention for a game that doesn’t quite fit anywhere else on this list – because it predates video games entirely! The classic tabletop football game – players flick small figures across a green baize pitch to pass and shoot – has been a fixture of British childhoods since 1947 and is quietly enjoying a genuine revival. It requires patience, a steady hand, and spatial awareness, and rewards practice in a way that feels directly connected to the game itself. There are no tutorials, no loading screens, and no algorithms. Just two players, a floor, and a pitch.
Playing Subbuteo with a child who’s spent the summer watching World Cup football is one of those offline experiences that competes with a screen in all the right ways.
Finding more games your child will love
This list is a starting point. Family Gaming Database has a full searchable database of football games and sports games with detailed age guidance and content information. Their Game Finder tool is the quickest way to find what to try next based on what your child already enjoys.
Two ways to take back control this World Cup summer
For curated YouTube watching: Streamu lets parents whitelist specific YouTube channels for their children – so a football-mad child can watch Pro Football Academy tutorials, Tifo tactical explainers, and official FIFA World Cup content without the algorithm deciding what comes next.
Join a growing community of conscious parents taking back control.
Join the Streamu waitlist at streamu.app
For curated game discovery: Family Gaming Database is the trusted resource for parents navigating video games and board games – with detailed content guidance, age ratings, and expert suggestions for every kind of player.
Explore the Family Gaming Database at familygamingdatabase.com
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