World Cup fever hits Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds with new Football Arcade experience

Immersive Gamebox is bringing football fever to Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds this summer with the launch of Football Arcade, a brand-new interactive gaming experience inspired by the drama and chaos of tournament football.

Launching on 1st June ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Football Arcade promises to give fans a completely new way to experience the tournament season - swapping the sofa and pub for immersive gameplay inside fully interactive Gamebox rooms.

Created by Immersive Gamebox, the global immersive gaming company known for its motion-tracking group experiences, Football Arcade is being billed as the world’s first immersive football game. Using full-body movement rather than controllers or VR headsets, players jump, dive, dodge and compete their way through a series of football-inspired arcade challenges.

Games include Headers, Goalie and Dribbler, before teams face a final Keepy Uppy challenge designed to recreate the pressure and excitement of tournament football.

The experience launches across Immersive Gamebox venues worldwide, including sites in Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds, with players across the UK, US, Canada, France, Australia and Germany competing on global leaderboards throughout the summer.

Adding an extra layer of competition, the highest-scoring team on 19 July - the day of the 2026 World Cup Final - will take home a $10,000 grand prize.

To celebrate the launch, Immersive Gamebox will also host a free play day on 12 June. Anyone wearing a football shirt will be able to play Football Arcade free of charge at participating UK and US venues on a first-come, first-served basis.

Unlike traditional gaming or VR experiences, Immersive Gamebox uses motion tracking, touch-sensitive walls and projected digital environments to create shared social gameplay without the need for controllers or goggles.

Designed for families, friendship groups, birthday parties and team socials alike, Football Arcade aims to capture the social energy and competitive spirit that surrounds football culture - particularly in football-mad cities like Manchester and Liverpool.

Football Arcade launches for a limited time from 1 June at Immersive Gamebox venues worldwide, including Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds and you can nook now here.