Tecmo World Cup Soccer
Tecmo World Cup Soccer — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is Tecmo World Cup Soccer on?
- Tecmo World Cup Soccer was released on Family Computer, Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Arcade, Sega Master System/Mark III.
- When did Tecmo World Cup Soccer release?
- Tecmo World Cup Soccer was first released on December 7, 1990.
About Tecmo World Cup Soccer
Tecmo World Cup Soccer is a simple soccer game with an overhead view. Only one mode (World Cup) is available, playable by either one player against the computer AI or two players against each other. Any of the sixteen available national teams can be selected by the player; the opponent cannot be chosen manually if controlled by the AI. The game itself allows only basic moves such as passing, shooting, and side-sliding during defense. There is no team management or strategy available, and no options for game rules and conditions.
Summary via IGDB.
Game details
- Platforms
- Family Computer, Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Arcade, Sega Master System/Mark III
- Developer
- Tecmo
- Publisher
- Tecmo
Details via IGDB.
Reception
Every version compared
Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release
| Platform | Year | Loose | Complete | Sealed | Period reviews | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sega Genesis | 1992 | $13 | $25 | — | 2 reviews | Low |
Also released on: Family Computer · Nintendo Entertainment System · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · Arcade · Sega Master System/Mark III. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Genesis · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-29
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese release (Tecmo World Cup '92) | $6 | $24 | — |
How often it sells
- Loose: about 3 times a year
- Complete: about 2 times a year
- Sealed: about once a year
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-29.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $22 in Oct 2007, $6.10 five years ago, and $12.90 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2008 | $2.99 | — |
| Jan 2009 | $3.65 | — |
| Jan 2010 | $1.00 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $2.62 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $4.06 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $5.89 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $4.99 | $10.00 |
| Jan 2015 | $5.99 | $3.24 |
| Jan 2016 | $3.14 | $9.95 |
| Jan 2017 | $9.29 | $9.95 |
| Jan 2018 | $5.79 | $9.00 |
| Jan 2019 | $6.22 | $12.29 |
| Jan 2020 | $6.45 | $12.29 |
| Jan 2021 | $6.10 | $18.70 |
| Jan 2022 | $10.14 | $13.95 |
| Jan 2023 | $12.75 | $19.60 |
| Jan 2024 | $12.75 | $22 |
| Jan 2025 | $14.71 | $19.97 |
| Jan 2026 | $11.99 | $20 |
| Oct 2026 | $12.90 | $25 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number |
|---|---|---|
| North America | 1992 | — |
| Japan | 31 January 1992 | T-44023 |
- Region
- JP+NA
- Released
- 1992
- Authenticity
- Low
A so-so arcade-style soccer game that period critics disliked, and a cart that sits at the median.
Tecmo World Cup on the Genesis was developed by Hertz and published by SIMS in Japan, where it is called Tecmo World Cup '92, and by Atlus in North America. It came out in Japan on 31 January 1992 and in North America in 1992. It is a home version of Tecmo's arcade game rather than a faithful conversion, and the Genesis game features 24 national teams.
Video Games & Computer Entertainment in December 1992 was harsh: it listed a lack of penalties and an oversized penalty area among many small flaws, found the music repetitive, and thought Sega's older World Championship Soccer more fun. Mean Machines Sega also lumped it in with the disappointments Mega Drive soccer fans had suffered.
What the press said at the time
| Mean Machines Games Guide | May 1992 | OVERALL 47% |
| Mean Machines Sega Issue 3 | December 1992 | 47% |
“Anyone hoping for Amiga-style Kick Off thrills had better wait for the real thing rather than suffer the disappointment of Tecmo World Cup '92.”
“Tecmo World Cup is simply a very dull game which fails to provide footballing fun even with two players.”
“It’s not any one massive flaw that makes Tecmo World Cup so lame; it’s a variety of little things.”
“The poor graphics and sounds are two more own goals, and the final result is a game that you won1 be over the moon witti.”
How the Sega Genesis version differs
The Mega Drive version is an unfaithful home version, developed by Hertz and published by SIMS, renamed Tecmo World Cup (Tecmo World Cup '92 in Japan).
Mean Machines Sega called it a disappointing, uninspiring and simplistic football game.
Also on other platforms
Arcade · Master System
| Arcade | Tecmo (publisher) |
- Sega Master System. The game was ported to the Master System as Tecmo World Cup '93.
Before you buy
Among US carts it sits about at the median. The Japanese cart (Tecmo World Cup '92) usually costs much less loose than the US one and about the same complete; its cartridge has a different shape that does not fit a Western console without an adapter or removing two plastic tabs in the slot.
Tecmo World Cup Soccer screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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