The handheld version of FIFA Soccer 96 has a few differences compared to its counterparts on other systems. There are only eight national leagues instead of eleven, no practise mode, saving or team editor, and it does not have the license to use real team and athlete names. As expected, there are also technical differences regarding graphics, sounds, and controls.
Besides those changes, it is still a traditional soccer game. The player has the choice between 217 teams (59 national teams) and several playing modes: friendly matches, national leagues, a league with national teams, tournaments or playoffs. There are various options to set, including difficulty level, weather, or if athletes can be injured. There's also an overall option for whether gameplay is more action or simulation oriented. The matches themselves are shown from an isometric perspective and the athletes are directly controlled.