This has truly been a year when football never seems to take a break. Fresh off the latest season and with the Women’s Euro 2025 and the Club World Cup to fill the gap, that appetite for football has been well satiated. On the video game front, players will only have to wait two more months, as EA has officially revealed EA Sports FC 26, which is set to launch on September 26.
Gracing the covers this year will be the pair of Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala, two of the brightest young stars in the game. As for the Ultimate Edition of the game, none other than the larger-than-life Zlatan Ibrahimovic will be the cover star.
Of course, what matters is the action on the virtual pitch, and this year, EA promises yet another overhauled gameplay experience for EA Sports FC 26. And it appears that they are taking to heart all of the community feedback.
All New Features in EA Sports FC 26
“FC 26 reflects our ongoing commitment to building this game with and for our community,” said John Shepherd, VP & GM, EA Sports FC. “We are players too, and that shared passion drives everything we do.
“This year brings an overhauled gameplay experience, new Tournaments and Live Events in FUT, all-new Archetype customisation in Clubs, and a Career Mode that comes alive through evolving Challenges. We can’t wait for players to feel the difference this September and help shape the future of FC.”
Here’s a key rundown of what’s been tweaked:
Refined Gameplay Fundamentals
EA Sports FC 26 will deliver a variety of game-wide changes, including improved dribbling responsiveness and fluidity, retuned run curves for more explosive player movement, all-new reinforcement-learning-driven goalkeeper positioning, close-body volumetric animations, new and more versatile Playstyles and Player Roles.
That means we can look forward to having more natural goalkeepers who aren’t letting in all kinds of shots, more lifelike animations for players, and more ways to shape your gameplay. It all at least sounds good on paper.
Authentic & Competitive Gameplay Presets
For those complaining about the game being either too fast or too slow, the two new gameplay presets should set your minds at ease. Competitive is built for the likes of Ultimate Team and Clubs, where passes are faster, keepers are better at their jobs, and have more direct control.
On the other hand, Authentic gets you that true-to-football experience you are more likely to see on television. Defenders who actually do their job, corners that feel satisfying to score from, and more intense goalmouth action like the real deal will be yours to enjoy in EA Sports FC 26.
Manager Career Changes
Those hoping for more significant changes to Manager Career mode will not exactly like what’s coming. EA Sports FC 26 will add new Live Challenges during the season, so you can try your hand at taking on real-life scenarios in exchange for rewards.
However, there is also the first ever Manager Market system in place, which can see new managers take charge of teams, and change how they play to give you more to think about as you see out your own season.
Archetypes
The greats of the game have inspired a complementary addition to Playstyles: the brand-new Archetypes, which introduce new classes to Clubs and Player Career. Develop your abilities by upgrading attributes and unlocking Archetype Perks to give your player a distinct feel on the pitch.
New Live Events and Tournament Modes
For those putting together a party for football, you can now assemble your dream squads in Football Ultimate Team with new Live Events and Tournament modes, as well as a refreshed Rivals and Champs experience to show the world why you are the best in EA Sports FC 26.
True Authenticity
With EA having a stranglehold on leagues and player licenses, it is no surprise that the game will feature over 20,000 athletes across 750+ clubs & national teams, playing in more than 120 stadiums and 35+ leagues, powered by the support of more than 300 global football partners.
As for competitions, you can chase glory across the Champions League, Europa League, Europa Conference League, CONMEBOL Libertadores, Premier League, Bundesliga, and LALIGA EA SPORTS in the same game, alongside the Frauen-Bundesliga, Liga F, Barclays FA Women’s Super League, D1 Arkema, National Women’s Soccer League, and the Women’s Champions League.
More details about EA Sports FC 26 will be revealed in due time, and we have plenty of time to absorb them all before the game arrives on September 26.
