MLB The Show 26 brings back Team Affinity, and this year it launches with 60 player cards right from the start: 30 pitchers and 30 hitters. These players are free to add to your collection, provided you complete the corresponding Team Affinity programs.

Let's focus on the top 10 pitchers from Team Affinity, as pitchers often receive more attention at the beginning of MLB season, also because players often lack truly outstanding pitchers.

No.10: 88 OVR Steve Carlton SP

• H/9 Right: 83
• H/9 Left: 78
• K/9 Right: 77
• K/9 Left: 74
• Control: 70
• Pitch Clutch: 88
• Stamina: 109
• Velocity: 96
• Break: 99
• Stuff: 81
• HR/9: 73
• BB/9: 70

As a left-handed pitcher, Steve Carlton holds significant value in the current game meta. With the abundance of free left-handed hitter cards available, opposing lineups often feature five or six lefty bats. His pitch mix includes a Slider, Fastball, Curveball, Changeup, and Sinker, offering well-rounded and solid stats.

While some might find his delivery a bit readable over time, the strategic value of a left-hander in this version of the game is simply irreplaceable.

No.9: 88 OVR Rich Gossage CP

• H/9 Right: 113
• H/9 Left: 80
• K/9 Right: 110
• K/9 Left: 98
• Control: 56
• Pitch Clutch: 102
• Stamina: 41
• Velocity: 99
• Break: 99
• Stuff: 88
• HR/9: 98
• BB/9: 56

As a reliever, Rich Gossage's role places him slightly below starting pitchers on this list. He features a dominant combo of Fastball, Slider, Sinker, and Changeup. His strikeout numbers against right-handed batters are elite, though slightly weaker against lefties. The 56 Control is the main concern, but Parallel Boost can help mitigate that.

No.8: 88 OVR Corey Kluber SP

• H/9 Right: 75
• H/9 Left: 69
• K/9 Right: 82
• K/9 Left: 82
• Control: 85
• Pitch Clutch: 85
• Stamina: 95
• Velocity: 95
• Break: 99
• Stuff: 82
• HR/9: 83
• BB/9: 85

Corey Kluber's cards have always been a favorite in the community. His arsenal of Sinker, Slider, Slow Curve, Circle Change, and Fastball is excellent. Key stats like Strikeouts, Control, and Pitch Clutch are all strong. The 69 H/9 against lefties is a bit risky but can be improved through Parallel.

No.7: 88 OVR Lee Smith CP

• H/9 Right: 87
• H/9 Left: 80
• K/9 Right: 90
• K/9 Left: 102
• Control: 98
• Pitch Clutch: 80
• Stamina: 26
• Velocity: 97
• Break: 93
• Stuff: 88
• HR/9: 80
• BB/9: 98

Lee Smith has consistently been one of the premier relief pitchers in the game. Within his mix of Fastball, Slider, Cutter, and Splitter, his Splitter is exceptionally effective when combined with his delivery.

His high strikeout potential, especially the 102 K/9 against left-handed batters, makes him incredibly valuable against lefty-heavy lineups. While Pitch Clutch stat is a tad low for a reliever, it's a minor flaw in an otherwise stellar card.

No.6: 88 OVR Corbin Burnes SP

• H/9 Right: 87
• H/9 Left: 89
• K/9 Right: 64
• K/9 Left: 78
• Control: 63
• Pitch Clutch: 109
• Stamina: 85
• Velocity: 99
• Break: 92
• Stuff: 81
• HR/9: 67
• BB/9: 63

Corbin Burnes has a lower strikeout rate against righties, and his Control could be better, but he boasts a high Pitch Clutch, excellent H/9 ratings, and solid Stamina. His pitch mix—Cutter, Curveball, Sinker, Slider, Circle Change—plays far above his raw stats. He's been a top-tier pitcher every year, and this season looks to be no different.

No.5: 88 OVR Darren O'Day RP

• H/9 Right: 101
• H/9 Left: 92
• K/9 Right: 103
• K/9 Left: 85
• Control: 95
• Pitch Clutch: 97
• Stamina: 25
• Velocity: 49
• Break: 92
• Stuff: 94
• HR/9: 85
• BB/9: 95

Darren O'Day is a uniquely distinctive relief pitcher card. His quirky submarine-sidearm delivery has historically been one of the most difficult releases for hitters to pick up in the game. Combined with a pitch arsenal featuring a Slider, Fastball, Sinker, Circle Change, and Curveball, his deceptive arm angle makes him nearly untouchable for right-handed batters.

It's this uniqueness that lands him at number five. His high strikeout rate and funky motion make it tough for opponents to time their swings. Of course, on the highest difficulties, experienced players might eventually adapt, but that doesn't diminish his value at this stage of the game.

No.4: 88 OVR Pedro Martinez SP

• H/9 Right: 97
• H/9 Left: 64
• K/9 Right: 95
• K/9 Left: 75
• Control: 70
• Pitch Clutch: 90
• Stamina: 87
• Velocity: 92
• Break: 99
• Stuff: 82
• HR/9: 76
• BB/9: 70

Pedro Martinez features a fantastic delivery and an elite pitch mix of Fastball, Circle Change, Slow Curve, Slider, and Cutter. His only potential weaknesses are H/9 and K/9 against left-handed batters—though a 75 K/9 is still respectable.

He possesses terrifying 97/95 splits against righties, and his high Pitch Clutch and Stamina mean he rarely falters. If he's on the mound against you, you know you're in for a tough game.

No.3: 88 OVR Roger Clemens SP

• H/9 Right: 84
• H/9 Left: 85
• K/9 Right: 80
• K/9 Left: 82
• Control: 57
• Pitch Clutch: 99
• Stamina: 100
• Velocity: 99
• Break: 95
• Stuff: 81
• HR/9: 85
• BB/9: 57

Roger Clemens has historically been one of the most dominant pitchers in the game. His mix of Fastball, Splitter, Slider, Curveball, and Sinker is impeccable. Nearly all his stats are excellent, with the sole drawback being Control, which can be boosted through Parallel Boost.

Even though heavy use of his cards in previous years might have made his delivery familiar to some opponents, his early-game performance is still sensational. It's highly recommended to prioritize completing Blue Jays Team Affinity collection, saving you MLB the Show 26 stubs that you would otherwise need for acquiring quality pitchers.

No.2: 88 OVR Billy Wagner CP

• H/9 Right: 107
• H/9 Left: 80
• K/9 Right: 83
• K/9 Left: 94
• Control: 74
• Pitch Clutch: 109
• Stamina: 26
• Velocity: 97
• Break: 99
• Stuff: 88
• HR/9: 71
• BB/9: 74

Billy Wagner comes with a Fastball, Slider, Changeup, and Curveball, and his key stats are all strong. Most critically, as a left-handed reliever, he is invaluable in the current environment saturated with elite left-handed hitters. Whether facing Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani, or Bryce Harper, he can hold his own.

No.1: 88 OVR Al Leiter SP

• H/9 Right: 106
• H/9 Left: 70
• K/9 Right: 96
• K/9 Left: 84
• Control: 53
• Pitch Clutch: 93
• Stamina: 93
• Velocity: 90
• Break: 94
• Stuff: 82
• HR/9: 79
• BB/9: 53

Al Leiter is unquestionably the top pitcher in this Team Affinity lineup. His deception on the mound is outstanding. Following a 94 mph Sinker with an 82 mph Changeup, then an 89 mph Cutter, creates a velocity variance that hitters will struggle to adjust to. Control is his biggest shortcoming, but Parallel Boost can address that.

This ranking isn't absolute, just a reference point. Feel free to slot your own favorite pitcher into this list. If you're looking to bolster your rotation or bullpen, these players, free to unlock through Team Affinity, are well worth your attention

For baseball video game fans over the past three years, March has undoubtedly been the most anticipated and exciting month, as it signals the arrival of a new installment in MLB the Show series!

While updates to sports games don't always bring revolutionary changes, it is still a rewarding experience to see your favorite modes refined and optimized once again.

As March 2026 approaches its midpoint, the latest title, MLB the Show 26, is set to launch, and early access has already begun! Below, we'll cover the detailed release schedule, key changes, and a general overview of MLB the Show 26.

MLB the Show 26 release date

The game's official launch date is 12:00 AM ET on March 17. However, if you got Deluxe Version, you can enjoy four days of early access, allowing you to start playing as early as 12:00 AM ET on March 13.

Of course, whether for the standard release or early access, the exact unlock time depends on your specific time zone; however, there will always be a standard 96-hour gap between the two.

Additional Deluxe Version benefits

In addition to extra playtime, Deluxe Version offers the following bonuses:

• 20 The Show Packs
• 2 WBC Choice Packs
• 1 Legend Choice Pack
• 1 WBC Uniform Pack
• 1 Equipment Pack
• Double Daily Rewards
• 1 Cover Athlete Bat Skin Pack
• 20,000 Stubs

If you want to maximize the value of your early access and get a head start on other players by acquiring more MLB the Show 26 stubs right from the beginning, you definitely shouldn't miss out on Deluxe Version!

Even better: if you have played any MLB the Show title released between 2021 and the present, provided you use the same account and platform, you are eligible for a 10% discount when trading MLB the Show 26!

Diamond Dynasty changes

As the core mode of MLB The Show series for many years, Diamond Dynasty serves not only as your primary source of in-game rewards but also as a crucial avenue for enhancing your team-building expertise and virtual baseball skills.

With this in mind, MLB the Show 26 introduces a significant update to the mode's Team Affinity program. Now, each of 30 MLB teams features its own dedicated progression path, offering you access to exclusive player items.

Among these items, the most standout additions are the dual captains for each team. Comprising one batter and one pitcher, these captains work in tandem to provide attribute boosts to other players on the same team roster.

Furthermore, MLB the Show 26 breaks away from rigid, traditional team-building mechanics, allowing you to swap out older cards for popular Live Series cards or Diamonds without having to reset your overall progress.

Provided you add a sufficient number of players from the same real-world team to your lineup, the stat boosts provided by your Captain Cards will automatically scale up accordingly.

Consequently, during the early stages of the game, you no longer need to rely excessively on opening card packs to acquire better players; simply by investing enough playtime, you can make significant progress through flexible roster management and the strategic utilization of dual captain bonuses.

Building upon these changes, MLB the Show 26 also introduces several new Legends to serve as Captains within Team Affinity mode, such as Adam Jones and Jered Weaver, offering a delightful surprise for fans.

Franchise mode updates

At its core, this mode revolves around team management, a gameplay experience where a true sense of accomplishment is earned through sustained, active engagement. The key focus of the updates to this mode in MLB the Show 26 lies in the introduction of Trade Hub.

This new feature makes the processes of team administration and player trading feel more realistic and streamlined, while also providing you with better insight into current market dynamics.

Building on this foundation, MLB the Show 26 has increased the maximum limit for player trades to eight participants; more complex player swaps translate into a richer and more dynamic gameplay experience.

Moreover, this mode now features Bullpen Games, allowing you, as the manager, to oversee your club and players in a manner that more closely mirrors real-world baseball management. Alternatively, if you prefer not to invest the time manually, you can delegate full control to the game's simulation system.

Brand-new features

Beyond merely optimizing existing modes, MLB the Show 26 introduces a host of entirely new features, all designed to elevate your baseball gaming experience throughout 2026 season.

Automated Ball-Strike (ABS)

This brand-new core system allows batters, pitchers, or catchers to signal for a review of a call by tapping their cap.

Each team begins the game with two challenges; if a challenge is successful, that challenge is retained. Additionally, you are granted one extra challenge for every extra inning played.

Bear Down Pitching

This mechanic allows your pitcher to build up Elite Focus through exceptional performance on the mound. Once activated, this effect significantly boosts your pitching accuracy and velocity during critical moments of the game.

This feature not only heightens the excitement and sense of reward during high-pressure situations but also serves as a virtual representation of real-world pitching usage patterns and enhanced defensive attributes within the game environment.

Big Zone Hitting

This new feature in MLB the Show 26 allows you to select and cover a specific zone, out of nine possible quadrants, during gameplay, without needing to precisely aim your Plate Coverage Indicator (PCI) directly at the ball.

While this doesn't guarantee absolutely perfect results, it streamlines timing-based hitting, rewarding accurate quadrant predictions with more consistent contact outcomes. It is particularly user-friendly for newcomers to the series.

Catcher Pop Time

This feature now directly influences the animation speed of catcher exchanges and throws within the game.

Not only are throwing animations faster and more realistic, but the laser-beam effect, where throws appear unnaturally fast, is also reduced when the catcher is off balance or at a poor angle, making it more difficult for runners to successfully steal bases.

Building upon this, MLB 26 introduces further enhancements to in-game animations, resulting in faster, more accurate throws and improved defensive performance.

The throwing meter has also been updated to comprehensively account for factors such as momentum, footwork, and situational urgency.

That concludes our overview of the new content in MLB the Show 26, based on the game's major changes. We hope this guide proves helpful for your early access or full release gameplay experience!

In its comprehensive February summary update, EA FC 26 outlined its planned updates for March. Many players were unhappy with the proposed nerfs to passing PlayStyles, concerned this would negatively impact the playability for casual gamers.

Title Update v1.5.0 Pitch Notes have now been released, and based on the content, the developers are indeed following through with their stated plans. So, what is the actual impact of this update? Will it disrupt the current meta? Let's analyze it in detail.

Passing Mechanics

While players were extremely worried about the nerfs to key PlayStyles, the developers have clearly taken this into account. As a balancing measure, they have also buffed other areas.

Ground Passing Buffed

The patch primarily increases the speed and accuracy of ground passes. This is undoubtedly good news for players who rely on short passing and intricate build-up play. Notably, this improvement is most pronounced for players with high passing stats.

Although official hasn't explicitly stated the threshold for what constitutes a ‘high' Passing stat, this means that players exceptionally skilled at passing, like Toni Kroos (91 Passing), will become even more threatening.

Lofted Passes Nerfed

As a balance, Update v1.5.0 reduces the accuracy of Lofted Passes. Without extensive testing yet, it's difficult to determine just how significant this impact will be. However, it's safe to assume you won't be able to abuse Lofted Passes in the same way.

Incisive Pass Update

The update to Incisive Pass is one of the most noteworthy changes in this patch. Now, even players without Incisive Pass PlayStyle can deliver curved through balls in specific situations, provided they have excellent Short Passing, Long Passing, and Curve stats.

Previously, through balls from players without Incisive Pass tended to be straight and lacked precision. This adjustment undoubtedly diminishes the dominance of Incisive Pass PlayStyle. It's foreseeable that the market value of players with only a basic Incisive Pass but unremarkable passing stats could decrease.

However, this doesn't necessarily mean Incisive Pass will become unpopular. To compensate for Lofted Pass nerf, the developers have slightly buffed Incisive Pass PlayStyle itself.

Now, players with this PlayStyle will see a minor increase in the accuracy of their lofted through balls, ground passes, and through balls. Nevertheless, even for players with Incisive Pass+ PlayStyle, the accuracy of lofted through balls is still reduced compared to pre-update levels.

Tiki Taka Nerfed

To prevent passing from being too consistently perfect and to narrow the gap between players with and without PlayStyle, Tiki Taka PlayStyle has been nerfed. Players with this style will experience decreased accuracy when making ground passes and first-time passes, with noticeable changes to the trajectory and speed of these passes.

This is undoubtedly a setback for players who have built their squads around Tiki Taka holders. However, the patch notes mention that ground passes from players with this PlayStyle will still benefit from the overall passing improvements implemented in this update.

Shooting

Shooting was another area previously highlighted for significant adjustments, with two PlayStyles receiving specific buffs.

Power Shot Buffed

The trajectory of Power Shots has been optimized, making it possible for players to score from greater distances. Additionally, the accuracy of Power Shots for players with Power Shot or Power Shot+ PlayStyles has been increased, making their long-range efforts even more threatening.

Chip Shot Buffed

The overall accuracy of Chip Shots has been improved, allowing the ball to follow its intended trajectory more reliably, especially when the goalkeeper is rushing out. Chip Shots should now be more dependable, and for players with Chip Shot PlayStyle, their lobbed shots will be even more precise.

Power Shot was significantly nerfed around the launch of EA FC 26, rendering it almost unusable. This buff could potentially change that. If players find success building teams around Power Shot and Chip Shot, then investing FC 26 coins in players with these PlayStyles might become more worthwhile in the near future.

Other Optimizations

Beyond the complex passing changes, the patch includes several operational adjustments that directly impact gameplay feel.

Fake Shot Speed Increased

The overall speed of Fake Shots has been increased by 5%. While 5% might not sound like a large number and may be difficult to spot in animation comparisons, this applies not only to the start of the move but also to its recovery speed. This is a beneficial change for using fake shots to create shooting or passing angles.

AI Behavior Fix

Fixed an issue where attacking players could sometimes stand idle after making a run. This will improve the fluidity of attacks and reduce missed opportunities due to inconsistent AI.

Clubs Update

Clubs mode has also received a significant update. Archetype level cap for players has been raised from 8 to 99. Furthermore, the maximum ranges for template-specific stats have been expanded, and the number of slots for customizing your player has increased from 7 to 8 (including Curve stat). This allows for the development of even more specialized and ideal players.

Overall, Title Update v1.5.0 appears to be a substantial update. It attempts to rebalance the relationship between PlayStyles and core stats, nerfing some dominant PlayStyles while enabling players with high base stats to perform key actions even without specific styles. Whether these changes truly maintain balance, however, remains to be seen. Only after the patch is fully implemented and subjected to extensive gameplay, testing can we fully assess the real impact of these changes on the game's meta.

FIFA 26 released their February feedback update, announcing fixes for several issues. A significant update, v1.5.0, is coming in March, but players are not excited, and instead, they are angry.

Leaked information suggests the development team will be making changes to Career Mode and nerfing several key playstyles, contradicting what players expected.

February Feedback Update

Finesse Shot

The official announcement first addressed Finesse Shot issue, stating that they fixed it by rolling back to version 1.4.2, and that Finesse Shot should now function correctly.

This itself isn't the problem, but the official explanation is completely lacking: why did the issue occur, how did it occur, and what happened when it occurred? This leaves players completely confused about what changes have been made to the game.

Playstyles

The official statement claims they received player feedback, and they hope player attributes should have a greater impact, and Playstyles are more of an enhancement than a standard for determining a player's value. Therefore, the official team plans to adjust Playstyles in the upcoming update. Although not explicitly stated, we know they will be nerfing which overly powerful playstyles.

When FC 26 was first released, the official team claimed they wanted to reduce the influence of playstyles, and their reiteration of this indicates they haven't achieved that.

The so-called player feedback may not be official, as players' teams are currently largely built around playstyles. Nerfing the mainstream playstyles would significantly reduce the value of many mainstream players. This is definitely not good for players, and the biggest beneficiary is the official team, allowing them to sell more cards.

Version 1.5.0

The upcoming adjustments are the most crucial. The official announcement states that the following playstyles will be adjusted:

• Tiki Taka
• Incisive Pass
• Inventive
• Power Shots (possibly buffed)
• Chip Shots

These playstyles are overpowered in most situations. They only become very strong in specific contexts, such as high-level matches, and they are highly situation-dependent.

Furthermore, in the current game, players rely on these playstyles for quick and simple passing. Without Incisive Pass, players might even miss the most basic short passes. Without Inventive, players can't even execute the simplest through balls.

If the developers simply weaken these three styles without significantly improving players' basic passing attributes, the result will be that all players will be unable to pass smoothly.

On the other hand, the developers have stated they will strengthen Power Shots, a very strong playstyle in the previous game, but which has been significantly weakened in FC 26, leading to its neglect. If Power Shots becomes strong again in Version 1.5.0, players will have to consider investing their FC 26 coins in new players, which almost means every player will have to rebuild their team from scratch.

Defensive AI

Although the developers say they are willing to listen to player feedback, they have no plans to modify the defensive AI, which has been a long-standing complaint in the player community.

Players do want certain overpowered playstyles to be nerfed, but they want the AI's defensive strength and the game's defensive logic to change accordingly. Currently, the most effective offensive playstyles have been weakened, while the powerful AI defense remains unchanged. Against players focused on defense, it will be very difficult to break through their defenses.

A major reason many players find the nerf to passing playstyles unacceptable is that defense hasn't been weakened in tandem with offense. This will inevitably lead to many players focusing solely on defense, even on both sides, with the game revolving around who makes the first mistake. Such matches will be incredibly boring.

EVO

Another frustrating thing for players is that despite the developers' intention to nerf these playstyles, they've been distributing many players with these playstyles+ in recent EVO missions.

In EA FC 25, the developers did something similar. After releasing several evolutions with Power Shot, they nerfed Power Shot, instantly rendering players' hard-earned evolution cards useless. The value of all Power Shot+ icons and promotional cards plummeted, effectively destroying the market.

Now, the same thing is happening again in FC 26. For players who have spent a lot of time crafting evolved players, hoping they would shine in the endgame, the next patch will turn them into clowns.

How to Truly Solve This Problem?

It's already late February. By the time the patch is implemented, players discover the problem, the developers collect feedback, and submit a new patch, it will likely be March or April. With less than four months left in the game's lifecycle, it will be too late to fix it then.

What the developers should do now is maintain the existing framework and only make minor adjustments to truly unbalanced, overpowered content. They could learn from the experience of FC 26 for next FUT game, rather than making such a drastic overhaul halfway through the game's lifespan, rendering all the players' efforts futile.

Version 1.5.0 hasn't been officially released yet. Hopefully, the developers can successfully balance Playstyles and make basic attributes important again, thus preventing another player exodus. However, judging from the developers' recent actions, this seems unlikely.

Future Star, as the first event after TOTY, performed quite well. However, this promotion is almost over, so let's turn our attention to the next promotion, Knockout Royalty.

Currently, all the players for Knockout Royalty Team 1 have been leaked, and many of them look promising. Besides these players, let's see how you can prepare. 

Knockout Royalty Theme

EA FC 26 plans to have a theme for each promo, and these themes are generally related to football matches. Knockout Royalty promotion corresponds to the knockout stage and focuses on players who perform well in the knockout stages and help their teams win. It evolved from Road to the Final.

Like Future Star, Knockout Royalty promo has two teams: Team 1 will be released on February 13th, and Team 2 will be released on February 20th. From the leaked information, the players for Knockout Royalty Team 1 are very strong.

Knockout Royalty Team 1 Leaks

Thanks to the card boosts from TOTY, the leaked lineup of Knockout Royalty Team 1 is quite strong, with even the lowest overall rating reaching 88 OVR. While they might not be the strongest, they are still decent fodder cards.

A significant portion of the leaked Team 1 players have two Playstyle+ cards. Based on Future Star's market trading experience, any player with two Playstyle+ cards can fetch more FC 26 coins, even if their Playstyle+ stats aren't particularly high.

The following is the leaked player roster:

Team 1 Active Players

92 OVR Vinicius Junior LW

• PAC: 97
• SHO: 90
• PAS: 83
• DRI: 94
• DEF: 32
• PHY: 77
• Playstyle+: Finesse Shot+ & Quick Step+

92 OVR Rodri CDM

• PAC: 85
• SHO: 82
• PAS: 92
• DRI: 90
• DEF: 88
• PHY: 87
• Playstyle+: Tiki Taka+ & Bruiser+

91 OVR Antoine Griezmann ST

• PAC: 90
• SHO: 92
• PAS: 92
• DRI: 92
• DEF: 63
• PHY: 80
• Playstyle+: Finesse Shot+ & Technical+

91 OVR Khvicha Kvaratskhelia LW

• PAC: 92
• SHO: 87
• PAS: 88
• DRI: 92
• DEF: 63
• PHY: 85
• Playstyle+: Low Driven Shot+ & Quick Step+

91 OVR Kai Havertz ST

• PAC: 90
• SHO: 91
• PAS: 88
• DRI: 92
• DEF: 60
• PHY: 87
• Playstyle+: Low Driven Shot+ & Quick Step+

91 OVR Enzo Fernández CM

• PAC: 85
• SHO: 85
• PAS: 93
• DRI: 92
• DEF: 82
• PHY: 84
• Playstyle+: Incisive Pass+ & Long Ball Pass+

90 OVR Marta CAM

• PAC: 87
• SHO: 90
• PAS: 91
• DRI: 93
• DEF: 72
• PHY: 81
• Playstyle+: Finesse Shot+ & Gamechanger+

90 OVR Micky van de Ven CB

• PAC: 94
• SHO: 52
• PAS: 70
• DRI: 81
• DEF: 88
• PHY: 88
• Playstyle+: Intercept+ & Quick Step+

90 OVR Vivianne Miedema ST

• PAC: 90
• SHO: 90
• PAS: 88
• DRI: 91
• DEF: 38
• PHY: 86
• Playstyle+: Finesse Shot+ & First Touch+

90 OVR Victor Osimhen ST

• PAC: 96
• SHO: 91
• PAS: 73
• DRI: 86
• DEF: 47
• PHY: 88
• Playstyle+: Gamechanger+ & Rapid+

89 OVR Bruno Guimarães CM

• PAC: 84
• SHO: 80
• PAS: 87
• DRI: 87
• DEF: 85
• PHY: 87
• Playstyle+: Incisive Pass+

89 OVR Alphonso Davies LB

• PAC: 95
• SHO: 80
• PAS: 84
• DRI: 87
• DEF: 82
• PHY: 84
• Playstyle+: Quick Step+

88 OVR Emiliano Martínez GK

• DIV: 87
• HAN: 86
• KIC: 86
• REF: 88
• SPD: 60
• POS: 90
• Playstyle+: Rush Out+

88 OVR Benjamin Pavard CB

• PAC: 84
• SHO: 72
• PAS: 84
• DRI: 84
• DEF: 90
• PHY: 86
• Playstyle+: Anticipate+

87 OVR Ferland Mendy LB

• PAC: 91
• SHO: 70
• PAS: 80
• DRI: 81
• DEF: 84
• PHY: 90
• Playstyle+: Quick Step+

86 OVR Ahmet Oğuz RB

• PAC: 87
• SHO: 74
• PAS: 82
• DRI: 84
• DEF: 85
• PHY: 90
• Playstyle+: Block+

Team 1 Icons

94 OVR Mia Hamm ST

• PAC: 93
• SHO: 94
• PAS: 90
• DRI: 93
• DEF: 55
• PHY: 82
• Playstyle+: Low Driven Shot+ & Rapid+

93 OVR Andrés Iniesta CM

• PAC: 86
• SHO: 87
• PAS: 94
• DRI: 94
• DEF: 82
• PHY: 80
• Playstyle+: Incisive Pass+ & Tiki Taka+

93 OVR Gerd Müller ST

• PAC: 90
• SHO: 93
• PAS: 80
• DRI: 88
• DEF: 45
• PHY: 77
• Playstyle+: Finesse Shot+ & First Touch+

92 OVR Lotta Schelin ST

• PAC: 93
• SHO: 92
• PAS: 88
• DRI: 91
• DEF: 48
• PHY: 84
• Playstyle+: Finesse Shot+ & Incisive Pass+

91 OVR Steffi Jones CB

• PAC: 84
• SHO: 65
• PAS: 81
• DRI: 76
• DEF: 94
• PHY: 90
• Playstyle+: Anticipate+ & Block+

90 OVR Steven Gerrard CM

• PAC: 85
• SHO: 91
• PAS: 91
• DRI: 87
• DEF: 81
• PHY: 85
• Playstyle+: Incisive Pass+ & Long Ball Pass+

Team 1 Heroes

88 OVR Ole Gunnar Solskjær ST

• PAC: 88
• SHO: 90
• PAS: 80
• DRI: 87
• DEF: 47
• PHY: 73
• Playstyle+: Finesse Shot+ & Technical+

88 OVR Dirk Kuyt CAM

• PAC: 87
• SHO: 90
• PAS: 85
• DRI: 88
• DEF: 72
• PHY: 84
• Playstyle+: Low Driven Shot+ & Tiki Taka+

How to Invest?

TOTW Cards

Based on market trends over the past two weeks, TOTW Cards remain the safest and most sustainable investment option. While the return on a single card won't be high, it's very safe and generally appreciates steadily.

Besides being fodder cards, their most important function is their potential participation in future Evolution events. Once these TOTY cards become one of the best choices for EVO, their market value will increase.

Invest in Common Cards with Caution

Currently, common cards with 84 OVR are priced around 16,500 coins. These cards are usually not the best choice for Evolution and have almost no other use besides being fodder cards, so their value may soon drop. It's recommended that you concentrate your coins on TOTY cards with unique attributes or low total scarcity.

At the same time, remember to reserve some coins, as the market is often most volatile at the beginning of a new promotion, with many intensive short-term trades. Quick flips on new promotional cards at this time can allow you to make a profit.

That concludes this promotion. Knockout Royalty Team 1 will be bringing it soon; we hope you get your desired player cards.

FC 26 Future Stars is the latest event launched by the official FIFA team on January 30th. This event aims to showcase young, promising, and widely considered players, issuing enhancement cards to highlight their potential.

Currently, Future Stars Team 1 is nearing its end, with Team 2 set to launch on February 6th at 6 PM GMT. Because the player roster will only be revealed when the event officially begins, it has once again fueled player curiosity and speculation about the new lineup.

Team 2 Roster Leaked

Although the official Team 2 roster has not yet been announced, numerous leaked lists have surfaced. Based on these leaked lists, we can speculate on which players FIFA 26 is primarily focused on, and players can also make bold predictions about which players might be added.

Team 2 leaked roster

• Fermin Lopez (Barcelona)
• Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich)
• Nico Paz (Como)
• Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid)
• Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal)
• Carlos Baleba (Brighton)
• Luka Vuskovic (Hamburg)
• Olivia Smith (Arsenal)
• Alberto Moleiro (Villarreal)
• Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco)
• Esmee Brugts (Barcelona)
• Manaka Matsukubo (North Carolina Courage)
• Wesley (Roma)
• Jaden Philogene (Ipswich)
• Can Uzun (Eintracht Frankfurt)
• Eli Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth)
• Mamadou Sangare (RC Lens)
• Wilson Odobert (Spurs)
• Ricardo Pepi (PSV)
• Riley Tiernan (Angel City)
• Loreen Bender (Bayer Leverkusen)
• Abdul Fatawu (Leicester City)
• Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo)
• Joe Gelhardt (Hull City)
• Pele (Icon)
• Dennis Bergkamp
• Camille Abily (Icon)
• Andriy Shevchenko (Icon)
• Gareth Bale (Icon)
• Paul Scholes (Icon)
• Eden Hazard (Hero)
• Ricardo Carvalho (Hero)
• Alex Scott (Hero)

Player Characteristics

Based on the leaked list above, it's clear that these players have already demonstrated their skills and style on the pitch. However, the official team believes their true potential hasn't been fully realized, and they intend to showcase their maximum potential through the special cards in EA FC 26 Future Stars.

The players on the list are primarily in core positions such as central midfielders, wingers, and center forwards, with almost no functional substitutes.

Further subdividing these players, they can be roughly divided into the following categories.

Rising Star

Fermin Lopez (Barcelona)

• Characteristics: High-intensity forward-moving central midfielder, energetic running, strong long-range shooting ability

Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich)

• Characteristics: Fast, explosive, excellent at dribbling down the flanks

Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid)

• Characteristics: Tall and long-armed, excellent at distributing the ball from center-back

Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal)

• Characteristics: Can play center-back and left-back, strong in physical battles, good game reading ability

Technical Player

Nico Paz (Como)

• Characteristics: Refined technique, excellent passing vision, good control of the tempo

Alberto Moleiro (Villarreal)

• Characteristics: Excellent at dribbling down the flanks, outstanding creativity

Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco)

• Characteristics: Left-footed, excellent at cutting inside and passing key passes

Pacey Winger

Carlos Baleba (Brighton)

• Strengths: Explosive power, excellent forward-moving ability

Wilson Odobert (Spurs)

• Strengths: High speed, strong vertical breakthrough ability

Abdul Fatawu (Leicester City)

• Strengths: Long-range shooting, left-footed, strong breakthrough ability

Striker Ricardo Pepi (PSV)

• Strengths: Good goal-scoring instinct, excellent positioning

Joe Gelhardt (Hull City)

• Strengths: High fighting spirit, quick retreat and linking up attacks

Eli Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth)

• Strengths: High speed, young, potential for growth

Women's Soccer Players (combines technique with pace)

Olivia Smith (Arsenal)

• Strengths: Explosiveness, strong decision-making in front of goal

Esmee Brugts (Barcelona)

• Strengths: Technical winger, strong ability to link up play

Manaka Matsukubo (North Carolina Courage)

• Strengths: Agile, excellent off-the-ball movement

Riley Tiernan (Angel City) / Loreen Bender (Bayer Leverkusen)

• Strengths: Young, fast, high growth potential

Based on the currently leaked FC 26 Future Stars Team 2 roster, it's easy to see that Team 2 players cover multiple positions and have distinct strengths. Combining this with their real-world performance, players can deduce their approximate roles in the game. Players can use this information to develop their own ideas and quickly build their own team after the official roster is announced.

How to obtain player special cards?

Everyone is undoubtedly interested in FUT 26 Future Stars Team 2, but how do you obtain player special cards? This requires waiting for the official roster announcement, the relevant player cards will appear in card packs, which you can choose to draw from. Alternatively, you can participate in SBC for a chance to obtain specific cards. If you want to further enrich your gaming experience, you can also try to acquire player packs, consumables, and other items, but this requires having enough FC 26 coins.

Player Opinions

Most players have high expectations for FC 26 Future Stars because the event is highly engaging. Players can learn about more outstanding players through the event list and experience the joy of participating in their development. Especially in past events, the event successfully predicted the rise of players like Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham, and players hope their chosen players will become future football stars.

EA FC 26 Future Stars also serves as a bridge connecting players and fans. Athletes feel honored and encouraged to be included in the future stars list, while fans are happy to see their favorite players grow stronger.

Finally, let's all look forward to the announcement of the Team 2 roster.

With the end of Team of the Year promotion, Future Star Promo launches this Friday, along with FUT 26 Season 5 France '98 Battle Pass. 

This is a very short pass, but its generous rewards have led many players to consider it the most valuable season yet. So, should you unlock Premium Pass?

Season 5 Pass Rewards

Season 5 Battle Pass still features a Free Pass and a Premium Pass. Although the rewards are limited to 30 tiers, the quality of the rewards hasn't been reduced; in fact, it's arguably improved, especially in terms of players and EVO. Unlocking Premium Pass still requires 1000 FC Points or 500,000 FC 26 coins.

This Season Pass is themed around 1998 World Cup victory (France beat Brazil 3-0), so the rewarded players are primarily from France and Brazil. These players have excellent chemistry and can become key players on the team.

The following are specific rewards:

Free Pass Rewards

1. 5×80+ Rare Gold Players Pack, Custom
2. 8×80+ Rare Gold Players Pack
3. 1 of 3 82+ France/Brazil Player Pick
4. 3× 82+ Rare Gold Players Pack, Marc Casadó
5. Ibrahim Maza, Lucas Digne
6. 15× 82+ Rare Gold Players Pack, Agile Maestro [SP6]
7. 5× 82+ Rare Gold Players Pack, Glitchwave Stadium
8. Sharpshooter [SP8], Dribble Mastery [SP8]
9. 3× 83+ Rare Gold Players Pack, Glitchwave TIFO
10. 3× 83+ Rare Gold Players Pack, Glitchwave TIFO
11. 5× 83+ Rare Gold Players Pack
12. Rémy Cabella, 15× 82+ Rare Gold Players Pack
13. 1 of 4 82+ France/Brazil Player Pick
14. 5× 83+ Rare Gold Players Pack
15. Kenza Dali, Delphine Cascarino
16. 7×83+ Rare Gold Players Pack
17. 15× 83+ Rare Gold Players Pack, 8× 84+ Rare Gold Players Pack
18. 1 of 3 83+ France/Brazil Player Pick
19. 1 of 4 84+ France/Brazil Player Pick
20. Mohamed Simakan
21. Intercept Engine [SP21], Relentless Shield [SP21]
22. Glitchwave TIFO, Custom
23. 15× 84+ Rare Gold Players Pack, 4× 85+ Rare Gold Players Pack
24. World Tour Cosmetic [SP24]
25. Marie Katoto
26. Season Ladder Excellence [SP26]
27. 8× 85+ Rare Gold Players Pack or 25× 83+ Rare Gold Players Pack
28. New Spark [SP28]
29. 8× 86+ Rare Gold Players Pack, or 20× 84+ Rare Gold Players Pack
30. Michael Owen, or 5× 88+ Rare Gold Players Pack

Premium Pass Rewards

1. 11× 83+ Rare Gold Players Pack, Precision Passer [SP+1], Shadow
2. 10× 79+ Rare Gold Players Pack, Custom Kit, Custom Crest
3. 3000SP
4. 5× 82+ Rare Gold Players Pack
5. 7×82+ Rare Gold Players Pack
6. 3× 83+ Rare Gold Players Pack, Digital Dazzle Trophy, Custom Ball
7. Enzo Le Fée, 15× 82+ Rare Gold Players Pack
8. 4× 83+ Rare Gold Players Pack
9. 5× 83+ Rare Gold Players Pack
10. Burst Boost [SP+10]
11. 6× 83+ Rare Gold Players Pack
12. Melween N'Dongala
13. Wall in the Back [SP+13]
14. 3× 84+ Rare Gold Players Pack
15. Sandy Baltimore
16. 11× 84+ Rare Gold Players Pack, 11× 83+ Rare Gold Players Pack
17. 4× 84+ Rare Gold Players Pack
18. CAM Command [SP+18] & Versatile Striker [SP+18]
19. Digital Dazzle VIP
20. 3000SP
21. Marcus Thuram
22. 5×84+ Rare Gold Players Pack
23. 6× 84+ Rare Gold Players Pack or 3× 85+ Rare Gold Players Pack
24. Bulking Season [SP+24]
25. Marcel Desailly
26. Time Warp Cosmetic [SP+26] & In All Areas [SP+26]
27. 4×85+ Rare Gold Players Pack or 7× 84+ Rare Gold Players Pack
28. Anticipate+ [SP+28]
29. 6× 86+ Rare Gold Players Pack or 8× 85+ Rare Gold Players Pack or 30× 83+ Rare Gold Players Pack
30. Emmanuel Petit or 6× 87+ Rare Gold Players Pack

Early Pass Rewards

The initial free rewards are quite generous, with a 5× 80+ Rare Gold Players Pack given at level 1, and subsequent tiers also include high-quality card packs such as 83+11.

Mid Pass Rewards

Free Pass rewards remain substantial in the mid-game. For example, at level 23, you can obtain 15 x 84+ Rare Gold Players Packs, giving you the chance to acquire decent players beyond just fodder cards. In comparison, Premium Pass reward packs (such as 5 x 84) seem relatively ordinary.

89 OVR Mohamed Simakan World Tour, a level 20 reward, is a highly regarded center-back card with nearly a complete defensive playing style.

89 OVR Delphine Cascarino World Tour (Free Pass) and 90 OVR Sandy Baltimore World Tour (Premium Pass) at level 15 are also two very good cards. They can be played as a left winger and a right winger respectively, and both cards have a 5-star skill.

Late Pass Rewards

At level 30 of Free Pass, players can choose between 90 OVR Michael Owen Icon and 5 x 88+ Rare Gold Players Packs. Michael Owen boasts a 90 shooting rating and Finesse Shot+ and Quick Step+ skills, making him a formidable striker.

Premium Pass's level 30 reward is either 91 OVR Emmanuel Petit Icon or 6 x 87+ Rare Gold Players Packs. Emmanuel Petit is a powerful defender card, and his Intercept+ and Tiki Taka+ skills are very useful defensively.

Should You Unlock Premium Pass?

This Future Star Pass offers high-quality rewards, with an exceptionally rich selection of evolutions and very strong players. The two icons awarded later in the game can even be used as your starting players.

If you want to unlock Premium Pass, using FC 26 points is more cost-effective, allowing you to save coins for the transfer market.

For free players with 500,000 idle coins, the return on investment for this Premium Pass looks quite good, so you might consider unlocking it.

Overall, Season 5 Pass rewards are significantly better than those of previous seasons, with the rewards for unlocking the Premium Pass being even better. However, the player pack rewards offered by Premium Pass are noticeably weaker than free pass at many levels, so having only the free pass won't result in a significant loss.

All players for EA FC 26 TOTY have been revealed. Now it's time to open card packs to acquire these top players.

SBCs, Evolutions, and Objects, etc., FUT 26 offers many ways to collect card packs, but you might not know where to start. So let's systematically introduce how you should acquire these top player cards.

Priority Objectives

Many players overlook an important objective: Ultimate Gauntlet. You should prioritize completing it because it yields a large number of high-rated card packs, and the final reward is a 7x 86+ Rare Gold Players Pack. Even if the cards aren't from TOTY, they are still valuable.

In addition, while Live Event missions can be a bit tedious, they are still worth completing for a 3x 86+ Rare Gold Players Pack. Gold Stand Cup also offers a 3x 86+ Rare Gold Players Pack. In short, you currently have a large number of objectives to complete.

Daily SBCs

Currently, you only need to focus on the following four SBCs:

• Daily Login: Submit one Bronze Card to receive one Gold Pack, and receive additional Evolution items or more packs based on your progress.
• Bronze Upgrade: Very simple. Submit 5 Bronze Cards to this SBC, and you will receive 5 Bronze Packs.
• Silver Upgrade: Same as above, submit 1 Silver Card to receive 1 Silver Pack.
• Daily Gold Common Upgrade: Requires 1 Bronze Card and 1 Silver Card (obtained by opening the packs mentioned above). After submission, you will receive 11x Gold Player Packs.

These Upgrade SBCs can be repeated 5 times, meaning you can ultimately obtain 55 Gold Cards for free (5 Rare, 50 Common).

League Upgrades

After completing the daily basic SBCs, you need to focus on the following three upgrade challenges. While there are other add-ons, these three are the most crucial:

• Mixed League Upgrade
• Premium Mixed League Upgrade
• 5 of 10 78+ Player Pick

How to Categorize Player Cards?

Before starting to upgrade SBCs, please open all the gold packs you obtain. This is to find specific player cards to maintain the subsequent upgrade cycle. Players obtained from Gold Packs can be roughly divided into two categories:

• League SBC Related Cards: Player cards from specific leagues, which can be used in the corresponding Premium Mixed League Upgrade.
• Universal Upgrade Material Cards: Common Gold Players and Rare Gold Players, which can be used for other upgrades.

Common Gold Players can be used in League-Specific Gold Common Upgrades, which will reward you with 1 Rare Gold Player and 3 Common Gold Players (all from the selected league).

Rare Gold players can be used for a League-Specific Gold Rare Upgrade, which grants 3 Rare Gold players and approximately 8 regular Gold players.

Player cards from the 8 core leagues (regardless of Bronze, Silver, or Gold) should be reserved for their respective SBCs. Any player card not belonging to these 8 core leagues can be freely used for any other Upgrade.

• Roshn Saudi League
• Serie BKT
• Superliga
• Bundesliga 2
• Ligue 2 BKT
• LALIGA HyperMotion
• MLS
• EFL

How to Handle High-rated Players?

Before embarking on a large-scale League Upgrade, prioritize completing 5 of 10 78+ OVR Player Pick SBC. These provide a large number of high-rated fodder players, such as those rated 82, 83, 84, 85, or even higher. These high-rated players can be used in other high-value SBCs, such as:

• TOTW SBCs
• 2 x 86+ Upgrade
• 10 x 83+ Upgrade
• Specific player SBCs you wish to build

All players rated 82 and above should only be used in the above SBCs. Players rated 81 and below should be used in the previously mentioned League Upgrade or Standard Upgrade.

Shop And Other Resources

In addition to the above, there are some noteworthy rewards in the in-game shop, such as 10 Coin Packs and 2500 Coin Player Pick Packs.

10 Coin Packs, costing only 10 FC 26 coins, can be exchanged for 3 rare gold players. Sometimes you might even get special cards, and even without them, they can provide materials for your upgrade cycle. After opening packs, follow the same classification principles to handle players.

Additionally, the shop may also offer players and packs for 3000 coins, which are very valuable because a single pack contains almost all the materials needed to complete a double 86+ SBC or ten 83+ SBCs.

In addition, don't overlook event campaigns, which contain many easily obtainable card packs. Challenges under the SBC tab (which rewards Prime Gold Players Packs) and Marquee Matchups contain a large number of card packs, and we recommend completing them.

If you consistently complete the above daily, your club will accumulate a large number of player cards, allowing you to begin cycling through all other upgrades and SBCs. After completing the above steps, you can open card packs obtained through other means and disassemble player cards using the same logic: league-related cards for league SBCs, and cards with 82+ points for high-value SBCs.

EA FC 26 Team of the Year event is about to begin. This official event, held annually in January, aims to recognize the best players of the year. However, before the full TOTY lineup is released, FC 26 will launch TOTY Warm Up event.

Warm Up event is currently underway. This short but valuable event includes various objectives, Live Events, evolution items, and rewards, all designed to help you accumulate card packs and strengthen your player lineup.

So now is the perfect time to accumulate high-value card packs and enhancement items. Below, I will introduce the key information about this Team of the Year Warm Up in detail.

What is TOTY Warm Up?

TOTY Warm Up is a limited-time promotional event held by FIFA 26, launched before the official Team of the Year lineup event. This Warm Up helps you prepare for the official launch of TOTY. Complete specific tasks to earn card packs and other valuable items, preparing for the official release of Team of the Year cards in the game.

This Warm Up event includes the following:

• A Live Event mode with objectives directly linked to rewards;
• Evolutions that allow you to upgrade specific players;
• Completing objectives and SBCs will reward you with card packs and consumables.

The focus of Warm Up is accumulating value, especially card packs that you should save and open after TOTY officially launch, as opening them too early will significantly reduce your chances of obtaining Team of the Year items.

How to effectively participate in the event?

To effectively participate in this Warm Up, you can first find and participate in Live Events mode in the game. However, please note that not all players can participate in this event. You need to meet the following team requirements:

• You must have at least four players with an OVR of 88 or higher;
• The player with the highest OVR in the team cannot exceed 86.

These strict requirements are designed to create a competitive yet accessible platform for players to successfully complete the objectives.

• Note: This Warm Up event is time-limited, so remember to complete it before the official Team of the Year launch.

TOTY Warm Up Missions and Rewards

Warm Up event features six mission objectives. Completing these objectives will reward you with various untradeable card packs and evolution items. All of these items will be very useful when Team of the Year is released, so it's recommended that you save them for the official event.

Here are the specific mission objectives and rewards:

Play 1:

• Complete one match in TOTY Warm Up Live Event
• Reward: A 5x 81+ Rare Gold Players Pack

Score 1:

• Score 1 goal in TOTY Warm Up Live Event
• Reward: A Cosmetic Evolution

Play 3:

• Complete 3 matches in TOTY Warm Up Live Event
• Reward: A 5x 82+ Rare Gold Players Pack

Score in 6:

• Score a goal in 6 different matches in TOTY Warm Up Live Event
• Reward: A PS/PS+ Evolution

Win 6:

• Win 6 matches in TOTY Warm Up Live Event
• Reward: A 2x 84+ Rare Gold Players Pack

Score in 12:

• Score a goal in 12 different matches in TOTY Warm Up Live Event
• Reward: A 2x 84+ Rare Gold Players Pack Pack

Each match you play will count towards multiple objectives, so even if you can't complete all of them at once, you'll still reap rewards as long as you participate.

Although there are 6 objectives in this event, you only need to complete 5, reducing the pressure.

Warming Up Evolutions

Note that this evolution isn't free. If you want to upgrade your player, you'll need 10,000 FC 26 coins to begin the evolution journey.

Player Total Upgrades:

• Overall: +1
• Pace: +2 (Max 87)
• Shooting: +1 (Max 87)
• Passing: +2 (Max 87)
• Dribbling: +2 (Max 87)
• Defending: +1 (Max 87)
• Physical: +1 (Max 87)

Evolution Requirements:

• Overall: Max 86
• Not Rarity: World Tour Silver Stars
• Not Position: Goalkeeper

Evolution Tasks:

• Level 1: Play at least 2 semi-professional matches (or Rush, Rivals, Champions, Live Events modes) in Squad Battles mode using an EVO player active in the game.
• Level 2: Play 1 match in Squad Battles mode at the lowest semi-professional difficulty (or Rush, Rivals, Champions, Live Events modes) using an EVO player active in the game.

Since this evolution is a paid event, you'll need to carefully consider which of your player cards are suitable for participation.

Recommended cards include Cristiano Ronaldo's Gold Rare card (OVR 85) and Fermin's Winter Wildcards SBC card (OVR 86).

Tips for participating in Warm Up Event

1. Participate in matches daily

Even if you're busy, logging in and participating in a few Live Events will quickly accumulate progress towards your goals.

2. Build a suitable player team

Build a team that meets the event's rating requirements to minimize stress and achieve your objectives.

3. Save your card packs wisely

This is the most important tip for participating in Warm Up event: don't open card packs immediately after obtaining them.

It's best to wait until Team of the Year event officially launches, when card packs will contain Team of the Year players and other special cards.

By focusing on Live Event objectives, using Evolution wisely, and stockpiling card packs during promotional events, you can strengthen your team.

In any case, make the most of TOTY Warm Up event at FC 26, and good luck getting the cards you want!

EA FC 26 will launch one of its most important promotional events of 2026, Team of the Year, in mid-January. The official pre-promotion has begun 10 days in advance.

Player voting has begun, and new players and icons may be added during this promotion. Let's take a look at what's worth paying attention to and looking forward to.

TOTY Event Guide

TOTY promotion allows players to vote for the best players in world football in 2025. These players will receive special edition TOTY cards with extremely high ratings and attribute boosts, typically becoming one of the strongest cards of the season.

Players can vote in-game or on the official website to choose who should be included in Team of the Year. After voting ends, the official team will combine community votes and their own selections to form the final FC 26 Men's and Women's TOTY 11s.

Loan Players

Voting for Team of the Year is now officially underway. Meanwhile, players will be able to obtain a free loan option for a group of Team of the Year nominees, similar to FC 25 last year, but on a larger scale. Players will be able to obtain:

• 3 attackers on loan from 27 nominees
• 3 midfielders on loan from 35 nominees
• 4 defenders on loan from 20 nominees

These are not single-match loans, but unlimited loans for 7 days. This means that, theoretically, each player can build a squad almost entirely composed of Team of the Year nominees and use them freely for the following week.

While this may diminish the uniqueness of Team of the Year cards themselves, it is likely a strategy adopted by the organizers to increase player activity.

TOTY Date

A new feature of this year's TOTY promotion is the introduction of TOTY Men's and Women's Captains. Here is the expected event timeline:

• January 7th: Voting begins.
• January 16th: Attacker lineup released, usually including TOTY Icons.
• January 18th: Midfield lineup released.
• January 20th: Defenders and goalkeeper lineup released.
• January 22nd: Full TOTY Squad released, along with TOTY Icon Team 2.
• Late January: Event nears its end, all TOTY Team and Icon cards are available for acquisition, and Honorable Mentions cards are released.

Lineup Predictions

Pina is almost certain to be included, and this card has been a beast in FC 26. If her TOTY item receives meta PlayStyle+, this card will almost completely disrupt the game's balance.

Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are again nominated. If the voting is entirely community-driven, they also have a strong chance of making the starting eleven.

In terms of specific results, voting results are sometimes not entirely based on a player's actual performance in 2025. Players may vote for their favorite players to obtain the corresponding gold cards, making the actual results unpredictable.

TOTY SBCs

It is predictable that a large number of SBCs will be available during TOTY promotion. For example, FUT 25 featured various upgraded SBCs, such as 83+ x5 Attackers Upgrades, 81+ x2 Upgrades, and 84+ x5 Upgrades.

82+ x20 Upgrade Repeatable SBC

The most sensational content in FC 25 is undoubtedly 82+ x20 Upgrade Repeatable SBC. This SBC requires one 83-rated lineup and one 84-rated lineup, and upon completion, it grants a pack containing 20 82+ OVR players, with absolutely no limit on the number of times it can be used.

This SBC completely revolutionized the game's ecosystem, allowing players to continuously use materials obtained from packs to complete new SBCs and acquire a large number of Team of the Year cards.

By spending several hours working on this SBC, you could eventually obtain a massive number of card packs, with many players using it to acquire several TOTY cards. The high-rated players it produced also made completing other large SBCs much easier.

While this SBC gave ordinary players the opportunity to obtain top-tier cards, it undoubtedly harmed the game's long-term vitality. The promotional cards released couldn't compete with Team of the Year cards, leading to a decline in game popularity.

Given the developers' current urgent need to increase player engagement, they are highly likely to release this SBC again this year. It's expected to launch with the full roster release, allowing players to invest time in it again.

Premier League Upgrades SBCs

You should also keep your eyes on Premier League Upgrades. Previously, these packs only included male football league players. However, the game has now added female football players, doubling the card pool. While the number of TOTY players has increased, the number of regular gold cards has increased even more, diluting the actual probability of drawing a TOTY card.

If the developers intend to adjust Premier League Upgrades Packs, they should either release the men's and women's league upgrade packs separately, or significantly increase the number of rare cards in the mixed league packs to improve the odds of winning. Otherwise, opening this pack will be a significant waste of FC 26 coins.

TOTY Evolution

The next thing to look forward to is TOTY Blueprint Evolution. EA FC 25's TOTY Blueprint Evolution had extremely high attribute caps and could add multiple Playstyle+ cards. This was a very popular system that allowed players to personalize and enhance their club's players. Considering that Evolution system is a major pillar of FC 26, this evolution is very likely to return.

This year's TOTY packs should be very exciting, and many players believe they should wait until the full rosters are released before opening packs, as the card pool will be the most complete. However, during the full event, the actual drop rate of packs may actually decrease, so it is recommended to spread out your pack openings throughout the event.