EA SPORTSEA SPORTS FC 26 is set to be the next game in EA’s long-running annual football franchise, so here’s everything we know about it so far.
With the 2024/25 football season over and the lifecycle of EA FC 25 coming to an end, fans are already starting to look ahead to the future. A new entry in the series arrives every single year like clockwork, and 2025 will be no exception.
With the recent reveal of both Standard and Ultimate edition covers, we’ve got all the details football fans have been waiting to hear about, including the release date and pre-order bonuses.
EA FC 26 release date
EA recently confirmed that their newest entry – EA FC 26 – will be released worldwide on Friday, September 26, 2025.
However, EA Play members and those who purchase the Ultimate Edition will get access to the game on September 19, meaning they’ll have a week of early access.
EA SPORTSCover stars
Sweden legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been revealed as the Ultimate Edition cover star for EA FC 26. The prolific striker was one of the most formidable goal scorers in Europe before he retired in 2023, shining in spells for PSG, AC Milan, Inter Milan, and many more.
This announcement also confirms that Zlatan will return to the game as an Icon card in Ultimate Team, just two years since he last appeared.
Meanwhile, the Standard Edition cover stars will be Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala. The England international retains his spot on the box from last year, while the Bayern Munich starlet is making his debut appearance.
Platforms
EA FC 26 Standard and Ultimate editions will be available for:
- PlayStation 5
- PlayStation 4
- Xbox Series S|X
- Xbox One
- PC
- Amazon Luna
- Nintendo Switch
- Nintendo Switch 2
Editions & pre-order bonuses
Just like every year, two editions will be available for purchase. The Standard edition, which includes the base game, will have a cost of $69.99. The Ultimate edition will be $99.99, and besides the game, it will include exclusive bonuses and a 7-day early access.
Pre-orders are now live, and here are the bonuses you’ll receive in each:
| STANDARD | ULTIMATE |
|---|---|
| 1 Archetype Unlock Consumable | 1 Archetype Unlock Consumable |
| 2 Double AXP for 10 Matches Consumables | 2 Double AXP for 10 Matches Consumables |
| 3 ICON Career Players | 3 ICON Career Players |
| 5-Star Coach in Manager Career | 5-Star Coach in Manager Career |
| 5-Star Youth Scout in Manager Career | 5-Star Youth Scout in Manager Career |
| Manager Live Challenge Content | Manager Live Challenge Content |
| Football Ultimate Team 92+ OVR Icon (Untradeable) for EA SPORTS FC 25 | – |
| – | 1 of 15 Icon (Untradeable)* |
| – | 1 of 5 Player Pick 93+ Icon in EA FC 25* |
| – | 99 Shooting Evolution in EA FC 25* |
| – | 6,000 FC Points Delivered Over Two Months (4500 FC Points over 2 months for Nintendo Switch players) |
| – | Season 1 Premium Pass |
| – | Additional Evolution Slot |
| – | Up to Seven Days of Early Access |
Note: Bonuses marked with an ‘*’ can only be obtained if you secure your copy before August 26.
New key features
These are some of the key features EA FC 26 will offer players:
- Refined Gameplay Fundamentals: FC 26 brings smoother dribbling, faster runs, and next-gen goalie AI. Expect more agile player movement and quicker turns, cleaner tackles with fewer bounce-back possessions, improved attacking runs from AI teammates, the return of Low Driven Shots triggered by double-tapping the shoot button, and the replacement of Timed Finishing with precision-based shooting.
- Authentic & Competitive Gameplay Presets: Choose between ‘Competitive’ for high-stakes FUT and Clubs action or ‘Authentic’ for a true-to-life Career Mode; both built on revamped core mechanics.
- Experience Manager Career Like Never Before: Manager Live introduces real-world inspired challenges in a dynamic hub that keeps your journey fresh with new scenarios all season.
- Archetypes: Build your player around football icons with brand-new Archetypes in Clubs and Career. Unlock perks and upgrades to define your playstyle.
- New Live Events and Tournament Modes: Test your squad in all-new Live Events, Tournaments, and a refreshed Rivals and Champs lineup in FUT.
- Unrivalled Authenticity: With 20,000+ players, 750+ teams, and 35+ leagues, FC 26 delivers unmatched realism, powered by over 300 football partners.
- New accessibility and customization features: A new High Contrast Mode lets players fully customize team colors, ball visibility, shadows, and pitch saturation to improve visual clarity.
DEXERTOLicences
One of EA FC’s biggest selling points is the unrivaled number of licensed leagues and clubs, with EA FC 25 featuring 38 different divisions from around the world. There’s no news yet about any new additions, but you can expect all of the biggest names, including the Premier League, Bundesliga, and LaLiga, to appear.
However, two huge clubs that won’t be licensed are AC Milan and Inter Milan. The two Italian giants have an exclusive deal with Konami to appear in eFootball, so they will be included as Milano FC and Lombardia FC with generic kits and stadiums once again.
There may also be good news for German football fans, as the door is open for Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena to return for the first time in seven years.
While the club itself has remained part of the roster thanks to EA’s deal with the Bundesliga, its home ground has been missing due to an agreement with eFootball. However, Konami confirmed that the deal had ended and Bayern had been removed, so don’t be surprised to see the iconic venue return.
Spotify integration
The EA FC or FIFA series is well known for its soundtracks, but the devs are testing full Spotify support that will let you listen to your own songs mid-game. It’s already been tested in select regions with EA FC 25, but a worldwide rollout is planned, and leaks have hinted that FC 26 will be the time.
Once live, players will be able to select, skip, and pause their custom playlists through a built-in tab or using their phones. This should go a long way towards making those last-minute Squad Battle matches less of a grind.
New Icons leaked
Every new game in the franchise brings fresh Icons, footballing legends who return to Ultimate Team as special cards. The same will be true in FC 26, with leaks revealing that the following players are set to be introduced:
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic (confirmed)
- Andreas Iniesta
- Toni Kroos
- Marcelo
- Giorgio Chiellini
- Alex Morgan
- Francesco Totti
- Oliver Kahn
- Caroline Seger
- Cha Bum-kun
- Steffi Jones
- Sissi
Trailers
The EA FC 26 reveal trailer was launched on July 16, 2025, on the EA SPORTS FC official YouTube channel:
That was everything we know about EA FC 26 so far, but we’ll be sure to keep this page updated with all the latest announcements when they happen.
In the meantime, be sure to check out all of the promos still to come in FC 25, as well as the best custom tactics to run.
