EA has officially unveiled EA SPORTS FC 26, showcasing a comprehensive trailer, a list of key gameplay changes, and full details on pre-order bonuses. The project promises to be the most significant update to the football series in recent years—from gameplay division to a new archetype system and improved physics.

Gameplay: Two Modes and Numerous Enhancements

FC 26 offers two distinct gameplay modes:

• Competitive — designed for online modes like FUT and Clubs. It offers maximum responsiveness, short animations, and quick passing.
• Authentic — focused on single-player, realism, and physics, including AI work, ball battles, and goalkeeper behavior.

This division allows for precise tuning of the gaming experience depending on the format. Additionally, improvements have been made to bounces, ball control, defense without possession, one-touch passing, positional play, dribbling, and player interaction logic.

New PlayStyles

FC 26 introduces four new PlayStyles, adding depth and variety:

• Precision Header
• Enforcer 
• Aerial Fortress
• Low Driven Power Shot

Each affects player behavior and can be a key element in building a squad.

Archetypes — A New Progression System in Clubs and Career

Archetypes are a new feature inspired by legendary footballers, appearing in Clubs and player career modes. They define a footballer's playstyle, unlock unique perks, and develop as you level up. This makes each player truly unique—both in roles on the field and in style.

Career: Live Challenges and Coach Market

In the coach career mode, Manager Live Challenges will be introduced—story-driven challenges with changing contexts, where players will make decisions, influence the season's course, and earn rewards, including items for FUT and new players.

Moreover, for the first time in EA SPORTS history, the game will feature a coach market, affecting tactical schemes, play styles, and club development depending on coach transfers between teams.

Ultimate Team and New Weekend League Level

Ultimate Team in FC 26 will include a new tournament format, revamped user interface, new competitive camera, and additional player development mechanics. The main innovation is the Weekend League: Challengers mode, designed for players from lower divisions. This is the second level of WL, created for easier entry into the competitive part of FUT.

FC 26 Pricing: How Much the Ultimate Edition Costs in Different Regions

EA has confirmed official prices for the Ultimate Edition—a version that includes early access, FC Points, bonus icons (legends), and in-game rewards.

Prices in key regions:

• UK — £100
• Europe — €110
• USA — $100
• Canada — $134

This is standard pricing for editions with expanded content. A standard version of the game is also expected at a lower price, but most bonuses will be exclusive to the Ultimate Edition.

What Players Get for Pre-Ordering the Ultimate Edition by August 26

Purchasing the Ultimate Edition by August 26 unlocks access to a range of exclusive rewards:

• One of 15 ICONS (including Zlatan Ibrahimović and Ronaldo) — right from the start of FUT
• One of five ICON 93+ (non-tradable)
• Player evolution through the Player Evolution system
• 7 days early access (Access from September 19, 2025)
• 6000 FC Points (distributed in three stages: start, end of the second month, end of the third month)
• Season 1 Premium Pass
• Additional slot for player evolution
• 3 career mode icons
• 5-star coach and scout
• Access to Manager Live Challenges
• One archetype consumable and one item to unlock an archetype in Clubs

Confirmed Licensed Leagues

FC 26 retains all major global leagues, including men's and women's tournaments. Full list:

• Premier League
• EFL (Championship, League One, League Two)
• Barclays Women's Super League
• La Liga
• Liga F
• Bundesliga
• Frauen-Bundesliga
• Serie A
• MLS
• NWSL
• Liga Portugal
• Belgian Pro League
• Eredivisie
• Liga Profesional de Fútbol (Argentina)
• Roshn Saudi League
• K League (South Korea)
• Chinese Super League
• A-League
• Liga 1 (Romania)
• Ekstraklasa (Poland)
• Austrian Bundesliga
• Swiss Super League
• Superliga (Denmark)
• Scottish Premiership
• SSE Airtricity League (Ireland)
• Allsvenskan (Sweden)
• Eliteserien (Norway)
• 3 Liga (Germany)

This is one of the most extensive licensing packages in the series' history.

New Icons

FC 26 will feature new football legends as icons, including:

• Zlatan Ibrahimović
• Oliver Kahn
• Alex Morgan
• Ronaldo (Brazilian)

Other icons will be announced later.

Tricks, Interface, and Other Details

FC 26 will feature new tricks: Elastico variation, Drag to chop, Trickster Rainbow. Weak foot indicators and skill level are now displayed in high resolution directly in the interface.

A new competitive camera in FUT has also been added, along with improved HUD element display.

Commentary: No Russian Commentators

For the first time since FIFA 07, the game will not feature Russian commentary—EA has dropped comments from Genich and Cherdantsev. However, the interface and subtitles in Russian will remain available.

Additional Innovations: What Else Was Shown but Not Detailed

Besides the key systems and modes, the FC 26 trailer featured dozens of less obvious but equally important changes. These details were not highlighted individually in the presentation, but they shape the overall sense of depth and refinement of the new game: from animations and AI behavior to interface improvements and visual solutions.

• New animation system for Premier League match starts in Google Earth style
• Increased responsiveness when changing direction (360° dribbling)
• New fatigue approach—players retain acceleration under manual control
• Position battles without the ball
• New high-contrast mode for the interface
• Tactical scheme balancing with AI improvements
• Unique perks within archetypes
• New playing roles (including inverted wing-backs)
• Goalkeeper behavior overhaul—smarter movements and predictions
• Support for One Frame Passing—pass executed immediately upon pressing
• Simplified tricks with minimal delay
• New camera type in FUT—competitive perspective

The next gameplay details will be released on July 22. In August, EA promises to reveal details of the Ultimate Team and Career modes. The full release of FC 26 will take place on September 26, but the Ultimate Edition will be available on September 19.