EA SPORTS FC™ 26: A New Era of Football Gaming Shaped by the Community
Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) has officially unveiled the highly anticipated EA SPORTS FC™ 26, showcasing its gameplay innovations, cover stars, and a renewed focus on community-driven features. Scheduled for a global release on September 26, 2025, this year’s installment is set to redefine football gaming with enhancements inspired directly by fan feedback, alongside an exciting lineup of new modes and features.
Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala Take Center Stage
This year’s cover athletes, Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala, represent a blend of generational talent and footballing excellence. Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham makes a triumphant return to the cover after his debut last year, while Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala becomes the first FC Bayern player to grace a global EA SPORTS FC cover. They join Zlatan Ibrahimović, who was announced earlier this week as the cover star for the Ultimate Edition.
For Bellingham, the honor is deeply personal. “It’s really nice to share this moment with Jamal,” he said, reflecting on their time together in the England Youth team. “Where I’m from, everyone knows the game, everyone plays it and talks about it so much. I’m grateful to be given the opportunity to be on the cover again.”
Musiala, meanwhile, expressed excitement about sharing the news with his younger brother, an avid fan of the series. “It’s something I always wanted growing up and it’s such a big part of football culture,” he shared. “Who knows, maybe I can still beat Jude at FC.”
Gameplay Innovations Powered by Community Feedback
At the heart of EA SPORTS FC 26 are sweeping gameplay improvements driven by feedback from the FC Community. These changes aim to deliver a more authentic, competitive, and customizable experience across all modes. Key highlights include:
- Refined Gameplay Fundamentals: Players can expect improved dribbling responsiveness, fluid movements, and explosive run curves. Goalkeepers have also been enhanced with reinforcement-learning-driven positioning, ensuring smarter saves and decision-making. Close-body volumetric animations add realism to physical interactions, while new Playstyles and Player Roles offer more versatility in building squads.
- Authentic & Competitive Gameplay Presets: Two distinct presets cater to different playstyles. The Competitive Gameplay preset is designed for high-stakes matches in Football Ultimate Team™ (FUT) and Clubs, offering consistency and responsiveness. Meanwhile, the Authentic Gameplay preset delivers the most realistic simulation of real-world football ever seen in Career Mode.
- Manager Live Challenges in Career Mode: A groundbreaking addition to Career Mode, Manager Live introduces a live hub filled with dynamic, variable-length challenges inspired by real-world events. This feature keeps players engaged throughout the season, providing fresh scenarios and objectives tied to actual football happenings.
- Archetypes: A brand-new feature in FC 26, Archetypes allow players to customize their avatars with unique classes inspired by football legends. By upgrading attributes and unlocking Archetype Perks, gamers can create truly individualized players that stand out on the pitch.
- Live Events and Tournaments in FUT: Fans will enjoy testing their dream teams in new Live Events and Tournament modes, alongside revamped Rivals and Champs experiences. These additions bring even more depth and variety to FUT, keeping the mode fresh and engaging.
Unmatched Authenticity Across Leagues and Stadiums
True to its reputation, EA SPORTS FC 26 boasts unparalleled authenticity, featuring over 20,000 athletes, 750+ clubs and national teams, more than 120 stadiums, and 35+ leagues. With support from over 300 global football partners, the game captures the essence of the sport like never before.
“Our ongoing commitment is to build this game with and for our community,” said John Shepherd, VP & GM of EA SPORTS FC. “We’re players too, and that shared passion drives everything we do. This year brings an overhauled gameplay experience, new Tournaments and Live Events in FUT, Archetype customization in Clubs, and evolving Challenges in Career Mode. We can’t wait for players to feel the difference.”
Introducing FC Feedback: Empowering the Community
To further strengthen its community-first approach, EA SPORTS has launched FC Feedback. This initiative invites players to contribute directly to the evolution of the franchise through various channels, including the Player Feedback Portal, community-led Design Councils, the FC Discord Server, forums, and social media. It builds on the success of features introduced in FC 26 based on user input, highlighting EA’s dedication to listening and responding to its fans.
Special In-Game Rewards and Pre-Order Details
To celebrate the cover reveal, fans playing EA SPORTS FC Mobile between July 17 and 31 will receive exclusive 102 Overall Rating (OVR) player items for both Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala. Additionally, Zlatan Ibrahimović returns to the mobile version as an ICON, allowing players to relive key moments from his legendary career through ICON Chronicles.
Pre-orders for EA SPORTS FC 26 are now available, with the game set to launch on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Amazon Luna, Nintendo Switch, and the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. Ultimate Edition owners gain early access starting September 19, 2025.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers.
In fiscal year 2025, EA posted GAAP net revenue of approximately $7.5 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as EA SPORTS FC™, Battlefield™, Apex Legends™, The Sims™, EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL, EA SPORTS™ College Football, Need for Speed™, Dragon Age™, Titanfall™, Plants vs. Zombies™ and EA SPORTS F1®. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.
EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS FC, Battlefield, Need for Speed, Apex Legends, The Sims, Dragon Age, Titanfall, and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. John Madden, NFL, and F1 are the property of their respective owners and used with permission.
