News Tag: FC 26 Coins

Just yesterday, December 10th, EA FC 26 released the ultimate TOTW 13 lineup. How about it? Are there any players you like? How much overlap is there with your predicted lineup? If you're happy with the lineup, then start acquiring those player cards!

Unless you're a complete beginner, you should know the main ways to obtain player cards or packs in FC 26. The key is that the game releases new events almost every day, and a slight oversight can lead to missing out on a chance to earn rewards.

Based on this, we will introduce Joga Bonito Challenge 3 event, which was released at the same time as TOTW 13. It only lasts for three days, but the reward is a Prime Gold Players Pack!

Joga Bonito In FC 26

First, you need to know that Joga Bonito is a recent promotional event held by FIFA 26 for Ultimate Team, themed around street football, emphasizing style and creativity.

The event introduced Joga Bonito players and accompanying 5-star skill moves, special hero versions of some players' cards, and a series of playable SBCs, objectives, and evolutions.

Joga Bonito Challenge 3 is one of all Joga Bonito SBCs; the previous Challenge 1 and 2 were held on December 5th and 7th, respectively.

How To Complete Joga Bonito Challenge 3?

SBC events don't require you to participate in matches and win; you only need to assemble a team according to the requirements. However, if you don't have enough players, these requirements can be difficult to meet!

Here are all the requirements for Joga Bonito Challenge 3:

• Number of players on the team: 11
• Maximum number of players from the same league: 4
• Maximum number of players from the same club: 3
• Minimum number of Gold players: 9
• Minimum number of Rare or TOTW players: 3
• Minimum player rating: Silver
• Minimum team chemistry: 31

The minimum player rating being Silver means that all players on the team must be of Silver or Gold rarity. Therefore, this SBC is quite difficult, requiring at least 4000 to 9000 coins, and it ends on December 13th, so time is of the essence!

Why Should You Participate In This SBC?

Although this event only rewards you with a non-tradable card pack, its rarity is relatively high, giving you a chance to pull better cards or players from TOTW 13. This will help expand your club and complete more SBCs.

For example, alongside the start of Joga Bonito Challenge 3, FUT 26 also launched other SBCs, including Primera División Crown League and 86+ Campaign Mix Upgrade.

Both of these SBCs last longer than Joga Bonito Challenge 3 (7 days), so you have plenty of time to use the rewards from the latter to complete them.

Primera División Crown League

This SBC is divided into two parts, rewarding you with different player cards after you meet their respective requirements. The specific challenges and rewards are as follows:

Part 1:

• Minimum Team of the Week players: 1
• Minimum Team Rating: 81
• Reward: Joga Bonito Hernán López

Part 2:

• Minimum Team of the Week players: 1
• Minimum Team Rating: 85
• Reward: Joga Bonito Exequiel Zeballos

86+ Campaign Mix Upgrade

This challenge is also divided into two parts, rewarding you with different game card packs. The specific details are as follows:

Part 1:

• Minimum Team Rating: 83
• Reward: Small Electrum Players Pack

Part 2:

• Minimum Team Rating: 85
• Minimum Team of the Week players: 1
• Reward: Jumbo Premium Gold Pack

After completing both parts, you will also receive an additional 86+ Campaign Mix Upgrade Pack. The player cards from this pack are expected to come from the following series:

• Ratings Reload
• Ultimate Scream
• UEFA Primetime
• Festival of Football: Captains
• FC Pro Live

Although the rewards from Joga Bonito Challenge 3 aren't extensive, they can definitely help you complete these two SBCs and unlock more cards. So don't miss this opportunity!

How To Improve Your Player Cards?

Even if some players who help you to complete SBCs are mediocre or don't fit your team, you shouldn't give up on them. Instead, you can try to strengthen them in subsequent evolution events.

For example, Keep Composed, which was launched at the same time as Joga Bonito Challenge 3, is a good opportunity.

This evolution, which runs for 3 weeks starting December 10th, can help improve your players' dribbling and composure. The specific attribute increases are as follows:

• Overall: +1 OVR
• Attributes: +12 Agility, +12 Balance, +12 Dribbling, +15 Reactions
• PlayStyle+: Press Proven+ PlayStyle+

Of course, participation requires sufficient points or coins, and your evolving player must meet the following requirements:

• Maximum OVR: 85
• Position: Cannot be a goalkeeper
• Maximum number of PlayStyles: 10
• Maximum number of PlayStyle+: 1 (none is also acceptable)

If the player you obtained from Joga Bonito Challenge 3 reward pack meets the criteria, you can give it a try. If not, don't worry, FC 26 will host new evolutions later.

That's all the information for this update. We hope you successfully complete this challenge within the given time!

This week is drawing to a close, have you completed all the new tasks released every day in EA FC 26 on time? If not, it's best to step up your efforts this weekend to earn more rewards to improve your club and players.

Generally, the most common and easiest way to strengthen your existing players is through the various evolution events in FC 26. You can get upgrade effects as long as you meet the event requirements.

Evolution events sometimes apply to all players, and sometimes to players in specific positions, so you need to determine who can participate in this upgrade based on the actual situation.

Based on this, we will introduce two newly launched evolution events, The Wizard & Tricks and Flicks, to help you understand how to improve your players and the entire club, and get a better experience in the game.

The Wizard

This evolution went live on December 5th at 6 PM and is available for one week, expiring two weeks after the release date, meaning you have approximately 21 days to participate.

This event is also held by the game to encourage you to participate in Joga Bonito promotion, mainly focusing on giving you the opportunity to improve your left winger.

It is estimated that completing this evolution requires you to complete 6 matches and consume at least 40,000 coins or 400 FC points. If you lack both, a faster solution is to buy FC 26 coins, as accumulating points is more troublesome.

Rewards And Requirements

First, only players who meet the following requirements can be strengthened through The Wizard:

• Player OVR: Max 85
• Player Pace: Max 89
• Player Total Positions: Max 3
• Player PlayStyle: Max 10
• Player PlayStyle+: Max 1
• Not Rarity: World Tour Silver Stars
• Player Position: LW

In addition, the entire event includes five upgrade opportunities, and the higher the level, the better the strengthening effect. Details are as follows:

Level 1:

• OVR: +12 (Max 87)
• Balance: +20 (Max 89)
• Composure: +20 (Max 85)
• Positions: CAM
• PlayStyles: Trickster

Level 2:

• Acceleration: +10 (Max 90)
• Long Shots: +15 (Max 85)
• Penalties: +15 (Max 85)
• Roles: Inside Forward++, Classic 10++

Level 3:

• Passing: +10 (Max 83)
• Ball control: +20 (Max 88)
• Sprint Speed: +20 (Max 91)
• Stamina: +20 (Max 85)
• Skills: +4

Level 4:

• Acceleration: +10 (Max 90)
• Dribbling: +20 (Max 88)
• Positioning: +15 (Max 87)
• Reactions: +20 (Max 87)
• PlayStyles: Inventive

Level 5:

• Agility: +20 (Max 90)
• Finishing: +15 (Max 87)
• Shot Power: +15 (Max 85)
• PlayStyles+: Quick Step
• Roles: Wide Playmaker++

It's worth mentioning that when a player is upgraded, their card's visual effect in the game will also change: primarily in green and orange tones, with a strong graffiti style.

Tricks And Flicks

This event starts at the same time as The Wizard and is also part of Joga Bonito promotion, but it lasts for a shorter period, only one week. However, the advantage is that it's free; you only need to complete the challenges to get two upgrades.

To participate, you first need to ensure your player meets the following conditions:

• OVR: Max 84
• PlayStyle: Max 10
• PlayStyle+: Max 1
• Position: Not GK

Compared to The Wizard, Tricks and Flicks has fewer restrictions on players, so if you have some players who previously didn't have the opportunity to be upgraded, now is the best chance!

Level 1 requires you to complete 2 matches in any of Squad Battles/Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events modes using your activated EVO player on Semi-Pro difficulty. The evolution rewards are:

• OVR: +1
• Ball control: +12 (Max 85)
• PlayStyles: Trickster

Level 2 challenge requirements are the same as Level 1, but the rewards change to:

• Dribbling: +10 (Max 90)
• Composure: +10 (Max 85)
• Skills: +1 (Max 5)
• PlayStyles+: Trickster

The visual effect of this evolution on the player card features red and green tones. It's worth participating in these evolution events even just for the aesthetics, regardless of the player upgrades.

Best Completion Strategy

Generally, both evolution activities are not difficult to complete. Although Tricks and Flicks requires you to participate in competitive matches, you don't need to win. You just need enough time to play FIFA 26 and enough coins to unlock The Wizard.

However, considering that Tricks and Flicks only lasts for 7 days, we recommend that you prioritize completing it and choose the competitive modes you are familiar with or good at.

Generally, if you want to complete it faster, we recommend choosing Squad Battles, because in this mode your opponent is AI, and you can play casually to quickly finish the game and meet the requirement of 2 matches for the evolution activity.

If you want to experience more fun in virtual football while participating in the evolution, the high degree of freedom in Live Events can satisfy you. The other two modes are more competitive, more suitable for FC 26 players who like excitement.

Why Should You Participate In Evolution Activities?

Collecting more players is just the basics; having more doesn't necessarily mean you're more likely to win. The strength of each player is a more important factor.

While it's satisfying to win using those star players who are already very powerful from the start, over time you'll find it boring, and it also makes those players with relatively mediocre base stats meaningless.

Based on this, evolution activities provide more possibilities for fans of these players and players who like to win unexpectedly. With just a few points and coins, or by completing simple challenges, you can get more players on the field - why not?

Considering the high frequency of new events in FUT 26, it's okay if you don't have time to complete every single one, but it's best to set aside time to check the event rewards to avoid missing out on opportunities to upgrade your favorite players.

That's all for this guide. Remember to manage your time wisely and don't miss these two excellent evolution events! May your FC 26 team become stronger and stronger!

EA FC 26's Black Friday sale not only brought numerous powerful special cards, but also many SBCs and evolutions that can significantly boost player performance.

The newly released evolution is Magician of the Right, which can greatly improve the strength of right-wing players. This evolution is also a chain evolution with a total of 5 levels. Let's take a look at the details of this evolution and popular choices.

Magician Of The Right Evolution

Magician of the Right is an evolution limited to right-wing players. The player's OVR cannot be higher than 85, and you must complete it within one week of unlocking this evolution. Furthermore, this evolution is not free; it requires 700 FC 26 points or 60,000 FC 26 coins to unlock, and cannot be repeated.

Magician of the Right Requirements:

• Overall: Max 85
• Playstyle: Max 10
• Playstyle+: Max 1
• Not Rarity: World Tour Silver Stars
• Position: RW

Magician of the Right Total Upgrades

• Overall: +15 | Max 87
• Shooting: +15 | Max 83
• Acceleration: +20 | Max 91
• Agility: +20 | Max 88
• Balance: +20 | Max 89
• Ball control: +20 | Max 90
• Crossing: +20 | Max 86
• Curve: +20 | Max 87
• Dribbling: +20 | Max 88
• Long Passing: +30 | Max 88
• Reactions: +20 | Max 85
• Short Passing: +30 | Max 90
• Free Kick: +20 | Max 87
• Sprint Speed: +20 | Max 91
• Stamina: +20 | Max 80
• Vision: +20 | Max 89
• Composure: +20 | Max 87
• Weak Foot: +2 | Max 4
• Skills: +2 | Max 4
• Playstyles+: Rapid+ | Max 1
• Playstyles: Finesse Shot | Max 6
• Roles: Winger++/Inside Forward++/Wide Playmaker+

This evolution makes many players who were previously not a good fit for the current game meta much more useful by adding key player styles and improving attributes. This evolution also adds Finesse Shot Playstyle to left-footed players on the right wing, completely changing their attacking threat and allowing them to cut inside and finish with high-quality shots.

Furthermore, this evolution not only increases Playstyles, but also significantly enhances basic speed, dribbling, and shooting attributes, all of which can drastically change a player's performance.

How To Choose Players?

Magician of the Right evolution is quite practical, so you can't just choose players randomly. Instead, you should choose players who, after evolving, are closer to the meta Playstyle. Evaluate these players comprehensively, considering whether there are more cost-effective alternatives.

You need to pay attention to changes in players' base stats such as speed, dribbling, and shooting. Secondly, you need to consider chemistry style pairings. For example, how can you further optimize players like Hunter, Engine, Finisher, and Marksman?

The addition and variation of player styles is the core of the evolution. Focus on players with key Playstyles such as Finesse Shot, First Touch, Quick Step, and Rapid. These players, combined with Rapid+, will have stronger attacking capabilities.

Additionally, you need to evaluate the suitability of players on the right flank RW, RM and even CAM positions, especially whether they have received key positional instructions such as Inside Forward. Additionally, a player's weakest foot star rating is also an important factor to consider.

If you're unsure which player to choose, it's highly recommended to select players with their strong foot on the opposite side. This means using left-footed players on the right wing and right-footed players on the left wing, making their shots after cutting inside more threatening.

Popular Players

80 OVR Marcus Rashford

While Marcus Rashford has always been popular, to include him in this evolution, you need to ensure he has earned a RW position through previous evolutions. He's not suitable for players who only have the basic card. After evolution, consider using Engine chemistry style.

84 OVR Salma Paralluelo

This evolution makes her more compatible with the current meta. Crucially, she gains Finesse Shot Playstyle and is better suited to the right flank thanks to Inside Forward++, allowing this left-footed player to cut inside from the right and execute Finesse Shots, greatly increasing her versatility.

84 OVR Jérémy Doku TOTW

This card has excellent stats after the evolution, with dribbling improving to over 90 and gaining Playstyles like First Touch. However, his weakness is that as a left-footed player, Evolution primarily strengthens the right flank, while he is better suited to the left.

81 OVR Rayan Cherki

81 OVR Rayan Cherki looks quite good after this evolution, especially in the attacking midfielder position. However, if you already own his previous free Evolution version, this upgrade isn't necessary.

85 OVR Désiré Doué

Désiré Doué's base gold card already has advantages in RW position such as Inside Forward+ and Wide Playmaker++, and he also has a 4-star weak foot. While he gains stat improvements, it doesn't create a significant change.

78 OVR Estêvão

This evolution grants Estêvão a significant boost to his base stats, making him fast and giving him Quick Step+ and Rapid Playstyles, making him an excellent card. The downside is that as a left-footed player, he lacks ideal player roles on left wing. If you want to build a Chelsea team, this is a pretty good choice.

81 OVR Amaiur Sarriegi

Amaiur Sarriegi is a powerful female footballer. After evolution, her stats are extremely high, and she possesses a large number of useful Playstyles, such as Finesse Shot, First Touch, and Technical Dribbling. She is very threatening whether playing on the wing or as a striker.

85 OVR Marco Asensio

This evolution adds the crucial Finesse Shot Playstyle to him, compensating for his previous weaknesses. Possessing both Tiki Taka and other Playstyles makes him an excellent choice for left-footed players on the right wing.

The above is a general player recommendation for Magician of the Right. This evolution isn't free, so choose carefully.

EA FC 26 released its November Feedback Update on November 26th. This update brought no substantial changes, mainly serving as a review of their update plans and arrangements for upcoming updates.

Players were undoubtedly disappointed with this update, as it was filled with empty promises rather than detailed solutions, specifics, or timely actions.

November Feedback Update Content

The developers believe that the shooting and goalkeeping are still severely unbalanced, and therefore goalkeeper movement will be nerfed in the December update.

Regarding the defensive AI, the developers stated that the adjustments were made due to previous enhancements to jockeying, and that any future changes would be announced in advance, but no new measures were announced.

Additionally, the developers acknowledged that the computer-controlled AI in Squad Battles mode was too powerful. Their initial intention was to make defensive phases more interesting and reduce frustration when off the ball, but the changes have actually worsened the game environment. The developers stated that they won't be able to resolve this issue until early 2026.

Player Feedback For Updates

Many players believe that FC 26 updates until now not only failed to solve the problems but actually made the game worse.

Manual Defense

Even players with excellent manual defense skills, able to use manual tackles and interceptions to stop attacks, cannot secure possession.

This is because after a defensive player completes a defensive action, there is a brief period of recovery time, during which the attacking team can immediately regain possession and launch an attack.

Slow Player Reactions

Players on the field respond to control commands with a delay, and many players have reported latency exceeding 60ms, making gameplay very clunky.

Speed Attribute Anomaly

The current pace stat behaves abnormally. Claudia Pina (86 OVR) only has a pace of 79, yet she can outpace players faster than her in matches. This speed anomaly isn't limited to Pina; Virgil van Dijk also exhibits this issue. The pace stat has been problematic for some time, but the developers haven't fixed it.

Updates Changed The Game Environment

At launch, FIFA 26 offered a rich variety of tactics and formations. However, after the update v1.1.0, 4-5-1 formation became the only dominant meta formation. This formation packs a large number of players into the midfield, forming a dense, wall-like defense.

Furthermore, due to the overly powerful defensive AI, players now tend to avoid manually controlling defensive players. Instead, they hold down the R1 button to call for teammates to provide support, letting the AI handle the defense automatically, while manually controlling forwards to track back and harass. This defensive approach requires no skill but is highly effective, resulting in almost every player becoming a defensive expert.

Corresponding to this passive defense, players' offensive methods have also become limited. Currently, players primarily rely on high-speed wing breakthroughs followed by cutback passes or finesse shots from the edge of the penalty area. Beyond these attacking methods, other offensive and defensive maneuvers are largely ineffective.

This environment frustrates players who value manual control and diverse attacking styles. Because each match's lineup and flow are similar, they find the game less engaging.

FC 26 Current Status

The first 3-4 weeks after release were the best time of EA FC 26, and even for FIFA series in recent years. It was highly responsive, with timely feedback. Manual defense and interceptions were effectively rewarded, and successful tackles kept the ball firmly in place.

Furthermore, the lack of a unified meta allowed for various formations and tactics to be effective, making the game exciting and resulting in high player retention and online player numbers.

However, the developers didn't give players enough time to adapt to the initial excellent controls. Instead, they prematurely heeded complaints from players who weren't skilled at manual defense, mistakenly buffing the AI defending. The developers should prioritize fixing defensive issues with kickoffs and corners, incorrect pass selection (especially leading to offsides), and the unbearable input delay on consoles.

The October and November updates regressed the game to the AI-dependent, passively defensive, and frustrating state of its predecessors, FUT 24 and FC 25, erasing all the strengths of its initial release.

The current disappointing gameplay will only lead to player churn. Even with abundant in-game events like Thunderstruck sales and tournaments, the poor core gameplay renders everything meaningless.

November Feedback Update reviewed the main content of official patches since the game's release, and the developers acknowledged that the patches introduced many problems. It's currently unknown whether the official December patch will fix these issues. However, the simplest and most direct way to make the game fun again is to roll back the game version, building the December update on top of the initial release version and only fixing genuine bugs like kickoffs and corner kicks, rather than changing the core gameplay.

While November Feedback Update doesn't offer any substantial content, it will bring some festive cheer to FC 26. Coupled with Thunderstruck sale starting this Friday, a large number of players will return, and some very powerful player cards will be available.

Both SBCs and Thunderstruck packs will heavily deplete your coins. You can buy reliable and cheap FC 26 coins at IGGM if you don't want to miss out on these powerful players and rebuild your strong team on Black Friday.

EA FC 26 just released a Welcome to UT EVO Evolution. This evolution is free, but has some limitations: the player's initial overall rating must be up to 83, and they cannot be a left-back (LB) or right-back (RB). After evolving, they can obtain the left midfielder (LM) or right midfielder (RM) position.

This is a belated free evolution aimed at mid-game players, but its duration is short-lived. This evolution is only valid for two days, leaving players little time to make a decision. If you haven't decided on suitable players yet, you can check out the player recommendations below.

Welcome To UT EVO Evolution

This evolution is designed to welcome newcomers. Since FC 26 is currently on sale in half, many new players are joining the game, and Welcome to UT EVO Evolution is likely to be their first evolution.

Requirements:

• Overall: Max 83 OVR
• Total Positions: Max 3
• PlayStyle: Max 10
• Not Rarity: World Tour Silver Stars
• Position: LM or RM
• Not Position: LB, RB

Upgrades:

• Overall: +4 | 84
• Shooting: +4 | 82
• Acceleration: +12 | 90
• Aggression: +5 | 78
• Agility: +5 | 82
• Balance: +5 | 82
• Ball control: +8 | 85
• Dribbling: +8 | 85
• Jumping: +5 | 75
• Reactions: +4 | 80
• Sprint Speed: +12 | 90
• Stamina: +8 | 82
• Strength: +12 | 84
• Composure: +4 | 80
• Skills: +1 | 4
• Positions: RM and LM
• PlayStyles: Quick Step | 5
• Roles: Inside Forward+ and Winger++

This evolution bonus focuses on improving player agility and attacking efficiency. While the stat increases aren't insane, considering it's a free evolution, and the evolved player receives a new card design, it's overall a very good evolution.

How To Choose Players?

When choosing players to evolve, consider whether the evolution can compensate for their weaknesses and maximize their output to achieve the best results. Players with high base speed benefit relatively less from this evolution.

Therefore, you should primarily look for players with lower base speed but decent shooting or passing abilities, using evolution to address their shortcomings and make them usable. Below are some players who are popular among players but may not be the best choices.

80 OVR Marcus Rashford LM

Many players consider Marcus Rashford a good choice. He receives a significant upgrade, improving his usability. Even after the upgrade, there are still better options on the transfer market. Marcus Rashford is only worth around 20,000 FC 26 coins, so this evolution might not be worthwhile.

82 OVR Joelinton CM

82 OVR Joelinton's pace is only 74. This evolution will raise it to 86, a significant improvement. This is a good choice for Premier League or Newcastle players.

If you choose to evolve him, you can use him as a versatile CM. With Shadow chemistry, you can improve his speed and defense, making him very effective defensively.

80 OVR Leandro Trossard LW/LM

Leandro Trossard's Sprint Speed ​​is only 75. This evolution will raise his pace to 88, and he will also receive a good improvement in physical. Leandro Trossard can also be used as a LW, making Quick Step very useful.

80 OVR Jérémy Doku LW

Doku receives a significant boost primarily in shooting and physical attributes. However, he lacks a strong playstyle, which can be compensated for by using a Marksman or Finisher chemistry style.

83 OVR Jessica Naz LM ST++

Jessica Naz is a striker for Tottenham Hotspur and England national team, hence her good chemistry. While this evolution doesn't significantly improve her speed, reaching 80 in physical attributes would be a great addition for a female player, and given her short stature and agile body type, she could be quite nimble as a striker.

81 OVR Antony RM

While this evolution is a direct upgrade for Antony, it's essentially meaningless because his Transfer Market cards are inherently low-value, and he already possesses playstyles like Finesse Shot and Tiki-Taka, perfectly suited to the meta. Even with Quick Step, it won't provide a significant boost.

When evolving, you can choose players who have personal sentimental value and whom you believe you'll never obtain Promo Cards from. While these options might not seem strong from a meta perspective, they are invaluable to you.

Chain Evolution

Not just Welcome to UT EVO Evolution, but all chain evolutions have some issues. This is because each evolution has a position cap. If a player gains multiple new positions through evolution, they may be unable to enter subsequent evolution paths due to exceeding the position cap. This locks many early evolved players, preventing them from further improvement.

Therefore, you can view this evolution as a starting point, preparing for future evolutionary chains. Keep an eye on players like Joelinton. If future evolutions focus on strengthening the midfield, they can build on this chain to become even stronger.

Overall, Welcome to UT EVO Evolution is a decent evolution. You can choose meta players to strengthen your team, or choose players from your favorite teams to increase their playing time. However, remember that truly excellent evolutions and SBCs will have to wait until next week's Black Friday.

The fourth Friday of November each year marks the start of Christmas shopping season, and this year it falls on November 28th. Black Friday is also a big celebration for FC 26, with the game discounted by 50% to $35. Some previously hesitant players may take this opportunity to join the game.

Besides the influx of new players, there will be some fantastic promotions featuring special cards that will undoubtedly impact the player transfer market, but you can prepare in advance.

FC Pro Live Promo

FC Pro Live Promo is a dynamic promotion based on real-world FC Pro esports tournaments. Player cards representing participating professional players will be upgraded based on their performance in the matches. This promotion starts this Friday.

This promotion seems somewhat lackluster compared to the major Black Friday event, as many players don't actually follow FC 26 esports tournaments. However, it has high trading potential because the value of Live Cards fluctuates dramatically as the event progresses. Last year's promotion also saw the release of some great SBC players, such as Sacha Boey.

Due to the low popularity of FC Pro Live, fewer people may open packs, leading to a shortage of fodder cards, which could actually increase their value in the short term. It's recommended that you monitor the market after Rivals Rewards or Marquee Matchups SBCs are released.

Black Friday And Thunderstruck Promo

A new promotion will also be held during Black Friday, and this one has been confirmed as Thunderstruck. Thunderstruck cards mainly feature players who are passionate and impactful on the field, most of whom are key players in their teams. These cards are also Live Cards, so if a player scores in a match or the team advances, they will receive stat boosts and even Playstyle improvements.

Thunderstruck promotion will last for two weeks, with two Thunderstruck teams unlocked sequentially. In addition to these promotions, this promotion will also feature Thunderstruck-themed visual designs and stadium merchandise, as well as exclusive SBCs, Icons, and more.

Black Friday is the most important event of the year because Thunderstruck promo is sure to introduce powerful players that significantly boost the power curve, including the first batch of promotional Icons and Heroes.

Furthermore, a large number of Flash SBCs, Flash Evolutions, Tournaments, and Live Events will drastically deplete players' FC 26 coins and fuel cards.

All the popular player cards from the promo, such as those from Prime Time, Ultimate Scream, and Festival of Football, will be massively re-released and added to packs, greatly increasing market supply and causing their value to decrease.

Impact On The Player Transfer Market

Black Friday could very well cause the player transfer market to crash again, as players typically sell their teams in advance to raise coins for new promotional players. During Black Friday, players open a large number of card packs, further increasing market supply. This will affect some high-value Gold cards, Icons, and Heroes.

Because Black Friday re-releases promotional cards, the supply of current and past promotional cards, especially those likely to be re-released, such as Festival of Football Captains and Team of the Week cards, will increase, causing their value to fall.

Currently, the value of top players like Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé has already begun to decline, but this is just the beginning, and the lowest point may occur next week.

If you don't want to lose too much, you can consider selling your non-core player cards worth more than 100,000 coins now. Festival of Football promotional cards are currently at a high value; if you want to get them, you can wait until Black Friday.

During the player market crash, some players may experience a short-term rebound after their value plummets, presenting a good opportunity for short-term trading, but the risk is high.

How To Prepare For Black Friday?

Stockpiling Fodder Cards

During Black Friday, there are usually many high-quality SBCs (Small Card Combinations), and completing them requires a large number of fuel cards, increasing market demand.

You can invest 700 to 1000 coins in some 83 OVR and 84 OVR gold players for future upgrade SBCs.

Players from popular leagues like Premier League and Ligue 1, as well as popular nationalities like France and Brazil, are also worth investing in, as they can be used for potential limited-time flash SBCs.

TOTW players are special cards, more valuable than regular gold cards. You can stockpile TOTW cards valued around 10,000 coins each as high OVR fodder cards.

Completing Daily Upgrade SBCs

Consistently complete Daily Bronze, Silver, and Gold Upgrade SBCs to stockpile players for your club.

Saving Packs

Starting now, save the card pack rewards you receive from FUT Champions, Rivals, and Tournaments until Black Friday promo begins.

Black Friday is one of the most anticipated promos for players. You can never have too many FC 26 coins for it. Remember to keep an eye on the market and execute your investment strategy in a timely manner.

EA FC 26 TOTW is announced every Wednesday. Since TOTW primarily features players who performed exceptionally well the previous week, it is predictable who will be chosen.

Because each TOTW announcement typically includes around 20-25 players, predictions will inevitably miss some. We need to focus on players who performed outstandingly and whose in-game cards are valuable to most players.

Predictions Players

Troy Parrott - Ireland

In Ireland's match against Portugal, Troy Parrott led his team to a stunning comeback victory against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal. He then scored a hat-trick against Hungary, helping Ireland advance to the playoffs and ending Hungary's hopes of advancing. Such outstanding performances fully deserve a TOTW card.

In FC 26, Parrott's silver card value has skyrocketed due to anticipation, reaching nearly 10,000 FC 26 coins. Most players believe he will definitely appear in TOTW 10 lineup and is likely to receive a significant boost.

Malo Gusto - France, Chelsea

In the match on November 16th, France defeated Azerbaijan 3-1. Chelsea defender Malo Gusto earned Man of the Match with two assists. Although France didn't keep a clean sheet, his two assists are enough to warrant a TOTW selection.

While Malo Gusto's playstyles this year perfectly fit the meta, his Jockey makes him incredibly strong in one-on-one marking, so his TOTW card is likely to be very strong.

Michael Olise - France

In the match between France and Ukraine, although Kylian Mbappé scored two goals and provided one assist, given the abundance and strength of Mbappé's special cards, and the fact that Man of the Match went to Michael Olise, he is more likely to be selected.

However, it's currently uncertain how high an official rating Olise will receive. Besides an 86 OVR gold card, he also has an 87 OVR Ratings Reload card. The new card might be an upgrade based on his 87 OVR card, but considering the game's power curve, it might not reach an 88 OVR.

João Neves - Portugal

In Portugal's resounding 9-1 victory over Armenia, many players performed exceptionally well. João Neves and Bruno Fernandes both scored hat-tricks, Gonçalo Ramos contributed a goal and an assist, and Diogo Jota also scored a goal. However, João Neves is the most likely candidate for selection.

This is because all three of João Neves' goals were from open play, while two of Bruno Fernandes' hat-tricks were penalties, making Neves' performance more deserving. Furthermore, João Neves' game card itself is strong, possessing powerful playstyles such as Tiki Taka and Press Proven.

Mikel Oyarzabal - Spain

In Spain's 4-0 victory over Georgia on Saturday, Mikel Oyarzabal scored two goals and provided an assist, making him the standout player. Oyarzabal's TOTW card rating is likely to be similar to his existing Cornerstones card, possibly 84 OVR or 85 OVR.

Anthony Elanga - Sweden, Nottingham Forest

Sweden suffered a crushing 4-1 defeat in Saturday's Switzerland vs. Sweden match. However, Switzerland had its bright spots, with Elanga creating numerous threats in the first half. He excelled in attack and delivered a beautiful cross to help his team equalize.

If Elanga were to be acquired as a TOTW card, he would be a highly valuable card with high Pace and Dribbling, making him a worthwhile investment.

Lautaro Martínez - Argentina

On November 14th, Argentina defeated Angola 2-0 in a friendly match. With Lionel Messi having just been selected for TOTW last week, Lautaro Martínez, who contributed one goal and one assist, is a more likely candidate for selection this week.

Niclas Füllkrug - Germany

On Friday, November 14th, Germany defeated Luxembourg 2-0. Niclas Füllkrug scored both goals, making him a potential candidate for TOTW 10. If selected, this will be Niclas Füllkrug's first special card. His gold card is very useful, but his pace is a bit low, and the developers may buff his attributes.

Bukayo Saka - England

In England's 2-0 victory over Serbia on November 13th, Bukayo Saka scored a sensational goal and was named Man of the Match. Despite only scoring one goal, his excellent performance and Man of the Match give him reason to be selected for TOTW.

Other Players And Matches

• Italy vs Moldova (0:2): Giovanni Di Lorenzo scored a goal and helped his team keep a clean sheet, potentially earning an 85-rated TOTW card.
• Croatia vs Faroe Islands (3:1): Josip Šutalo scored a goal and was named Man of the Match. A 5-weak-foot center-back in FC 26, he would be highly sought after if he received a TOTW card.
• Norway vs Estonia (4:1): Despite Erling Haaland and Alexander Sørloth each scoring two goals, TOTW card might go to Julian Ryerson, who provided two assists, as Haaland recently acquired another special card, and Sørloth has a Showdown card that is about to be upgraded.

Excluding Harry Kane

Although Harry Kane scored both goals in England vs. Albania match on November 16th, he is unlikely to be selected for this week's TOTW. This is because he currently has a Festival of Football Captains event card still in his pack, and EA FC 26 typically does not allow the same player to have two unlockable special cards simultaneously.

The above are some predictions for the players selected for this Wednesday's TOTW 10; their selection is not guaranteed. If you agree with the player predictions above, you can invest in those players in advance.

While EA FC 26 features a large number of UEFA Primetime updates, they haven't brought any revolutionary content to the game. This week's patch 1.2.0 also fell short of expectations, with widespread feedback indicating no significant changes to the gameplay experience and even more problems.

This week's FIFA 26 experience has undoubtedly been quite boring, even terrible. However, this situation might change with Friday's new promotion. The content of the next promotion and some players have already been leaked: Festival of Football Captains.

Patch 1.2.0 Unfixed Bugs

Before discussing Festival of Football Captains promotion, let's briefly look at why patch 1.2.0 is so bad. Mainly, this patch fixes almost nothing.

In Gauntlet mode, trophy models still appear in the corner flag area and even on the field. The official patch notes claim to have fixed this issue, but it hasn't actually been resolved. Furthermore, using the multi-select function to quickly switch players causes the game to crash; the temporary workaround is to manually switch players one by one.

The patch also claimed to fix an inaccurate SP display issue and add a single digit, but now a new error has appeared for players with over 10,000 SP. The patch also mentioned fine-tuning AI defenders' marking of passers on the edge of the penalty area, but players don't perceive any difference in actual gameplay.

This patch either didn't work or made almost no real changes, and even introduced new bugs. Reverting to the previous version might result in a smoother game.

Festival Of Football Captains Promotion

Next is Festival of Football Captains promotion, and it will as usual begin after UEFA Primetime promotion ends on Friday.

This promotion is a themed campaign featuring national team captains, similar to Captains promotion in FIFA 22, but combined with the international tournament theme of Festival of Football.

The cards in this promotion are not limited to veteran captains, but also include content related to National Team Showdowns, Icon Matchday Player Picks. A total of over 60 special cards will be added to the card packs, more than UEFA Primetime.

Leaked Players

Player cards are always leaked before promotions, and this time is no exception. A list of some very strong players has been leaked:

• 92 OVR Mbappé ST France
• 90 OVR Kane ST England
• 89 OVR Van Dijk CB Netherlands
• 89 OVR Donnarumma GK Italy
• 89 OVR Lewandowski ST Poland
• 89 OVR Pajor ST Poland
• 89 OVR Cristiano Ronaldo ST Portugal
• 89 OVR Irene Paredes CB Spain
• 88 OVR Marquinhos CB Brazil
• 88 OVR Szoboszlai CAM Hungary
• 88 OVR Marta CAM Brazil
• 88 OVR Williamson CB England
• 88 OVR Heaps CAM America
• 88 OVR Ødegaard CM Norway
• 88 OVR Hegerberg ST Norway
• 87 OVR Bernardo Silva CM Portugal
• 86 OVR Tchouaméni CDM France
• 86 OVR Morata ST Spain
• 86 OVR Robertson LB Scotland
• 85 OVR Casemiro CDM Brazil
• 85 OVR Otamendi CB Argentina
• 85 OVR Højbjerg CDM Denmark
• 84 OVR Henderson CM England
• 84 OVR Stanciu CM Romania

Players To Watch

92 OVR Kylian Mbappé ST France

• PAC: 98
• SHO: 92
• PAS: 83
• DRI: 94
• DEF: 39
• PHY: 78

Kylian Mbappé's gold card already makes him the strongest striker in FC 26, which need over 1,800,000 FC 26 coins, and this time he's been further strengthened. While the increases in almost every stat are not significant, This version of Mbappé receives Finesse Shot+ Playstyle, making him even more lethal.

This is Mbappé's third special card, but such a powerful card may contradict FC 26's claimed strategy of slowing down the ability curve.

89 OVR Virgil Van Dijk CB Netherlands

• PAC: 76
• SHO: 62
• PAS: 73
• DRI: 73
• DEF: 91
• PHY: 88

Virgil van Dijk has acquired Anticipate+ Playstyle, the strongest defensive style in the game. With this style, Virgil van Dijk will undoubtedly become the best CB.

89 OVR Cristiano Ronaldo ST Portugal

• PAC: 89
• SHO: 90
• PAS: 84
• DRI: 88
• DEF: 30
• PHY: 82

Cristiano Ronaldo's second special card also improves speed and other stats, and boasts excellent Playstyle combinations including Aerial Fortress and Trickster. While players may not actually need another Cristiano Ronaldo card, his inclusion is justified given the event theme.

88 OVR Martin Ødegaard CM Norway

• PAC: 75
• SHO: 80
• PAS: 89
• DRI: 88
• DEF: 70
• PHY: 70

Compared to his 87 OVR gold card, Martin Ødegaard's pace in the 88 OVR version has improved from 68 to 75, a significant upgrade. He also possesses Incisive Pass+, which is extremely useful for an attacking midfielder.

87 OVR Bernardo Silva CM Portugal

• PAC: 81
• SHO: 80
• PAS: 87
• DRI: 92
• DEF: 67
• PHY: 65

Bernardo Silva's pace has received a huge boost (from 61), changing his previous situation where his slowness made him less effective. Combined with his top-tier dribbling stats and Ticky Tacky+, his performance will be outstanding.

Overall, the player cards released in this promotion are considered to have significantly addressed the weaknesses of many players and given players like Virgil van Dijk a dominant style. The overall quality is high and will undoubtedly bring significant changes to the transfer market.

Upcoming SBC Content

According to leaked information, the following target players' SBCs will be released:

87 OVR Ángel Di María RW

• PAC: 87
• SHO: 85
• PAS: 88
• DRI: 89
• DEF: 50
• PHY: 72

According to the leak, this card has Technical+, which is currently the strongest dribbling playstyle. Furthermore, its dribbling and passing stats are excellent, making it a highly anticipated Winger or CAM card.

88 OVR Wendie Renard CB

• PAC: 83
• SHO: 65
• PAS: 74
• DRI: 75
• DEF: 88
• PHY: 89

Wendie Renard can enrich French women's national team's lineup, and this card has the strongest defensive playstyle, Anticipate. Her 6-foot-2 height also gives her a significant advantage in defense.

The above is a general overview of Festival of Football Captains promotion. These special cards are generally much better than UEFA Primetime promotional cards. If you're looking to invest, you can sell your gold cards now to accumulate FUT 26 coins.

While FC 26 is a virtual football game, it's closely connected to the real world of football in every aspect. In fact, this is true of almost every sports game, as their audience largely overlaps with fans from various fields.

At least in FIFA 26, the player cards correspond to real-world players, most events are based on real football leagues, and there are regular opportunities to enhance players within FC 26 based on player changes.

Among all these similar events, Team of the Week (TOTW) is a must-mention. It updates weekly after the game's launch, letting you know the latest must-have players.

This time, we'll introduce the newly released TOTW 9 lineup to help you build a stronger team in future games.

Team Of The Week Introduction

This mechanism first appeared in earlier EA Sports FC games and continues to this day, aiming to give both new and veteran players the opportunity to see the best player lineups as soon as possible.

In FC 26, Team of the Week roster is usually announced every Wednesday, featuring players who have performed exceptionally well in real-world football matches over the past week.

Team of the Week provides them with in-game upgrades, typically obtainable through Ultimate Team card packs. Even if you're busy collecting UEFA Primetime cards lately, don't forget TOTW!

Including TOTW 9, the current TOTW promotion dates are as follows:

• TOTW Week 1: 17/09/2025
• TOTW Week 2: 24/09/2025
• TOTW Week 3: 01/10/2025
• TOTW Week 4: 08/10/2025
• TOTW Week 5: 15/10/2025
• TOTW Week 6: 22/10/2025
• TOTW Week 7: 29/10/2025
• TOTW Week 8: 05/11/2025
• TOTW Week 9: 12/11/2025

All TOTW 9 Players

Based on the performances of all players in their respective clubs and leagues during the week of November 5th to 12th, FUT 26 has awarded the following players a Team of the Week 9 promotion opportunity. Their locations and OVRs are listed below:

• Vitinha - CM - OVR 90
• Buhl - LM - OVR 88
• Messi - ST - OVR 87
• Ballard - CB - OVR 86
• Laia Aleixandri - CM - OVR 86
• Berardi - RW - OVR 85
• Doku - LW - OVR 94
• Leuchter - ST - OVR 84
• Maza - CM - OVR 83
• Toure - RB - OVR 83
• Sander - CB - OVR 83
• Said - LW - OVR 83
• Til - ST - OVR 83
• Tierney - LB - OVR 83
• Godfrey - RM - OVR 83
• Shaw - ST - OVR 83
• Zeballos - CAM - OVR 83
• Edu Espiau - ST - OVR 83
• Horn - GK - OVR 83
• Cozier-Duberry - RM - OVR 83
• Agyei - RM - OVR 83
• Martinez - ST - OVR 83
• Mika Marmol - CB - OVR 83

How To Obtain These Players?

After TOTW Week 9 begins, all standard and promotional Ultimate Team Packs will contain relevant player cards for this week. Each pack will display the probability of obtaining a TOTW player.

If you're not confident in your luck and don't want to gamble, you can directly find your desired TOTW player in the transfer market and exchange for them. Of course, the better the player's rating and performance, the more coins will be required.

In addition, FC 26 SBCs include a type of TOTW Upgrade SBC, specifically for obtaining TOTW players. Simply complete the challenge with a player lineup that meets specific conditions to redeem a pack that guarantees a TOTW player.

Sometimes other promotional SBCs may also offer packs containing Team of the Week players, but the probability is relatively low and you need to pay attention, so dedicated SBCs are more recommended.

Another way is to complete some special objectives released in FC 26 basic or season challenges, which may reward you with a specific TOTW player item or a TOTW Player Pick.

If you don't get TOTW 9 player you want in time, their corresponding player item will enter the secondary market at the end of the week or when the new week's TOTW roster is announced, at which time the number of coins required may change.

What Are TOTW 9 Players Used For?

As with previous weeks or previous FUT games, if Team of the Week 9 players are suitable for your team, you can add them directly to your roster or use them to complete appropriate SBCs to help you earn more rewards.

However, if you already have a better player for a position on your team than the one you drew, don't leave them idle. You can sell the extra TOTW players for coins.

Which TOTW 9 Players Are More Valuable?

The value and ability of players in TOTW 9 vary, so not every player is worth having. Overall, the most noteworthy is undoubtedly Messi. Although he's no longer in his prime, age doesn't matter in the game. His in-game stats are:

• Position: RW
• OVR: 86
• Pace: 78
• Shooting: 85
• Passing: 85
• Dribbling: 90
• Defending: 33
• Physical: 64

Another recommended TOTW 9 player is Dan Ballard, who scored a goal for his team against Arsenal last Saturday, and scored a header in the final moments to equalize the score. Here are his key stats for FC 26:

• Position: CB
• OVR: 86
• Pace: 79
• Shooting: 45
• Passing: 70
• Dribbling: 73
• Defending: 85
• Physical: 90

Of course, a player's effectiveness isn't solely determined by stats. It also depends on how effectively you integrate them into the team to maximize overall performance, as football is a team sport.

That concludes the information on TOTW 9 and all related players. We hope you have a wonderful week in FC 26!

EA FC 26's latest update patch 1.2.0 brings some changes to the game again, but it's clearly not as disruptive as patch 1.1.0. As other players have said, it's more of a placebo patch.

While this patch adjusts player AI, the current meta formations remain largely unchanged. Still, you can try some alternative setups that, despite not being mainstream, have unique strengths.

4-2-3-1 (Wide)

4-2-3-1 formation's backline consists of a goalkeeper, a left-back, two center-backs, and a right-back. In this formation, the defenders often employ man-marking tactics, with center-backs marking the strikers and fullbacks closely monitoring the wingers. Two defensive midfielders provide a defensive barrier in front of the back four.

• Build-Up Style: Short Passing (it allows players to move closer together during attacks, creating more passing options.)
• Defensive Approach: Extreme

Player Roles

• GK (Defend): Goalkeeper+
• LB (Support): Attacking Wingback++
• RB (Support): Attacking Wingback++
• LCB (Aggressive): Ball-Playing Defender
• RCB (Aggressive): Ball-Playing Defender
• LM (Roaming): Wide Playmaker++
• RM (Balanced): Inside Forward++
• LCDM (Roaming): Box Crasher++
• RCMD (Roaming): Deep-Lying Playmaker++
• CAM (Balanced): Wide Playmaker++
• ST (Attack): Advanced Forward++

You need to be especially careful with the movement of players in LM position, as their inside runs are crucial to your short passing tactics. Furthermore, the soul of this tactic is Attacking Wingback++ and Box Crasher++, which are essential for providing attacking width and late runs into the box.

If you want to control possession throughout the game, your midfielders should ideally possess Tiki Taka+ Playstyle. Forwards should ideally possess Incisive Pass+.

Player Requirements

87 OVR Claudia Pina

Claudia Pina stands out not only for her Finesse Shot and Low Driven+, but more importantly for her highly effective Tiki Taka and Incisive Pass playstyles. This makes her irreplaceable in possession-based play, and she's extremely threatening even without high race.

Tiki Taka is essential for smooth passing and movement. Without it, players take too long to control the ball and adjust, missing attacking opportunities. Of course, if you don't have 87 OVR Claudia Pina, 86 OVR Claudia Pina is also an option; she currently takes around 6000 FC 26 coins.

88 OVR Sergio Busquets

Sergio Busquets also has Tiki Taka+ and Long Ball Pass. Although he only has 3-star skills and 3 weak foot, he absolutely meets the needs of this formation.

4-4-1-1 (Midfield)

4-4-1-1 formation is a common football formation, similar in personnel to the formation above. It features four defenders, four midfielders, one attacking midfielder, and one striker. The striker is the primary scorer, while the attacking midfielder organizes attacks and supports the striker. This formation strikes a balance between the traditional 4-4-2 and a more attacking formation, balancing defensive and offensive capabilities.

In the latest patch 1.2.0, 4-4-1-1 formation has received a significant buff, becoming a very solid and effective formation suitable for Weekly Leagues, Division Rivals, and even Pro Ladder.

• Build-Up Style: Balanced
• Defensive Approach: High

Player Roles

• GK (Balanced): Sweeping Keeper+
• LB (Defend): Defender++
• RB (Defend): Defender++
• LCB (Defend): Defender++
• RCB (Defend): Defender++
• LM (Balanced): Inside Forward++
• RM (Balanced): Inside Forward++
• LCM (Balanced): Box-to-Box+
• RCM (Build-up): Deep-Lying Playmaker++
• CAM (Attack): Shadow Striker++
• ST (Attack): Advanced Forward++

If you feel your attacking organization is not going smoothly, you can change CAM from Shadow Striker to Playmaker, allowing for more deep drops and support, which will help advance the ball.

Player Requirements

Fullbacks need to be fast and have good ball control. Nuno Mendes or Marcos Llorente are good options. Center-backs also need speed and a good defensive playstyle.

Wingers need to be fast to execute through balls and create space behind the defense.

The three central midfielders are key to the formation. The attacking midfielder and two central midfielders should ideally have Tiki Taka+ and Incisive Pass+ playstyles. This ensures accurate one-touch passing and the ability to deliver lethal through balls.

Forwards should also have Tiki Taka+ or Incisive Pass+, crucial for linking up attacks. You can also use Claudia Pina. As for the goalkeeper, you can assign him based on the players you have.

How To Attack?

During the attacking build-up phase, the primary goal is to find your CAM. Use him to pass the ball to CAM to break the opponent's midfield lines.

Press L1/LB to direct teammates to run in behind, which stretches the opponent's defensive line and creates time and space for the ball carrier.

While pressing L1/LB, gently push the right stick towards the specific route you want your teammate to run. This is an advanced technique that manually creates passing opportunities.

When forward passing lanes are blocked, pass the ball back to a midfielder or defender. Use this pass to push the entire formation forward, while giving yourself more time to observe and make decisions. Finally, utilize the speed of your wingers to create scoring opportunities by playing through balls behind the opponent's flanks.

How To Defend?

Your four defenders form a strong defensive line. You only need to keep the formation compact and cover the middle. It's better to let the opponent run down the flanks than to allow them to easily break through the middle.

You can also manually pull your attacking midfielder back, effectively turning the formation into a 4-5-1, creating a numerical advantage in the middle. Executing an offside trap by pressing the up arrow twice will push the entire defensive line forward, further compressing the opponent's attacking space.

While these formations are not mainstream, they both offer considerable strength. Moreover, once you've mastered it, it can actually make your attacks more difficult for your opponents to handle when they're unfamiliar with your formation.