EA Sports FC 26 Glory Hunters Guide: How PlayStyles Lab Works, Best Rewards and Team 1 Players

The brand-new Greatest of the Game ICON player cards for EA FC 26 have officially arrived. This card pool boasts a significant upgrade in overall strength, with many players starting with four PlayStyle Plus configurations, further raising the overall meta ceiling.

Compared to previous ICON updates, this batch of cards is not only more exaggerated in terms of stats but also more aggressive in terms of movement models and PlayStyle combinations. It includes powerful cards perfectly suited to the current meta, while also retaining many classic legendary players with nostalgic appeal.

EZG has conducted a comprehensive analysis based on player attributes, body models, PlayStyle configurations, and past Meta performance to provide a tiered evaluation of FC 26 Greatest of the Game ICONs, offering you a clearer card selection reference.

Tier A

• John Barnes
• Cafu
• David Beckham
• Landon Donovan
• Samuel Eto'o
• Carles Puyol

Tier S

• Gareth Bale
• Gabriel Batistuta
• Iker Casillas Fernández
• Franz Beckenbauer
• Giorgio Chiellini
• Vincent Kompany

Tier S+

• Bobby Charlton
• Ronaldo
• Thierry Henry
• Andrés Iniesta

Tier A

John Barnes

John Barnes boasts good base stats and a price advantage, costing only 15,250 FC 26 Coins. However, his body model and turning animations are not fully compatible with the current EA FC 26 meta, limiting his usability. Nevertheless, he remains a formidable threat, hence his placement in Tier A - a practical but not top-tier choice.

Cafu

Cafu is a classic right-back in FUT 26's Greatest of the Game, possessing Quick Step and Intercept Plus attributes, but lacking Lengthy attribute, making him slightly less competitive among top-tier full-backs in FC 26. Although his performance in actual matches is consistently very stable, he still belongs to A tier.

David Beckham

David Beckham is a typical nostalgia-driven midfielder, performing well in passing and turning, but leaning more towards entertainment and sentimental value, lacking defensive and versatility. Therefore, he is more suitable for a system-oriented playstyle in FIFA 26 than a top-tier meta choice, thus belonging to A tier.

Landon Donovan

Landon Donovan, as a winger, possesses good speed and mobility, but lacks crucial finishing ability in FUT 26, such as Finesse Shot. Therefore, he is more of a practical rotation player in Greatest of the Game, and is placed in A tier.

Samuel Eto'o

While Samuel Eto'o possesses a 5-Star Skill Moves and 5-Star Weak Foot and multiple attacking abilities, his lack of lengthy movement results in slow acceleration, and his card acquisition is relatively difficult, thus, his overall rating is slightly lower, placing him in A-tier.

Carles Puyol

Carles Puyol, despite possessing Bruiser and Quick Step combination, is less consistent against top strikers because of his height and build limitations, thus also placing him in A-tier.

Tier S

Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale is still considered one of FIFA 26's top wingers. Although he lacks lengthy movement type, his extremely high explosiveness and Rapid and Quick Step combination make him a formidable force on the flanks. Overall, he is in the upper-middle of S-tier and remains a powerful card in FUT 26 meta.

Gabriel Batistuta

Next is Gabriel Batistuta. This card is known for its physical strength and shooting ability, possessing key abilities such as Low Driven and Tiki-Taka. However, because of his slow turning speed, he appears somewhat clumsy in the current fast-paced EA FC 26 meta. However, with Marksman's buff, he gains Lengthy, raising his rating to S.

Casillas Fernández

Casillas Fernández possesses key goalkeeper abilities such as Rush Out, Far Reach, and Footwork Plus, performing excellently in FIFA 26's one-on-one scenarios. However, because of his height limitation, he has a natural weakness in aerial duels and coverage, thus his rating cannot reach S+.

Francz Beckenbauer

Franz Beckenbauer, a classic center-back in FUT 26, possesses excellent ball control and passing abilities, and also has Pinged Pass Plus, making him very consistent in the backfield. However, because of his height disadvantage and lack of Lengthy attribute, he is slightly at a disadvantage when facing forwards, thus placing him in the upper-middle S tier.

Giorgio Chiellini

Giorgio Chiellini in Greatest of the Game performs more consistently, possessing a solid physical model and excellent defensive playstyle. His touch range during interceptions is wider, and his ball control success rate is higher. In the current FUT 26 meta, he has strong defensive pressure capabilities, placing him in the upper S tier, even approaching S+.

Vincent Kompany

Kompany is a stable full-back. His extremely high standing tackle success rate and ball control ability make him a reliable center-back in EA FC 26, placing him in S tier.

Tier S+

Bobby Charlton

Bobby Charlton performs exceptionally well in this Greatest of the Game card pool. His 5-Star Skill Moves and 5-Star Weak Foot combined with his explosive running model make him a highly threatening, attacking midfielder. Incisive Pass Plus and Finesse's abilities make him stand out in FC 26's fast counter-attacking system, thus positioning him S+ top tier.

Ronaldo

Ronaldo remains a pinnacle player in FIFA 26. He can not only execute incredibly accurate and high-arcing shots with lightning speed, but also, thanks to his animations, model, and Meta priority, he's practically the ultimate solution for any lineup, clinging top S+ tier.

Thirerry Henry

Thirerry Henry remains a representative of agile strikers, using his physical and speed advantages to become one of FUT 26's top strikers. Even without Finesse Shot Plus, he's still an extremely powerful player, directly entering S+ top tier.

Andrés Iniesta

Iniesta's performance in this card pool is surprising. Although his physique and defense aren't outstanding, his excellent turning animations and technical movements make him incredibly smooth in CAM position, and he can even be effective on the wing. He's directly rated S+.

If you want to obtain powerful Greatest of the Game ICON player cards, follow EZG Facebook. We will be holding limited-time giveaways where lucky players can receive free FC 26 Coins to help you build a powerful lineup.

Overall, the most distinctive feature of this EA FC 26 Greatest of the Game ICONs collection is the coexistence of meta enhancements and nostalgia cards. For players seeking intense competition, this batch of icons almost redefines FC 26 meta, while for nostalgic fans, it remains a visual feast of football.

FIFA World Cup is gaining momentum as the competition progresses, and to commemorate the legends who redefined football, FC 26 will officially launch Great of the Game on June 19th, running until June 26th.

Great of the Game is part of Festival of Football series, featuring 42 ICONs and Heroes, including two brand-new official debuts from Brazilian and Argentine World Cup legends - Mario Kempes and Rivellino.

This is likely one of FC 26's most powerful promotional campaigns to date, not only because of its massive player roster, but also because all players have an overall rating of 94 or higher, including Ronaldo and Zidane with 97 OVR. This means that with them, you'll be virtually unbeatable in matches.

Great of the Game Player Selection

Great of the Game primarily selects retired professional players who have been awarded ICON or Hero titles in FC 26. Currently, World Cup only features men's football, therefore women's players have been excluded. The final selection will be made from the remaining 113 Icons and 84 Heroes.

player list

The player roster has now been announced.

97 OVR Tier

96 OVR Tier

95 OVR Tier

94 OVR Tier

ICON Newcomers

Among them, players are most concerned about the two legendary superstars making their debut, Mario Kempes and Rivellino.

Mario Kempes

Mario Kempes, a legendary Argentine icon and the 1978 Wrold Cup Golden Boot winner, is joining Ultimate Team mode for the first time as a high-tier icon card.

In FC 26, his icon card boasts an overall rating of 96, perfectly suited to the current game intensity. His speed and shooting are his strongest attributes.

He possesses excellent long-distance running and offside trapping abilities, excelling at finishing in the penalty area and unleashing powerful volleys. His shooting power and long-range shooting ability are exceptional.

Furthermore, when used as a free-roaming forward, his dribbling rating reaches 94-95, demonstrating high ball control, agility, and exceptional ball protection in one-on-one situations.

Adding Mario Kempes to your FC 26 squad also directly provides national team chemistry points to current Argentine players in your team.

Rivellino

Rivellino, a member of the 1970 World Cup-winning team, is a renowned midfield maestro in football history, famous for his signature long-range shots and Elastico. This is his first appearance as an ICON card in FC 26 Great of the Game with a 96 OVR rating.

Among his base attributes, Rivellino's greatest strengths lie in his passing and dribbling. He possesses top-tier vision and long passes, exceptional playmaking ability, and agility. He is equally adept at ball control and shooting, given his famous long-range shooting ability and top-tier shooting power attribute in the game.

Similarly, his addition will provide valuable Brazilian national team chemistry points to your current Brazilian players in your FC 26 squad.

Acquiring GotG Cards

So, how do players obtain these high-tier cards in FC 26?

Currently known cards will appear in card packs for the first time, similar to most events. According to our statistics, there are currently four main ways to obtain them:

1. SBCs and Objectives

Since Great of the Game is part of FC 26 Festival of Football series of events, the official team will release SBCs and themed missions that allow you to obtain related players.

You can directly lock and synthesize your desired GotG Legends or Heroes by consuming high-scoring material cards from your team's inventory. This is the best shortcut to quickly strengthen your core lineup.

Besides synthesizing, you can also obtain more resources by increasing your activity level.

Simply participate actively in Champions, Rivals, or Rush modes within FC 26 and complete the corresponding limited-time themed missions to unlock various event players for free, experience powerful limited-time loan cards, or obtain specific card packs containing surprise rewards, making your team lineup more diverse and stable.

2. FoF Token Store

FoF Token Store provides players with the most reliable and solid channel for free acquisition and guaranteed advancement. Its operation mode mainly consists of the following two core aspects:

Daily Token Accumulation

Players can accumulate FoF tokens through various daily and periodic gameplay activities. Simply complete basic tasks daily, steadily increase your Season Pass level, and actively participate in core game modes such as Rivals, Squad Battles, or Rush. You can reliably earn up to 1,000 FoF tokens per week.

Precise Value Exchange

Once you've accumulated enough tokens, you can make targeted obtain in the token shop. This shop not only offers stable options for directly exchanging for specific powerful players and high-value guaranteed card packs, but also provides the ultimate temptation for players who want to maximize their gains.

You can choose to exchange for a 4-in-1 pack of 93+ legendary players, using your accumulated tokens to try to obtain top-tier high-level GotG legendary cards.

3. Regular and Limited-Time Card Pack Draws

During the event period from June 19th to June 26th, all 42 GotG event superstars will be available in the card pool for a limited time. Players can try their luck through two main channels:

Free Acquisition

Without additional spending, players can obtain various Gold, Grand, and Ultimate card packs simply by participating in Champions, Rivals, Single-Player Squad Battles, and leveling up their season. Opening these reward packs offers a chance to directly acquire the event-limited superstar.

Targeted Acquisition

To further increase the probability of acquisition, players can visit the in-game shop and use their accumulated FC 26 Coins to get limited-time event special packages with specific pity systems.

4. Transfer Market

This method requires a very high Coin reserve, but is the most direct way to acquire these cards. All tradable versions of FC 26 Great of the Game superstar cards can be obtained directly from Transfer Market using FC 26 Coins. Note that players like Ronaldo from 97 OVR are extremely expensive.

Regardless of the method, acquiring these players is worthwhile, not only for the current game situation but also for events like Glory Hunters that follow the end of Great of the Game.

National Hero

This FIFA World Cup has garnered immense attention, and the most astonishing moment for spectators and betting enthusiasts was Cape Verde's clean sheet against Spain, with some even losing $1 million. The main reason for this was a 40-year-old Cape Verde goalkeeper, Josimar Dias, also known as Vozinha, who made seven crucial saves against Spain's relentless attacks.

This victory not only catapulted him to fame but also brought Cape Verde, a small nation of only 500,000 people, into the public eye for the first time in World Cup. Although he's not a Hero card in FC 26's Great of the Game - just a regular player card without a portrait-he has become a hero in the hearts of the people and players of Cape Verde.

Perhaps FC 26 will release updates or events featuring players like Vozinha after World Cup, or perhaps not. You can also follow EZG Facebook for real-time updates on FC 26 and World Cup, as well as free game resources.

In short, don't forget to open FC 26 and watch the players' real-time performances in World Cup during your free time. After all, player attributes will dynamically change based on their performance on the field.

Following the official release of The World's Game update for FC 26 on May 28th, the player community has been largely focused on complaints about FC 26's problems as of yesterday. These include, but are not limited to, system crashes during Pro Club matches, missing text, and inability to see match results afterward.

To respond to the rising wave of player feedback, FC 26 is set to roll out Update 1.6.2, which covers three primary game modes as well as various minor tweaks and corrective measures. There is also speculation that advertising features will be introduced to the title.

Can these emergency updates salvage the player experience of FC 26 and resolve the current issues? How will the ads be delivered? Read on to find out.

Problems and Fixes

As mentioned at the beginning, Update 1.6.2 is targeted, primarily addressing the three existing game modes for FC 26.

1. The World's Game

Many players have reported in the community and official website comment sections that text misalignment frequently occurs during matches in The World's Game, causing players to see incorrect scores and results after the match, or even failing to display completed levels at all.

To address these issues, this update includes several optimizations and fixes for The World's Game Tournament-related functions: A Tournament Tree widget has been added to Tournament Center, allowing players to directly view the tournament match structure after entering the knockout stage.

Additionally, an entry point to access FC Hub from Tournament Hub has been added, supporting access to FC Hub at any time during The World's Game mode matches to view current objectives and progress tracking.

Tournament stage information has also been added to Next Fixture interface of FC Hub, and UI elements of See Tree Overview interface have also been updated and optimized.

2. Clubs

Regarding Clubs, FC 26 Update 1.6.2 primarily fixed two issues related to professional players:

First, it resolved a potential Failed to create virtual professional player error when creating a new goalkeeper-type club professional player, improving the stability of the creation process.

Second, it corrected an issue where club AI facility upgrade effects incorrectly applied to player-controlled professional players, ensuring that facility bonuses only apply correctly to AI players, thus ensuring a fairer and more accurate ability progression mechanism between players and AI.

This update is not without precedent. On Reddit, many players pointed out significant problems with Clubs' defensive mechanics. AI-controlled defenders consistently failed to mark opposing runners and displayed little tactical awareness, which regularly led to player frustration.

A good goalkeeper is even more important than a powerful player. In Clubs, you can't even acquire a high-rated defender by consuming large amounts of FC 26 Coins as you could in Ultimate Team mode.

Therefore, the adjustments to AI defenders in this update are crucial for players.

3. Career Mode

This update includes feature adjustments and bug fixes for Manager Career Mode.

First, the national team selection feature has been re-enabled. This feature applies to the real-time starting point of Manager Career and officially went live in May 2026, allowing players to participate in national team-related content more smoothly during their career development.

Additionally, a series of issues affecting the experience have been fixed:

1. In some Manager Career Mode instances, International Cup Tournament Final schedule was incorrectly displayed as the third-place match when viewed from the calendar, resulting in the finals marker being missing from the leaderboard;
2. The issue where Department filter would be incorrectly reset after modifying Scout Instructions key role filter has been resolved;
3. The bug where some positions in Attacker department list would abnormally disappear when a specific Key Role filter was enabled has been corrected;
4. The issue where Youth Academy scouting reports displayed placeholder minimum and maximum values instead of the actual attribute range has been fixed;
5. The occasional incorrect jersey display in social media feeds has been resolved.

In addition, the update corrected an issue where placeholder images of the current team might appear on Men's International Cup player statistics page, and ensured that inaccurate information would no longer be displayed when clicking to view more statistics, thus improving the overall data display and the stability of Career Mode.

In fact, player opinions on the previous Career Mode were mixed. Some found it very fun with the right mods and settings, while others found it tedious and riddled with bugs.

The adjustments to Career Mode in FC 26 Update 1.6.2 were arguably the most comprehensive, not only because of the numerous bug reports, but also because it was one of the most appealing aspects of FC 26.

In retrospect, community criticism of FC 26 saw some players regretting their full-price get because of bugs and glitches, while others argued that those players merely lacked skill, and that the game itself was not at fault.

However, I believe that problems are unavoidable. The key is the developers' attitude towards these problems. If they can be resolved promptly and effectively, while also keeping up with the times and continuously improving and innovating the game content, then this game is still worth having.

After all, some players believe that EA has been selling a game for 30 years without any substantial improvements. FC 26 needs some innovation.

Hidden Jerseys?

In fact, before Update 1.6.2 was released, players were already paying attention to an unknown update.

Back when The World's Game update went live, Bosnia and Herzegovina was already included in the list of 53 fully licensed playable national teams. However, the team used generic kits at the time of the update.

Although the official statement clearly stated that the officially licensed jerseys of Bosnia, Herzegovina and Congo DR would be implemented in a future update.

But today, players can confirm that this future update is not Update 1.6.2. We might as well speculate that FC 26 will release another update at the end of the month?

EA Advertising

Yes, you read that right. Alongside Update 1.6.2, EA Advertising also launched. FC 26 claims that the core of this platform is to dynamically and in real-time integrate brand advertising into the game experience, enhancing it rather than interrupting it. Is this really the case?

Let's look at the methods of ad integration, which mainly fall into two categories:

• Background Ads
• Interactive Ads

1. Background Ads

Brand ads will appear on virtual billboards and stadium signage around the field, including LED lights, scoreboards, and large-screen overlays. Some brands may offer customized vanity items, such as themed jerseys or stadium decorations.

2. Interactive Ads

These ads directly link the brand to the gameplay, and players will actively interact with them while playing. For example, the previous collaboration between FC 26 and Red Bull attracted over 128 million matches and the completion of 1.2 million goals.

Currently, Visa, Lowe's, Red Bull, and Peacock are known to have joined FC 26. This is just the beginning of EA Advertising; if the response is positive, more brands may join, perhaps including those that players prefer.

Player Opinions

Player opinions on EA Advertising are polarized. Supporters believe it increases the game's realism, as many brands are already integrated into real stadiums; opponents argue that advertising might excessively intrude on core gameplay, negatively impacting the experience, a consequence seen after EA integrated advertising into UFC 4.

I wonder what you, the readers of this article, think about advertising in matches. In my opinion, as long as it doesn't severely interfere with the player's view and gameplay experience, advertising can indeed make the virtual stadium feel more realistic.

If you want to learn more about update 1.6.2 and subsequent comments on EA Advertising, follow EZG Facebook. I will be updating the latest FC 26 news and providing free giveaways for resources such as coins.

In short, although Update 1.6.2 is only a minor update compared to other updates, the changes and impacts it brings can be significant.

The World's Game update and some content from previous patches may change your attacking style in FC 26. The era of relying on AI's relentless tackling or automatic control of all defenders is over. Now, to win, you'll need more manual control, more patience, and more skillful passing.

This article provides an efficient attacking guide after FC 26 update, helping you gain an advantage before other players adapt to the new rules. Let's take a look.

Step 1: Understanding New Game Changes

Before changing your tactics, you need to understand the new changes on EA Sports FC 26 pitch. The core of this update is a significant reduction in defensive AI and physical strength, opening up new attacking possibilities.

• Team Press Nerfed: AI defenders will no longer automatically swarm your half. They will drop back and maintain formation, giving you more possession time to choose passing routes.
• Bruiser PlayStyle Nerfed: Now, powerful players will not be immediately pushed away when they collide. Because the effectiveness of shoulder tackles by powerful players has been significantly reduced, especially when tackling from behind.
• Interceptions are Buffed: While this might sound like a defensive buff, it's actually more beneficial for the attack. Players with an interception rating of 90 or higher now have elite-level interception animations. This means that when you lose possession, you can regain it more quickly from a more advanced position.

Step 2: Adapt Your Formation and Tactics

Since AI ​​is no longer as aggressive in defending against opponents as before, you no longer need five defenders to hold on to the ball. Wide formations are the new mainstream tactic. AI ​​is now more compact in the middle, so you need to create space for attacks. Here are the two best formations and their tactics.

Formation 1: 4-3-3 (For Direct, Fast Attacks)

This formation allows fast wingers to create one-on-one opportunities with opposing full-backs. However, since double-teaming is less common, your skillful maneuvers become especially important.

Formation 2: 4-5-1 (Suitable for possession)

Advantages: This formation effectively limits the opponent's midfield. Because the opponent cannot continuously press you, you have unlimited time for triangular passing. If you often find it difficult to counter-attack in FIFA 26 matches, this tactic is perfect.

Step 3: Mastering New Attacking Mechanics

Previous patches specifically changed some aspects of gameplay, which you can use to counter your opponents. Specifically:

Manual triggering is crucial. AI's running has been slightly improved, but you shouldn't rely on it. You must use L1/LB to manually trigger runs and R1/RB to call for players to make forward runs, thus disrupting the opponent's defense.

90+ Interception Trap: This is the most underrated change. Once you lose possession, immediately switch to a midfielder with high interception ability. Since pressing is weakened, manually moving these players into passing lanes will immediately launch a counter-attack.

Use player lock-on by pressing both joysticks simultaneously (L3 + R3). This allows you to control a player making off-the-ball runs while AI ​​has possession. This will disrupt the opponent's defensive strategy because AI ​​won't know who to mark.

Constantly switch your attacking routes; AI ​​will no longer automatically track players running across the entire field. If you're on the left wing and see the opponent's defensive formation moving towards you, don't try to dribble past them. Use a high cross (hold □/X to increase power) to the other full-back or winger. AI's delayed retreat will create a two-second opening for you.

Use R1/RB to call players back to receive the ball. Don't just pass forward. When you pass to a striker or midfielder, hold R1/RB. They will drop back to receive the ball, thus creating space for the defenders. Once they receive the ball, immediately trigger the run of the wing behind them (L1/LB).

Step 4: Master Three Reliable Scoring Methods

Don't just use curveballs in FIFA 26. Learning the following three shooting methods will significantly improve your scoring rate:

Cut-Back Pass (Most Reliable)

Use a high dribble to bring the ball to the byline. Don't cross. Instead, stop sprinting, turn to face the penalty spot, and then use a low cross (R1+X / RB+A) to pass near the penalty spot. A midfielder or winger on the other side will easily tap it into the net. AI's ability to defend crosses has been improved, but its ability to defend lateral passes has been weakened.

Early Power Shot

When you approach the edge of the penalty area, if you see a defender retreating, hold L1+R1+O / LB+RB+B to trigger a low, powerful shot. This shot, while low to the ground, reaches speeds of up to 80 mph. In EA FC 26, goalkeepers will have a difficult time diving to save it.

Chip Shot

Because many players use high depth (70+) to compensate for weakened pressing, their goalkeepers often come out of position. Once you see the goalkeeper leave the defensive line, immediately press L1+O / LB+B to chip the ball. This update specifically enhances the trajectory of the chip shot in 1v1 situations.

Finally, a tip: when things aren't going well on the field, don't force your way forward. AI ​​won't automatically hand you possession through pressing. You must master the methods described above.

That concludes this article on how to attack correctly in FUT 26. If you want to get more information about FC 26 events, please follow EZG Facebook, where we'll also be holding giveaways from time to time.

Enjoy the fun brought by The World's Game update, and we wish you good luck in the tournament.

With 2026 FIFA World Cup kicking off in North America, EA Sports quickly capitalized on the hype. World's Game update for FC 26 introduces a brand-new standalone tournament mode, World Cup Mode. Currently only available offline, this is the closest EA can offer to a complete World Cup experience without official authorization.

This article will provide a complete overview of World Cup mode in EA Sports FC 26, helping you better understand the game.

Tournament Structure

EA FC 26 World Cup mode includes the tournament structure, group stage format, and actual match times, but the official tournament name and brand logo are missing. However, this won't significantly impact most players' gameplay.

World Cup mode fully follows 2026 World Cup format. The specific rules are as follows:

• Group Stage: At the start of the tournament, there are 12 groups, with 4 teams in each group. During the group stage, you will play three matches.
• Advancement: The top two teams from each group will automatically advance. Additionally, the eight best third-placed teams from all groups will also advance to the knockout stage.
• Knockout Stage: Unlike the previous format which started with Round of 16, this mode features a 32-team format. You will then advance through Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and finally the final.

Included Teams

World Cup mode features 53 playable national teams, 41 of which are the teams that qualified for the actual 2026 World Cup, along with some that did not qualify, allowing you to experience what it would have been like if they had advanced. The teams included are as follows:

• Europe: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkiye, Ukraine, Wales
• North America: Canada, Haiti, Mexico, Panama, United States
• South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
• Africa: Cabo Verde, DR Congo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
• Asia: Australia, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan
• Oceania: New Zealand

New stadium and Broadcast Package

To create an authentic international match atmosphere, EA has added specific venues to FC 26, as follows:

• Real Venues: Gillette Stadium (home of New England Revolution) and BMO Field (home of Toronto FC)
• Fictional Venue: Central Maw, a newly designed stadium designed to capture the passion and atmosphere of top international football finals.

In addition, the mode includes event-specific broadcast packages and unique post-match celebration cutscenes; however, no new commentary team specifically for this event has been added.

Disadvantages

World Cup mode is entirely offline, which is undoubtedly a huge disappointment for many players who enjoy experiencing online tournaments in previous FIFA games.

Furthermore, many players have pointed out that the in-game schedule does not match the real-world schedule, even in the group stage. Simulated matches often produce bizarre and unrealistic results, with strong teams frequently eliminated early or facing unexpected opponents in the final.

In addition, the mode has various bugs, including incorrect calculation of experience points and save/load issues. Players feel the content was poorly made and hope the developers will see it and fix it as soon as possible.

How to Build A Suitable Pre-Selection Lineup?

The game environment changes much faster during World Cup promotion than at any other time of year. Card prices can fluctuate dramatically overnight, new special cards can completely change the competitive landscape, and formations that worked last week may need to be adjusted by the weekend.

First, focus on player roles and positions, not ratings. A player with a rating of 87 will always perform better than a player with a rating of 92 but an unsuitable position if positioned correctly. Before investing, be sure to take the time to check player role compatibility.

Plan your coins according to FC 26 promotion schedule. Prime Heroes promo kicks off World Cup, and more themed promotions will follow.

Players need to plan ahead and prepare their coins accordingly. This will give you more flexibility than those who wait until prices spike before acquiring them.If you don't have enough funds, you can buy FC 26 Coins from EZG.com, which provides the safest and most efficient way to acquire them.

For players just starting to build their FUT 26 competitive lineup, we advise to follow EZG Facebook. There you'll find the latest FC 26 event information and discounts, and there will also be occasional giveaways.

This concludes our article on World Cup mode in EA Sports FC 26. All players who own the game can experience this mode for free. While the game has its shortcomings, some players have still enjoyed World Cup mode.

In addition, EA has released a new World's Game Edition for players who haven't yet acquired FC 26. This edition includes a Gold Starting Lineup Pack (overall rating 84 or higher, with at least one player rated 86 or higher), three untradeable player selection cards, and 3000 Season Points.

With 2026 World Cup countdown underway, the tournament is set to undergo one of the most significant rule reforms in recent years. FIFA is implementing a series of new rules to improve the pace of the game, increase effective playing time, and further reduce the impact of controversial decisions on match results.

These changes are equally noteworthy for EA FC 26 players. In recent years, EA has consistently strengthened the connection between the game and real-world football, with significant changes in real-world matches often reflected to varying degrees in subsequent versions.

If EA ultimately introduces some of these new rules into World Cup mode or other major tournament content, the pace of the game, tactical deployments, and players' on-field decisions could all see significant adjustments. FC 26 match experience may become closer to real football than ever before.

Time Limit

One of the most anticipated new rules in FIFA World Cup 2026 is the restriction on time-wasting behavior. According to the latest regulations, a player being substituted must leave the field from the nearest touchline within 10 seconds. If they fail to do so within the stipulated time, the substitute will be forced to wait one minute before entering the game.

The core purpose of this rule is to reduce the frequent delays that often occur in the later stages of FIFA matches, allowing for a smoother and more entertaining game.

Besides the substitution rules, FIFA plans to strengthen the management of match restart speed. Throw-ins, goal kicks, and other restarts will be subject to stricter time limits, with referees potentially even providing countdown timers.

If a team fails to restart within the allotted time, possession may be directly transferred to the opponent. The core objective of this adjustment is to reduce time-wasting and maintain a consistently high-intensity pace of attack and defense.

For EA FC 26, while the current substitution and restart processes are relatively simplified, allowing players to quickly execute actions, if FUT 26 introduces similar rules in future World Cup modes or major tournament updates, the pace of the game is likely to accelerate further.

You'll need to make passing choices and tactical decisions in less time. FC 26 tactics, which rely heavily on pressing and fast counter-attacks, are expected to have greater room to maneuver, while players skilled at using pauses to organize formations and adjust the tempo will need to adapt to a more compact game environment.

Injured Players

Another noteworthy change concerns injured players. According to new FIFA rules, players receiving treatment must temporarily leave the field for one minute before returning to play. Goalkeeper injury absences will also be more strictly managed to prevent teams from using this as an excuse for additional tactical adjustments.

While this change may seem minor, it could significantly affect the course of the game. In real football, teams sometimes use injury absences to disrupt the opponent's rhythm, and the new rule aims to reduce this.

In recent years, EA has significantly weakened the injury system in its games. However, if FUT 26 introduces FIFA's new rules in its future World Cup mode, the temporary absence of injured players could further enhance the realism of the game, forcing you to adjust your tactics when facing a short-term numerical disadvantage.

In this situation, if your key player is temporarily unavailable, you can buy FC 26 Coins from EZG.com to acquire a new player and strengthen weak positions. Furthermore, follow EZG Facebook will keep you informed about the latest promotions and giveaways, helping you easily build your ideal squad.

Water Breaks

Besides changes in tempo, FIFA World Cup 2026 will also introduce more frequent water breaks. Since some matches will be played in high temperatures, a water break may be scheduled approximately every 22 minutes in each half.

This rule, initially conceived for player health reasons, has sparked considerable controversy. Supporters argue that hydration breaks help players maintain their competitive edge, while opponents believe it disrupts match flow and gives coaches additional tactical adjustments.

In EA FC 26, if a similar design is incorporated into the future World Cup mode, players will have more opportunities for tactical adjustments, allowing them to rearrange formations, intensify pressure, or exploit opponent weaknesses at crucial moments, greatly enriching match strategies.

Fouls

Meanwhile, FIFA plans to further regulate player behavior. During matches, players who intentionally cover their mouths while communicating may face penalties, including leaving the field to protest or even being sent off with a red card. This measure aims to reduce inappropriate behavior during matches.

Another major change in FIFA World Cup 2026 is the further expansion of VAR technology. Under the new rules, VAR can intervene in more match scenarios, including correcting incorrect corner kick decisions, fouls during attacks, red cards resulting from second yellow cards, and player identification errors.

In the past, some controversial decisions that could have changed the outcome of a match were often uncorrectable, but the new rules will minimize the impact of human error on the result.

If EA FC 26 continues to enhance its referee system simulation in the future, players may experience more realistic refereeing logic. Whether it's set-piece challenges, physical confrontations in the penalty area, or defensive actions, they may face stricter review standards.

With the improvement of the referee system and the realism of the match, the disciplinary management mechanism in FUT 26 is also expected to be more refined, requiring players to pay closer attention to the risk of fouls and tactical choices made by players in high-pressure matches.

Overall, the new rules of FIFA World Cup 2026 almost entirely revolve around one core goal: reducing time wastage, increasing the pace of the game, increasing effective playing time, and enhancing entertainment value, indicating that football is entering a new phase emphasizing efficiency and fluidity.

For EA FC 26 players, these rules could also influence the future development of World Cup mode and the online competitive environment. If EA ultimately integrates these elements into FC 26, players will enjoy a brand-new football game experience with a faster pace, more accurate judgments, and richer tactical variations.