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FC 26 World Cup Guide: All Teams, Knockout Format, New Stadiums, and Known Issues

Looking to dive into FC 26's World Cup mode? This guide covers the tournament format, playable teams, new venues, and FUT preparation tips, while also highlighting the biggest issues players are encountering.

Jun 08, 2026 Author: EZG

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.FC 26 World Cup Guide: All Teams, Knockout Format, New Stadiums, and Known Issues

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.

Win FC 26 Prizes and Giveaway Follow EZG Facebook

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.

    FC 26

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