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So far, Team of the Year Attackers, Midfielders, and Icons Team 1 have officially joined the player pool. And today, TOTY Defenders and TOTY Icons Team 2 will also be added to the game’s card packs, bringing FIFA 26 event to a climax.

Currently, there are quite a few TOTY cards worth acquiring this season, especially TOTY Marcelo card from TOTY Icons Team 1. This article will introduce the upcoming EA FC 26 TOTY release date and provide a review of TOTY Marcelo card.

Release Date

As in previous years, FC 26 TOTY release plan is divided into four phases. First, attackers will be added to the card packs, followed by midfielders, and finally defenders and goalkeepers. All player cards will then be added to the card packs for a grand week-long finale, culminating in the release of 12th Man and 12th Woman cards the following day.

Here are the specific release dates:

• TOTY Attackers: Friday, January 16
• TOTY Midfielders: Sunday, January 18
• TOTY Defenders & Goalkeepers: Tuesday, January 20
• TOTY Icons Team 1: Friday, January 16 - Tuesday, January 20
• TOTY Icons Team 2: Tuesday, January 20 - Friday, January 23
• TOTY Full Release: Thursday, January 22 - Friday, January 30
• TOTY 12th Man & 12th Woman: Friday, January 23 - Friday, January 30

If you have specific target positions, save your card packs for those release windows. If you want to try players in all positions, then the full lineup release period from January 22nd to 30th is your best option.

TOTY Icons Team 1

TOTY Icons Team 1 is now available. The complete card list is as follows:

• Zlatan Ibrahimović (ST, Sweden) - 95
• Jairzinho (RW, Brazil) - 94
• Lilian Thuram (RB, France) - 93
• Marcelo (LB, Brazil) - 92
• Wayne Rooney (ST, England) - 92
• Caroline Seger (CM, Sweden) - 91

The arrival of the new TOTY Icon Marcelo has instantly ignited the enthusiasm of the player community. The pairing of Marcelo and Ronaldinho is inherently nostalgic, but what truly makes this card stand out is not just the nostalgia factor, but also the improved card performance.

Marcelo SBC Mission

This card is extremely powerful and is the most expensive Legendary Player SBC in EA FC 26 to date, requiring approximately 1.7-1.8 million FC 26 coins. To obtain this card, you need to complete the following 12 tasks before February 6th.

Challenge 1: On a Loan

Squad Requirements: 84+ Team Rating

Solution: 4x 82's, 6x 84's, and 1x 86-rated players

Challenge 2: Los Blancos

Squad Requirements: 86+ Team Rating Must feature at least 1x TOTW and 1x Real Madrid player

Solution: 3x 87's, 3x 86's, and 5x 84-rated players

Challenge 3: 87-Rated Squad

Squad Requirements: 87+ Team Rating

Solution: 3x 88's, 4x 87's, and 4x 84-rated players

Challenge 4: Top-notch

Squad Requirements: 87+ Team Rating Must feature at least 1x TOTW

Solution: 3x 88's, 4x 87's, and 4x 84-rated players

Challenge 5: 87-Rated Squad

Squad Requirements: 87+ Team Rating Must feature at least 1x TOTW

Solution: 3x 88's, 4x 87's, and 4x 84-rated players

Challenge 6: 88-Rated Squad

Squad Requirements: 88+ Team Rating

Solution: 1x 90, 2x 89's, 2x 88's, and 6x 86-rated players.

Challenge 7: 88-Rated Squad

Squad Requirements: 88+ Team Rating Must feature at least 1x TOTW

Solution: 1x 90, 2x 89's, 2x 88's, and 6x 86-rated players.

Challenge 8: 89-Rated Squad

Squad Requirements: 89+ Team Rating

Solution: 2x 87's, 3x 88's, 4x 89's, and 2x 90's

Challenge 9: 89-Rated Squad

Squad Requirements: 89+ Team Rating

Solution: 2x 87's, 3x 88's, 4x 89's, and 2x 90-rated players

Challenge 10: 89-Rated Squad

Squad Requirements: 89+ Team Rating Must feature at least 1x TOTW

Solution: 2x 87's, 3x 88's, 4x 89's, and 2x 90-rated players

Challenge 11: 89-Rated Squad

Squad Requirements: 89+ Team Rating Must feature at least 1x TOTW

Solution: 2x 87's, 3x 88's, 4x 89's, and 2x 90-rated players

Challenge 12: 90-Rated Squad

Squad Requirements: 90+ Team Rating

Solution: 3x 88's, 3x 89's, 2x 90's, and 3x 91-rated players

Marcelo TOTY Card Review

Compared to the previously released Base Icon Marcelo (89 OVR) and Champions Icon Marcelo (89 OVR), TOTY Marcelo (92 OVR) shows significant improvements in Pace, Shooting, Defending, and Physical.

This makes Marcelo the strongest left-back in FUT 26, and almost impossible for any other player to surpass before TOTS. It’s expensive, but incredibly worthwhile.

TOTY Marcelo's most striking feature is his Anticipate + Jockey + Intercept playing style setup. This combination is perfect for a full-back, ensuring defensive stability while greatly expanding attacking options. Not to mention his 91 acceleration and 90 defensive ability, making this card virtually unstoppable on the field.

When attacking, TOTY Marcelo’s presence is also extremely strong. He can not only execute traditional overlapping runs but also frequently cut inside to midfield and even participate in playmaking and breakthroughs on the edge of the penalty area. Combined with his excellent rolling ability, his dribbling is incredibly smooth.

As a left-back, his ball control and footwork have completely surpassed the traditional full-back category.

If you enjoy playing him as a playmaking Falseback or an attacking Wingback, his passing, dribbling, especially his Tiki-Taka and technical abilities will definitely not disappoint. If you also have Ronaldinho, this duo will be unstoppable on the field.

Is he worth it?

Currently, TOTY Marcelo costs approximately 1.7 million FUT 26 coins and requires many FOD players with ratings of 89-90, making the acquisition cost not low. However, considering TOTY event, this price is reasonable.

Furthermore, compared to other mainstream left-backs like Théo Bernard François Hernandez, Marcelo has significant advantages in technique, ball control, attack, and defense. In the current version, there are almost no truly comparable alternatives.

If you feel it's not the right time to acquire him, you can rent this card to experience it first. Once you get used to his rhythm, this card may very well become your most satisfying investment in the entire TOTY event.

Overall, FC 26 TOTY Icon Marcelo isn't just a nice-looking nostalgia card; he's a top-tier player who can truly change the way the left flank plays. His offensive prowess is undeniable among left-backs, and he's equally reliable defensively. This card is currently the most recommended acquiring in EA FUT 26.

However, you can also look forward to seeing what powerful lineups you'll get from today's TOTY Icons Team 2. Good luck with opening packs and upgrading during TOTY!

After six days of voting involving millions of players worldwide, EA Sports FC 26 officially announced the final list of Men's and Women's Teams of the Year , as well as the first batch of male and female TOTY captains. This annual event remains one of the most anticipated moments in Ultimate Team, celebrating the best players of the past year while significantly impacting the in-game economy and environment.

These selected players, based on their outstanding performances in 2025 season, will receive cards with extremely high ratings and significant attribute boosts. Historically, TOTY cards have been among the most powerful items in Ultimate Team, often defining gameplay for months after their release.

EA FC 26 All-Star Team event will officially launch on January 16, 2026 at 6 PM GMT, and will last approximately two weeks until the end of the month. During this period, players can expect a large number of card packs to open, transfer market fluctuations, and a variety of limited-time content designed to encourage participation in all Ultimate Team modes.

EA Sports has also confirmed that 12th Player will receive a special card – an honor awarded to players who narrowly missed out on making official TOTY XI. In addition, several honorable mention cards will be released, rewarding players who received strong community support but were not ultimately selected. All of these new cards are expected to be officially announced by the end of January.

Team of the Year (Men’s)

This year’s roster is a complete overhaul compared to last year. Only Mbappé retains a place in FC26, and due to his outstanding performance in 2025 season, he has been appointed as the inaugural captain of EA SPORTS FC Men’s TOTY. He played 28 games for Los Blancos in 2025, scoring 59 goals.

Surprisingly, Champions League Champions Paris Saint-Germain has the most players selected this year, while Premier League champions Liverpool only have Declan Rice included. This is Declan Rice’s seventh appearance in EA SPORTS FC TOTY. Here is the complete list of Men’s Team of the Year:

• GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma - Paris Saint-Germain & Italy
• DF: Jules Koundé - Barcelona & France
• DF: William Saliba - Arsenal & France
• DF: Virgil van Dijk - Liverpool & Netherlands
• DF: Nuno Mendes - Paris Saint-Germain & Portugal
• MF: Pedri - Barcelona & Spain
• MF: Declan Rice - Arsenal & England
• MF: Vitinha - Paris Saint-Germain & Portugal
• FW: Ousmane Dembélé - Paris Saint-Germain & France
• FW: Erling Haaland - Manchester City & Norway
• FW: Kylian Mbappé - Real Madrid & France

Team of the Year (Women’s)

After retiring from international football in 2023, Endler returned to OL Lyonnes in top form, thus replacing veteran German player Ann-Katrin Berger as Women’s FC26 TOTY’s goalkeeper.

The captain of the women’s team is Lucy Bronze, who is also the only player in FC TOTY’s defense to hold the position for two consecutive years. In the past year, she has achieved remarkable results for both her club and national team, winning 2025 European Championship. Here is the complete list of Women’s Team of the Year:

• GK: Christiane Endler - OL Lyonnes & Chile
• DF: Lucy Bronze - Chelsea & England
• DF: Millie Bright - Chelsea & England
• DF: Leah Williamson - Arsenal & England
• DF: Selma Bacha - OL Lyonnes & France
• MF: Aitana Bonmatí - Barcelona & Spain
• MF: Mariona Caldentey - Arsenal & Spain
• MF: Alexia Putellas - Barcelona & Spain
• FW: Clàudia Pina - Barcelona & Spain
• FW: Ewa Pajor - Barcelona & Poland
• FW: Alessia Russo - Arsenal & England

12th Player Voting

To further engage the community, FUT 26 will begin voting on January 17th at 6:00 PM GMT and end on January 20th at 5:59 PM GMT to select the 12th Men's and Women's Players.This voting system allows fans to recognize players who performed exceptionally well in 2025 but unfortunately did not make the final eleven.

Players can vote directly through EA SPORTS FC 26 game client or its companion app. Winning the 12th place player vote usually earns a card, and due to its limited supply and fan-driven selection, it is as popular as, or even surpasses, certain TOTY items.

If your favorite player didn't make the official FC 26 TOTY lineup, this is an excellent opportunity to help them obtain special cards with high ratings or significant boosts during the event.

Card Release Schedule

The full release schedule for EA FC 26 TOTY has been officially announced by the developers. At the start of the event, TOTY Legends and Forwards will be released in card packs, obtainable through Transfer Market using FC 26 coins, which has historically caused server crashes.

The following days will be equally busy, with TOTY Midfielders and Defenders also being released in card packs. Finally, the highly anticipated 12th Player card pack will be released.

The specific dates for TOTY forwards, midfielders, defenders, and goalkeepers to appear in EA SPORTS FC 26 Ultimate Team card pack item pool are as follows:

• TOTY Attackers - Jan 16-18
• TOTY Midfielders - Jan 18-20
• TOTY Defenders + GK - Jan 20-22

All TOTY players, including Men’s and Women’s 12th Players and Honourable Mentions, will be added to the card pack on the following dates:

• TOTY Icons Team 1 - Jan 16-20
• TOTY Icons Team 2 - Jan 20-23
• Full TOTY XI - Jan 22-30
• TOTY Honourable Mentions & 12th Players - Jan 23-30
• TOTY Icon Swaps - Jan 29

During the event, you can also expect upcoming must-do SBC challenges, TOTY Honourable Mention items, and much more.

This concludes the latest news on FIFA 26 Team of the Year. We will release any new information to you immediately. We hope this year’s TOTY lineup will help you dominate your club!

EA FC 26 Team of the Year is expected to begin on January 16th. This means that in just one week, fans will be in for a busy few weeks in Ultimate Team mode.

This highly anticipated event is arguably one of the most important events of FC year, as it allows players to vote for their favorite football stars, who, after a final selection process by the developers, will receive high-rated cards in the game.

Notably, voting began on January 7th, 2026 at 6:00 PM GMT and will end on January 12th at 5:59 PM GMT. During this period, you can vote for both the men’s and women’s FC 26 TOTY. This article will provide you with all the information you need to know about TOTY event.

TOTY Voting

Besides selecting the best men’s and women’s teams of the past year, this year also features the addition of Best Captains for both men’s and women’s teams, awarded to the most outstanding players in each team’s best lineup. EA SPORTS FC 26 will also release exclusive Team of the Year player items to commemorate each selected player.

You can vote for four main position groups on the official game website: Goalkeeper, Defenders, Midfielders, and Forwards. You can freely choose the candidates you believe most deserve a TOTY player card.

TOTY Preparation

Before Team of the Year goes live, FIFA 26 will have Warmup SBCs to allow players to earn large card packs or other rewards to prepare for the main event.

If you want to benefit from TOTY, you should not only start voting now, but also save the card packs and FC 26 coins you currently have in the game, avoiding using all your high-rated players for random SBC challenges before the event starts.

When the event is released, the biggest problem won’t be a lack of card packs, but duplicate players. To avoid being forced to sell valuable players at a cheap price, you can deal with these duplicate players through SBC challenges, exchanges, and other challenges during the event.

Rewards

Once TOTY goes live in Ultimate Team, the main reward is TOTY player cards. These are significantly enhanced special cards designed to be among the top-tier player cards in the game.

During the event, the development team will also release a lot of exciting content, including mandatory SBCs, honorable mention cards, and even TOTY Icon cards.

Release Calendar

The complete release schedule for Team of the Year has not yet been announced, but it is almost certain to follow the same pattern as in previous years.

Voting is currently open for a limited time, followed by Warmup SBCs the following week. Immediately after, Forwards will be added to packs, and TOTY Icons will make a glorious return, boasting TOTY-level attributes and a brand-new card design. This is usually the busiest time for the game servers.

The following days will be equally busy, with TOTY Midfielders and Defenders being added to packs. Honourable Mentions will be released a week later, rewarding players who, while not selected for the main team, still performed exceptionally well over the past year, and these players will receive significantly upgraded cards. Finally, there’s the fan-favorite 12th Man pack.

Here is the predicted TOTY release calendar, all times are in GMT:

• EA FC 26 TOTY Voting Opens: January 7, 2026 (Confirmed)
• TOTY Warmup: January 14, 2026 (Leaked)
• TOTY Icons Team 1 in Packs: January 16, 2026 (Leaked)
• TOTY Forwards in Packs: January 16, 2026 (Predicted)
• TOTY Midfielders in Packs: January 18, 2026 (Predicted)
• TOTY Defenders in Packs: January 21, 2026 (Predicted)
• TOTY Icons Team 2 in Packs: January 21, 2026 (Predicted)
• All TOTY players in Packs: January 23, 2026 (Predicted)
• Honorable Mentions in Packs: January 24, 2026 (Predicted)
• 12th Man Voting: January 27, 2026 (Predicted)
• 12th Man in Packs: January 30, 2026 (Predicted)

Nomination List

Below is the complete official nomination list for FUT 26 TOTY Men’s and Women’s teams.

Goalkeepers

• Alisson Becker
• Thibaut Courtois
• David Raya
• Gianluigi Donnarumma
• Manuel Neuer
• Jan Oblak
• Mile Svilar

Defenders

• Alessandro Bastoni
• Denzel Dumfries
• Gabriel Jesus
• Marc Guéhi
• Dean Huijsen
• Jules Koundé
• Marc Cucurella
• Marcos Llorente
• Marquinhos
• Maximilian Mittelstädt
• Nuno Mendes
• Willian Pacho
• Andrei Rațiu
• David Raum
• Amir Rrahmani
• William Saliba
• Nico Schlotterbeck
• Jonathan Tah
• Micky van de Ven
• Virgil van Dijk

Midfielders

• Maghnes Akliouche
• Salem Al-dawsari
• Nicolò Barella
• Jude Bellingham
• Bruno Guimarães
• Moisés Caicedo
• Frenkie de Jong
• Luis Díaz
• Ritsu Doan

Evander

• Ryan Gravenberch
• Grimaldo
• Pierre-Emile Højbjerg
• João Neves
• Joshua Kimmich
• Lamine Yamal
• Riyad Mahrez
• Scott McTominay
• Jamal Musiala
• Nico Paz
• Nico Williams
• Felix Nmecha
• Michael Olise
• Riccardo Orsolini
• Cole Palmer
• Pedri
• Raphinha
• Declan Rice
• Mohamed Salah
• Angelo Stiller
• Corentin Tolisso
• Federico Valverde
• Vitinha
• Kenan Yıldız
• André-Frank Zambo Anguissa

Attackers

• Julián Álvarez
• Antony
• Ayoze
• Bradley Barcola
• Karim Benzema
• Cristiano Ronaldo
• Ousmane Dembélé
• Désiré Doué
• Anders Dreyer
• Emanuel Emegha
• Serhou Guirassy
• Viktor Gyökeres
• Erling Haaland
• Harry Kane
• Moise Kean
• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
• Robert Lewandowski
• Romelu Lukaku
• Lautaro Martínez
• Jean-Philippe Mateta
• Kylian Mbappé
• Bryan Mbeumo
• Lionel Messi
• Christian Pulisic
• Patrik Schick
• Heung-min Son
• Vinícius Júnior

The full list of female players is as follows:

Goalkeepers

• Christiane Endler
• Hannah Hampton
• Lorena Leite
• Chiamaka Nnadozie
• Constance Picaud

Defenders

• Selma Bacha
• Millie Bright
• Lucy Bronze
• Ellie Carpenter
• Emily Fox
• Vanessa Gilles
• Giulia Gwinn
• Lauren Hemp
• Katie McCabe
• Tara McKeown
• Nerea Nevado
• Olga Carmona
• Wendie Renard
• Izzy Rodriguez
• Kayla Sharples
• Leah Williamson

Midfielders

• Aitana Bonmatí
• Alexia Putellas
• Bernadette Amani
• Sandy Baltimore
• Klara Bühl
• Delphine Cascarino
• Sam Coffey
• Erin Cuthbert
• Kenza Dali
• Fiamma Benítez
• Taylor Flint
• Laura Freigang
• Vanessa Fudalla
• Manuela Giugliano
• Pernille Harder
• Yui Hasegawa
• Lindsey Heaps
• Svenja Huth
• Sakina Karchaoui
• Chloe Kelly
• Rose Lavelle
• Mariona Caldentey
• Marta Vieira da Silva
• Janina Minge
• Olivia oultrie
• Patri Guijarro
• Trinity Rodman
• Georgia Stanway
• Ella Toone
• Vicky López
• Selina Vobian
• Keira Walsh
• Caroline Weir

Attackers

• Alba Redondo
• Lineth Beerensteyn
• Mathilde Bourdieu
• Linda Caicedo
• Sofia Cantore
• Selina Cerci
• Tabitha Chawinga
• Temwa Chawinga
• Claudia Pina
• Kadidiatou Diani
• Melchie Dumornay
• Elena Julve
• Esther González
• Cristiana Girelli
• Caroline Graham Hansen
• Edna Imade
• Clara Mateo
• Manaka Matsukubo
• Larissa Mühlhaus
• Ewa Pajor
• Alexandra Popp
• Géraldine Reuteler
• Alessia Russo
• Emma Sears
• Khadija Shaw

How to Obtain FC 26 TOTY Players?

FUT 26 Team of the Year players are only available for a limited time, so players need to act fast to get them. The specific methods of acquisition are as follows:

1. Transfer Market

The simplest way to obtain them is through the in-game transfer market. However, because TOTY players are highly sought after, it’s not recommended to buy them immediately when the event is at its peak. You can choose to wait until more player cards are available, although this might mean missing out on your truly desired player cards.

2. Complete SBCs

In addition, you can also get cards for free by completing SBCs during the event. After completing TOTY SBCs, you will receive a pack that may contain TOTY players.

3. Pack Opening

If you’re lucky enough, you can also obtain them from packs in the store. Good luck!

These are all the things you need to know about TOTY event! We will immediately release new content to inform you when there are new updates about the event.

The first patch for EA Sports FC 26 in 2026, version 1.4.0, has finally arrived, and this update has sparked heated discussions within the player community.

In this update, you’ll see fewer AI defenders in the game, and more breathing room on the field. The overall gameplay will be more natural and fluid in terms of responsiveness and pace.

This article will detail the changes in this EA FC 26 patch and their impact on the gameplay experience.

Artificial Intelligence Changes

The focus of this update is on adjusting AI ​​defensive mechanisms. The reaction time of AI-controlled defenders when marking the ball carrier will be shortened, making offensive play less restricted for players.

This change means that players can find those fleeting gaps between defensive transitions to attack, instead of facing an impenetrable wall of AI defenders.

This is good news for players who prefer creative passing and movement rather than relying on fixed offensive patterns. Many passes will now be successful instead of being intercepted by those incredibly fast AI players as before.

However, for defensive-minded players, the weakening of defensive AI means that these AI players will be more disoriented on the field, potentially making the game more offense-oriented and putting them at a disadvantage. This change is not conducive to their competitive play.

Therefore, it’s clear that players’ core idea isn’t to weaken AI players, but to have developers create a new, dynamic balance between offense and defense in human-versus-AI matches, instead of simply making one side easier than the other.

However, EA has stated that to encourage more fluid offensive play, they will continue to monitor player feedback on the AI ​​changes and make further adjustments later.

CPU AI behavior in Squad Battles has also been positively adjusted. Previously, players often complained that CPU AI frequently held the ball for extended periods in low-possession situations, making the entire game passive and significantly affecting the gameplay experience.

Now, CPU AI will no longer focus on ball possession as before, but will adopt a more proactive offensive strategy, resulting in faster-paced and more exciting matches, giving players a more realistic competitive environment. 

Gameplay Adjustments

In this update, EA has changed and optimized the minimum and maximum height thresholds used to determine player running types. The minimum height requirement for long-distance running for male players is 185 cm, and 165 cm for female players, while the height requirements for other long-distance running types remain unchanged.

In addition, the developers have added more realistic scenarios to the game. For example, when two players with significantly different strength attributes engage in a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge, the player with lower strength will be more likely to stumble. Players with higher strength and aggression attributes will be better at shielding the ball.

These two changes avoid some distortions seen in previous versions, making the game closer to reality. They also enhance the differentiated experience of players, indicating that physical attributes will become an important consideration for club managers.

This means that when choosing between two players with similar attributes but different physical abilities using the same amount of FC 26 Coins, players will be more inclined to choose the one with superior physical attributes.

Besides the differentiation optimization for players, the update also adds an important feature: defenders can now perform automatic clearances when there is a clear goal-scoring opportunity on the goal line. This aims to enhance defensive reliability and make last-ditch interceptions more effective.

However, this function only applies at the last moment, when the defender can block a goal. This heavily tests players’ reaction abilities; being too sensitive might disrupt normal defensive actions, while being too conservative defeats the purpose of the feature. Whether players can react in time in the fast-paced game environment remains to be seen.

Finally, the developers have reduced the shooting accuracy of shots taken immediately after performing skill moves, reducing many unrealistic goal-scoring opportunities.

Career Mode Optimization

Career Mode has also received several structural updates. Player status information has been expanded into separate Contract and General fields, providing a clearer understanding of players’ negotiation willingness and potential, allowing players to focus more on strategic decision-making.

In Player Career, Archetype eligibility is now linked to Origin Stories, and Starting AP is replaced by Starting Skill Level, providing a more narrative-driven career experience. Meanwhile, the developers have also adjusted the job security logic for managers in unstable positions; ICONs and Heroes can now sign contracts up to 3 years, increasing the dynamism and realism of FC 26 and allowing players to be more immersed in the game.

In addition to the above, the developers have also added a New Release hub in Ultimate Team, making it easier for players to quickly view featured content and browse the latest squad challenges, objectives, and other information.

This patch is not just a series of gameplay adjustments, but also reflects a shift in EA Sports FC 26’s attitude towards players. During the transition from FIFA series to EA Sports FC series, the developers have consistently faced the challenge of how to retain the core experience while responding to criticism from the player community.

This update shows that EA FC 26 has clearly incorporated more feedback from the player community, particularly regarding adjustments to defensive AI and Squad Battles pace, directly addressing the most common criticisms on player forums and social media.

While player reactions have been mixed, these changes demonstrate the developers’ willingness to listen to player feedback, make adjustments, and improve the game. We look forward to FC 26 delivering an even better gaming experience in the next update.

The new year has arrived, and EA FC 26 has launched this year's New Year Overdrive Evolution in Ultimate Team. This is the first evolution mission of the new year, so seize this opportunity to give your players a perfect start to the new year.

This EVO primarily targets right-back (RB) players. Evolution will improve a player's overall rating, speed, crossing, ball control, and other attributes, making the player a stronger RB.

Furthermore, this EVO is completely free and does not require any FC 26 coins or FC Points to unlock, so you definitely shouldn't miss it. Below, I will introduce the detailed information about this New Year Overdrive, hoping it will be helpful to you.

Evolution requirements

All evolutions in FC 26 have requirements; not all player cards are eligible. Player cards must meet the following requirements to participate in this New Year Overdrive Evolution:

• Overall rating: Max 85
• Position: RB (CB not allowed)
• Defending: Max 82
• PlayStyles: Max 10
• PlayStyles+: Max one
• Must not be: World Tour Silver Superstars Icon

Therefore, you need to find players who meet the requirements based on your existing player cards and evolve them. While it won't immediately create a super player with a rating over 90, this evolution allows player cards to develop in a balanced way, improving in all aspects and enhancing the player's on-field performance.

Upgrade details

Player Bonuses

The evolution system includes five levels. Each level is unlocked by playing one match with your currently active evolved player, making it easy for even casual players to get started. The following are the buffs provided to players at each level:

Level 1 Upgrade:

• Overall: +15 (Max 87)
• Ball Control: +15 (Max 88)
• Skill Moves: +2 (Max 4 stars)
• PlayStyle: Quick Step
• Role: Attacking Wingback++

Level 2 Upgrade:

• Dribbling: +15 (Max 87)
• Long Passing: +25 (Max 85)
• Reactions: +15 (Max 88)
• Stamina: +15 (Max 88)
• PlayStyle: Pinged Pass

Level 3 Upgrade:

• Shooting: +30 (Max 83)
• Defending: +10 (Max 80)
• Aggression: +15 (Max 80)
• Balance: +15 (Max 88)
• Curve: +25 (Max 88)

Level 4 Upgrades:

• Agility: +15 (Max 93)
• Short Passing: +25 (Max 86)
• Sprint Speed: +15 (Max 91)
• Strength: +15 (Max 80)
• Composure: +15 (Max 85)
• Role: Wingback++

Level 5 Upgrades:

• Acceleration: +15 (Max 91)
• Crossing: +25 (Max 92)
• Vision: +25 (Max 85)
• PlayStyle+: Quick Step+
• PlayStyle: Technical
• Role: Inverted Wingback++

Once your player completes all upgrades, you'll create a well-rounded, modern RB, making him a more threatening force on the field.

Upgrade requirements

Each level upgrade requires you to play one match in Squad Battles mode on the lowest Semi Pro difficulty (or Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Live Events) using a currently active EVO player.

This means the entire evolution process only requires five matches, making it one of the easiest and fastest evolutions in FIFA 26.

New Year Overdrive player recommendations

Choosing the right starting player card is crucial to maximizing the evolution value, especially if you plan to continuously evolve him. Below are some players who are very suitable for this evolution, but they are not necessarily your best choices; you can use them as a reference.

Tajon Buchanan - 85 OVR

Tajon Buchanan is a good choice. His Thunderstruck card has an OVR of 85, indicating excellent athleticism and unlimited attacking potential. Although the card is marked as RM, most players prefer to place him in RB position, where he performs exceptionally well.

Timothy Weah - 85 OVR

Timothy Weah's Ultimate Scream card has an OVR of 85, but his Shooting is only 79. This upgrade will raise it to 83, a significant improvement, allowing him to be gradually developed into an all-around RB.

Wesley - 85 OVR

Wesley's World Tour card has an OVR of 85. This right-footed RB from Brazil possesses exceptional speed and dribbling ability, excelling in offensive transitions and defensive runs. This evolution will enhance his passing ability.

Alistair Johnston - 85 OVR

Alistair Johnston's Winter Wildcards SBC card has a rating of 85. This card is more versatile, allowing him to choose between RB and RM positions. Speed ​​and stamina are his strengths, and this evolution will significantly improve his Shooting.

Julian Araujo - 85 OVR

Julian Araujo World Tour card has an OVR of 85. This card's overall stats are quite balanced, with the only weakness being its Shooting ability at only 46. Therefore, choosing Julian Araujo for this evolution will greatly compensate for this deficiency.

Marcos Llorente Moreno - 84 OVR

Marcos Llorente's Gold Rare card has an OVR of 84. He is an all-around player who performs well in multiple positions on the team. This evolution perfectly suits the inside-cutting RB position. You can choose to enhance him to make Marcos Llorente even more perfect.

Malo Gusto - 84 OVR

Malo Gusto's TOTW card boasts an OVR of 84. This French RB is known for his speed, stamina, and modern fullback style. This evolution will also significantly improve his shooting ability.

Besides the players mentioned above, these are also good choices:

• Max Aarons: 84 OVR - UEL Primetime card;
• Niamh Charles: 84 OVR - Squad Foundations card;
• Jeremie Frimpong: 83 OVR - Gold Rare card;
• Idrissa Toure: 83 OVR - TOTW card;
• Lewis Miley: 83 OVR - TOTW card.

In short, New Year Overdrive Evolution is one of the most popular evolutions in EA FC 26, not only free but also quick to complete. So whether you're preparing to build a competitive team or planning for future evolutions, this Evolution is definitely worth a try.