EA Sports FC 26 is coming to screens this week and fans are getting excited about what is in store when the new game drops. The 33rd edition of EA Sports' popular football simulation series, it is the third instalment of the EA Sports FC series (following on from the FIFA series).
Every year, gamers - including the players themselves - beg developers for new features, Icons or gameplay updates and EA Sports FC 26 is no different. So, what can we expect to see in newest version of the game in 2025?
Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about FC 26, including release date, pricing, cover stars and more.
What is the EA Sports FC 26 release date?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Standard release date: | September 26, 2025 |
| Early access date: | September 19, 2025 |
EA Sports traditionally launches FC games on the last Friday of September and they are sticking to that again this year, meaning FC 26 will be officially available to play worldwide on September 26, 2025.
While the worldwide release is the last weekend in September, early access offers are available, allowing those who pre-order to play the game a week in advance on September 19, 2025.
How much will EA Sports FC 26 cost?
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On consoles such as the PS5 and Xbox, the price of EA Sports FC 26 is £69.99 in the United Kingdom and $69.99 in the United States.
The Ultimate Edition of the game is priced at £89.99 and $99.99.
You can, however, save 10 per cent on the game when you purchase through EA Play.
The PC version of the game is slightly cheaper in the UK, at £59.99 via Steam.
Nintendo Switch users can get the standard version for $59.99 or the Ultimate version for $79.99.
| Console | Standard | Ultimate |
|---|---|---|
| PS5 | £69.99 / $69.99 | £89.99 / $99.99 |
| Xbox | £69.99 / $69.99 | £89.99 / $99.99 |
| PC | £59.99 / $69.99 | £89.99 / $99.99 |
| Nintendo Switch | £56.36 / $59.99 | £69.99 / $79.99 |
Where to buy EA Sports FC 26
You can buy EA Sports FC 26 online at Amazon, as well as other official online retail stores such as the PlayStation store and Microsoft store.
PC users can purchase the game from Steam or the Epic Games store.
Nintendo Switch players can buy directly from the Nintendo website.
Who is the EA Sports FC 26 cover star?
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EA Sports/GOAL composite
Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham and Bayern Munich forward Jamal Musiala are the cover stars of the standard edition of FC 26, with the duo sharing the spotlight on the front of the game worldwide. Bellingham had the sole billing on FC 25, but has had to make room for his German rival this time round.
Meanwhile, the Ultimate Edition cover will feature none other than Zlatan Ibrahimovic in a clever recreation of a classic photo from the Swedish icon's time as a teenager at Malmo. He is sat on his bed, reading a magazine with Ronaldo Nazario on the front cover, surrounded by trinkets from his playing days, including a Paris Saint-Germain jersey, medals and the screen of Ultimate Team is subtly visible on the desktop computer.
EA Sports FC 26 trailer
The official reveal trailer was launched on July 16 - watch it above!
EA Sports FC 26 soundtrack
You can listen to the official EA Sports FC 26 soundtrack on Spotify.
Among the artists on the playlist are HAIM, The Cure, Ed Sheeran and Gurriers.
Read our guide to the music here.
Which consoles will EA Sports FC 26 be available on?
EA Sports FC 26 will be available to play on the usual console platforms, including PlayStation (PS4, PS5), Xbox (Xbox Series X, Xbox One), PC and Nintendo Switch.
What is the EA Sports FC 26 web app?
The EA Sports FC 26 web app and companion app are tools that allow player to manage their Ultimate Team via a web browser on their laptop or phone.
It means that you can make updates on the go without having to fire up your console.
Who has the highest rating on EA Sports FC 26?
EA Sports
Mohamed Salah and Kylian Mbappe share the spotlight as the highest rated men's players on EA Sports FC 26. The Liverpool winger's rating has actually gone up from 89 in FC 25, in a clear acknowledgement of his sensational form for the Reds. Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala, who share top billing on the front cover of the game are rated 89 and 88 respectively.
When it comes to the best women's players, Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas are each rated 91, with Caroline Graham Hansen following at 90 and Alessio Russo just outside the top three with a rating of 89.
Best men's players
| Rank | Player | Position | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohamed Salah | RM | 91 |
| 2 | Kylian Mbappe | ST | 91 |
| 3 | Ousmane Dembele | ST | 90 |
| 4 | Rodri | CDM | 90 |
| 5 | Virgil van Dijk | CB | 90 |
| 6 | Jude Bellingham | CAM | 90 |
| 7 | Erling Haaland | ST | 90 |
| 8 | Raphinha | LM | 89 |
| 9 | Lamine Yamal | RM | 89 |
| 10 | Achraf Hakimi | RB | 89 |
Best women's players
| Rank | Player | Position | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexia Putellas | CM | 91 |
| 2 | Aitana Bonmati | CM | 91 |
| 3 | Caroline Graham Hansen | RW | 90 |
| 4 | Alessia Russo | ST | 89 |
| 5 | Mariona Caldentey | CM | 89 |
| 6 | Patri Guijarro | CDM | 89 |
| 7 | Khadija Shaw | ST | 89 |
| 8 | Mapi Leon | CB | 89 |
| 9 | Marie-Antoinette Katoto | ST | 89 |
| 10 | Kadidiatou Diani | RW | 88 |
Best young players
| Rank | Player | Position | Potential rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lamine Yamal | RM | 95 |
| 2 | Desire Doue | RW | 91 |
| 3 | Endrick | ST | 91 |
| 4 | Joao Neves | CM | 90 |
| 5 | Dean Huijsen | CB | 89 |
| 6 | Jorrel Hato | LB | 89 |
| 7 | Estevao | RM | 89 |
| 8 | Jorthy Mokio | CDM | 89 |
| 9 | Kenan Yildiz | CAM | 89 |
| 10 | Arda Guler | RM | 89 |
Who are the new ICONS in EA Sports FC 26?
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EA Sports/GOAL composite
| ICON | Position | Debut rating | Champion rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Morgan | ST | 86 | 91 |
| Zlatan Ibrahimovic | ST | 86 | 92 |
| Marcelo | LB | 85 | 89 |
| Andres Iniesta | CM | 86 | 92 |
| Caroline Seger | CM | 86 | 90 |
| Francesco Totti | ST | 85 | 89 |
| Toni Kroos | CM | 86 | 90 |
| Oliver Kahn | GK | 86 | 91 |
| Giorgio Chiellini | CB | 85 | 89 |
| Cha Bum-kun | ST | 85 | 88 |
| Sissi | CAM | 85 | 88 |
| Steffi Jones | CB | 85 | 89 |
Ibrahimovic is the face of the Ultimate edition and has been given the ICON treatment as a result, but he is joined by load of other stars too.
Roma legend Francesco Totti, as well as recently retired midfield duo Toni Kroos and Andres Iniesta are in the game as ICONS too. USWNT star Alex Morgan and Brazlian Sissi are available in the game, as are imposing German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn and Italian stopper Giorgio Chiellini.
You can see the full list of new ICONS above.
What are the system requirements for EA Sports FC 26?
| Component | Min. requirements | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS: | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 11 64-bit |
| CPU: | Intel Core i5-6600K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 | Intel Core i7-6700 or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X |
| RAM: | 8GB | 12GB |
| GPU: | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 570 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 or AMD Radeon RX 5600 |
| DirectX: | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage: | 100GB | 100GB |
Read more about the system requirements here.