FC 26 Players

Another week has passed, did the World Cup team you support advance, or did they bow out? Regardless, if you're playing FC 26, make sure to check if you've unlocked all Glory Hunters Team 1 players you wanted, because Team 2 is just around the corner!

Although they belong to the same promo, the player rewards for Team 1 and Team 2 are largely separate; this means you must obtain them during their respective one-week availability windows.

Here, we'll introduce the exclusive player cards coming with Glory Hunters Team 2 and explain how to get them. We'll also provide some tips for wrapping up Team 1, just in case you need them.

Glory Hunters Team 2 schedule

As the second phase of Glory Hunters promo, Team 2 launches this Friday, July 3, immediately following the end of Team 1, and runs until the following Friday, July 10.

Importantly, Team 2 window coincides with the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 and the start of the quarter-finals. Consequently, the playable content in FC 26 will be even richer than last week's.

Leaked Team 2 lineup

You may have your own personal favorites in Team 1, but in terms of value, Glory Hunters Team 2 players are just as significant. Some are long-time fan favorites, while others have recently burst onto the scene during the World Cup.

• Erling Haaland
• Mohamed Salah
• Declan Rice
• Raphinha
• Gabriel
• Nuno Mendes
• Viktor Gyökeres
• Bruno Guimarães
• Antoine Semenyo
• Nico Williams
• Julián Álvarez
• Theo Hernández
• Giovanni Reyna
• Romelu Lukaku
• Rodrigo De Paul

In addition to the cards that drop randomly in packs, around 10 players will be available as SBC or Objective rewards over the coming week. Since these are guaranteed rewards, they are definitely not to be missed.

How to get Team 2 players?

First, SBC or Objective reward cards are earned simply by completing specific tasks. Along the way, you'll also earn potential pack rewards; opening these during Glory Hunters Team 2 gives you a chance to pull the new cards.

For seasoned FUT 26 players, SBCs are likely the easiest tasks to complete, simply select players from your club that meet the requirements to build your squad.

Individual objectives usually consist of a series of tasks; completing each one grants a reward, and finishing the entire set unlocks a bonus, such as rarer packs or the specific reward card featured in Glory Hunters Team 2.

As for Team 2 cards that drop randomly from packs, getting the ones you want ultimately comes down to luck; however, if there is a specific card you absolutely don't want to miss, you can consume coins or points in the store to redeem more packs and try your luck.

Alternatively, if you dislike leaving your fate to RNG, you can trade directly on the transfer market. The advantage here is that you can acquire exactly the card you want, though the downside is that it may need more coins.

Given this, we recommend securing FC 26 coins for sale at IGGM in advance and acquiring the cards before Team 2 ends. Once the event concludes, these cards will no longer appear in packs, making them much rarer.

Do keep in mind that when opening packs, you might pull common cards that aren't immediately useful to you. You can sell duplicates right away; for non-duplicates, be sure to check details like the player's nationality and club, as they might help you complete future SBCs.

Why participate in Glory Hunters Team 2?

If you took part in Team 1, you know the value of Glory Hunters lies in the player card rewards, which allow you to customize PlayStyles or PlayStyle+.

As two of the most important and rarest card attributes in FC 26, PlayStyles and PlayStyle+ determine a player card's maximum potential and the variety of gameplay strategies you can employ with them.

More specifically, after obtaining a Team 2 player, you can gradually unlock a unique skill tree through limited-time Live matches, specific FC 26 objectives, and multi-stage Evolutions, eventually upgrading them into a powerhouse equipped with four PlayStyle+ traits.

Additionally, Glory Hunters Team 1 and 2 players are classified as Showdown items; this means their stats fluctuate based on real-world World Cup progress, allowing you to experience an authentic, real-time match atmosphere in FUT 26.

To unlock the fourth PlayStyle+ for your Team 2 player, you need to acquire Glory Hunters Evolution consumable, which is also available as a reward for certain objectives and SBCs over the coming week.

How to wrap up Team 1 perfectly?

With only about a day left until Glory Hunters Team 1 ends, make sure to prioritize completing any remaining SBCs and objectives that are within your reach.

If you have any unopened packs saved up, go ahead and open them all now, unless you have already completed your Team 1 player collection. In that case, you might want to hold onto them to give your Team 2 progress a boost.

It is also worth noting that the final match of Journey of Nations objective series, the European leg, will go live alongside Glory Hunters Team 2, so be sure to make time to complete it!

That covers everything for now; we hope this helps you get the most out of your FUT 26 experience over the coming week! Good luck!

Following World Cup update to EA Sports FC 26, the defensive mechanics and player style effects have undergone significant changes.

Previously, tactics relying on Advanced Defending and specific style bonuses have become less efficient in the current version, especially after Bruiser style was weakened. This has led to a restructuring of the selection logic for defensive players and the execution of defensive plays.

In response to this change, a tactical system centered on a 4-4-1-1 formation has proven stable achieving a consistently unbeaten record in high-level matches and possessing a high ability to close out games early.

Defensive Mechanism Adjustments

After FC 26 World Cup update, the value of Advanced Defending has noticeably decreased. Actions that previously required button combinations are now less consistent, especially with the reduced benefits of relying on Bruiser style's physical confrontations, making proactive head-to-head defending unreliable.

In this environment, Tactical Defending mode has become a more stable option. Its core advantage lies in its simpler controls; defensive actions are automatically determined and executed by the system based on player position and the nature of the confrontation. 

In one-on-one defensive situations, this mechanism reduces misoperations and increases the success rate of tackles. Overall defensive focus shifts more towards positioning and support, rather than individual actions.

Center-backs

Since Bruiser style is no longer dominant in FC 26, the selection criteria for center-backs have changed. The current update emphasizes basic physical attributes rather than relying on specific style effects.

Height and physique have become primary indicators; center-backs approaching two meters in height have a natural advantage in dealing with high balls and head-on collisions.

Meanwhile, Lengthy speed-up skill has become more valuable, proving more useful than Quick Step in tracking back and defending in depth. In terms of styles, Interception and Anticipate remain stable additions, but are more of a bonus than a core component.

Overall, center-back configurations prioritize physical attributes, and reducing reliance on mechanics actually leads to greater stability.

Wings and Midfield

After FC 26 World Cup Update, wingers rely on cutting inside for a Finesse Shot finish as their main goal-scoring option. Therefore, players with Finesse Shot or Finesse Shot+ style are given significantly higher priority.

Combined with a Rapid style, they can maintain a sufficient advantage in one-on-one dribbling on the wings, while the effectiveness of a Low Driven Shot is relatively reduced.

Central midfielders bear more complex offensive and defensive responsibilities.

Both central midfielders need to possess both passing and defensive coverage abilities. Tiki Taka and Incisive Pass styles can improve forward efficiency, while interception and anticipation ensure defensive stability.

Stamina is particularly crucial in the current high-tempo environment; a stamina rating of 90 or higher is necessary to withstand the intensity of continuous pressing.

The attacking midfielder position leans more towards a combination of finishing and linking play. 5-star weak-foot players are more suitable, with their core ability focused on excellent shooting, combined with Incisive Pass and Short Passing playmaking abilities to ensure a stable output point in front of the penalty area.

Full-backs need to balance advancing and dropping back, making them the most crucial link in the transition between attack and defense in the entire system.

Tactical Structure

In FC 26, Balance style of attacking organization is more stable. Compared to the excessive forward runs in Counter mode and the space compression in Short Passing system, Balance setting achieves a balance between running and passing, allowing for a multi-pronged attacking structure in the midfield and forward areas.

In this structure, the synchronized forward runs of wingers, central midfielders, and center forward can create continuous attacking layers, with simple Incisive Passes creating breakthrough opportunities.

Defensive Depth is fixed at around 70 to form a high-pressing system. In the current version, players have high stamina, maintaining mobility even in extra time, thus significantly reducing the risk of a high defensive line.

Continuous pressing in the attacking third effectively limits the opponent's passing space and reduces the time the defense is under pressure.

Full-backs

In this FC 26 setup, the left and right backs have completely different responsibilities.

The left-back acts as an attacking wingback, primarily advancing down the flanks to provide width and a focal point for crosses.

The right-back is primarily an inverted wingback, moving more into the central area to create local numerical superiority with the center-backs and central midfielders, allowing the defense to quickly transition into a three-center-back formation after losing possession.

The biggest change brought about by this asymmetrical design is that the attacking routes no longer rely solely on the flanks, but add a stable passing and link-up point in the center, thereby improving overall tactical flexibility.

Midfield and Forward Roles

FC 26's left and right wingers employ an inside-forward balance role to ensure a balance between attacking involvement and defensive retreat. While attacking roles are active in attack, they can easily create defensive gaps after losing possession, making them less stable at the current pace.

The two central midfielders use a box-to-box balance configuration, providing continuous coverage on both ends of the pitch. This requires players to have high role-specific attributes; otherwise, it's difficult to support a high-intensity running system.

The attacking midfielder is positioned as a playmaker, emphasizing dropping deep to receive the ball and distributing it secondary, rather than directly marking the center forward. The center forward, using Advanced Forward role as the core output point, bears the main finishing responsibility in a single-striker system.

The core changes in this 4-4-1-1 system are concentrated in three points: defense shifts from advanced mechanics to tactical execution; the defensive line shifts from passive defense to high-pressing pressure; and the full-backs shift from a symmetrical structure to functional division of labor.

By the way, you can join IGGM FC 26 Glory Hunters Discord giveaway for a chance to win up to 10M coins.

In EA Sports FC 26 World Cup, this system can maintain match intensity while reducing reliance on complex mechanics, simultaneously improving defensive stability and offensive efficiency.

Its advantages in actual combat are mainly reflected in tempo control and game-winning ability, especially in high-level matches where it is easier to create sustained pressure.