FC 26 SBCs

Although the 2026 World Cup hasn't kicked off yet, you might already be curious about who will take home the trophy! Fans always back their own teams, while casual viewers might favor established powerhouses or the defending champions.

To celebrate the event, and despite the lack of official FIFA licensing, FC 26 has released The World's Game Update as a substitute, allowing you to soak up the tournament atmosphere as either a virtual player or a manager.

So, if you want a more immersive World Cup experience in FUT 26, beyond participating in promos linked to the real-world schedule, you can use AI simulations to predict the tournament's winner and runner-up yourself!

Here, we'll walk you through our simulation process and results. If you'd like to try it yourself, we've provided a guide as well!

Simulation details and final results

First, it's important to note that the simulation relies on in-game data for the teams and players. Since real-world matches involve many unpredictable variables, these simulation results are for reference and entertainment purposes only.

The special tournament mode in EA FC 26 features 48 teams (matching the actual World Cup lineup), divided into 12 groups. The format progresses through group stages and knockout rounds, culminating in a final to determine the top finishers.

We followed this same schedule for our in-game simulation. To generate results quickly, we used the quick sim feature; however, if you want more precise outcomes, you can run your own simulation using the tutorial provided later.

Group Stage

During the simulated group stage, the game seemed to default to a 1-1 draw for matches where the outcome was uncertain, resulting in a high number of inconclusive ties.

That said, there were some notable highlights, such as Qatar defeating Ecuador 2-1 and Japan beating Tunisia 3-1. Other group stage winners included:

• France
• Colombia
• England
• Portugal
• Croatia
• Morocco
• Curaçao
• Germany
• Spain
• Belgium

Overall, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Switzerland took the lead in Group B, with Canada close behind. In Group C, Brazil and Morocco are currently vying for the top two spots, while Scotland sits in third place.

In Group D, Turkey and Australia hold the top two positions, with the USA at the bottom. Ivory Coast and Germany lead Group E, while Curaçao is currently third.

Japan and Netherlands occupy the top two spots in Group F, though Netherlands faces pressure from Sweden and Tunisia.

In Group G, Belgium has demonstrated expected dominance; Egypt is second, while Iran, with only one point, sits in third. Iran might still advance as one of the best third-placed teams if they win their final match.

Spain and Uruguay hold the top two spots in Group H, though Cape Verde is challenging Uruguay's position. In Group I, France sits at the top, with Senegal and Norway in second and third place, respectively.

Algeria leads Group J, a somewhat surprising development, followed by Argentina in second, while Austria and Jordan are at the bottom. However, Austria's goal difference appears insufficient to secure a spot as one of the best third-placed teams.

Portugal and Colombia occupy the top two spots in Group K, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a formidable opponent, sitting in third. In Group L, England and Croatia hold the top two positions, and Panama is third.

Following these results, another round of matches took place between the top teams from each group; the results are as follows:

• Brazil vs. Morocco: 2-2
• Netherlands vs. Japan: 1-1
• Germany vs. Curaçao: 2-0
• Norway vs. Iraq: 2-0
• Belgium vs. Egypt: 2-1
• Spain vs. Cape Verde: 3-3
• France vs. Senegal: 1-1
• Portugal vs. DR Congo: 2-0
• Argentina vs. Algeria: 2-1
• England vs. Croatia: 1-0
• Colombia vs. Uzbekistan: 3-0

Knockout Stage

The purpose of the knockout stage is to determine which teams will advance to the final phase of the tournament. Based on this, the first stage is the round of 32; notable simulation results include:

• Germany vs. Scotland: 3-1
• Morocco vs. Japan: 3-2
• Brazil vs. Sweden: 2-0
• France vs. Netherlands: 1-0
• Norway vs. England: 3-2
• Belgium vs. Austria: 2-1
• Colombia vs. Panama: 2-2
• Spain vs. Algeria: 5-3
• Argentina vs. Uruguay: 3-2
• USA vs. Portugal: 2-1
• Ivory Coast vs. Senegal: 2-1
• Turkey vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina: 3-1
• Australia vs. Iran: 2-1
• Czech Republic vs. Cape Verde: 3-2
• Switzerland vs. Egypt: 2-0

Next is the round of 16; the teams advancing include:

• Germany
• Morocco
• Algeria
• Belgium
• Ivory Coast
• Norway
• Argentina
• Switzerland

Finals

The first part of this stage is the quarter-finals, featuring the eight teams that advanced from the round of 16. The winners in FC 26 simulation were:

• Germany
• Belgium
• Argentina
• Norway

Consequently, the semi-final matchups saw Norway face Switzerland on one side and Belgium face Germany on the other. The eventual winners were Germany and Norway, who then faced off in the final: Germany took first place!

Additionally, Belgium defeated Switzerland 3-1 to secure third place.

In summary, the results of this FIFA 26 simulation for the 2026 World Cup are:

• Champion: Germany
• Runner-up: Norway
• Third Place: Belgium
• Fourth Place: Switzerland

Along the way, there were indeed dark horse teams and shock exist, but who can guarantee that real-life matches won't play out the same way? After all, beyond skill, luck is a crucial factor!

How is the simulation conducted?

If you enjoy playing it yourself, or want to run multiple simulations and aggregate the data for potentially more reliable results, you can run your own simulation using World's Game Mode tournament feature.

You can choose a preset tournament or create a custom one, add the national teams or clubs you wish to include, and configure the specific tournament rules.

How does FC 26 connect to the current World Cup?

Due to a lack of official licensing, FC 26 is celebrating the World Cup through The World's Game Update rather than a dedicated mode, meaning it misses out on many authentic World Cup elements.

Fortunately, however, you can track the World Cup performance of certain teams via Path to Glory promo; the game grants stat boosts to the corresponding players based on their teams' real-world results!

The event kicked off last Friday, June 5, including two squads; Team 2 is set to launch this coming Friday, stay tuned!

As this year's biggest sporting event, the World Cup has drawn widespread attention across various sectors, with people finding many ways to predict the outcome. Who will ultimately be crowned champion is sure to be the most compelling question of the summer!

With the start of World Cup, World Cup event in EA Sports FC 26 has also launched. Neymar Jr. has been added to 1 of 3 83+ Summer Tournament Nations Player Pick, quickly making him one of the most sought-after players on the market.

Neymar remains one of the most discussed and popular players in FC 26 at present. His supply in the in-game market stays tight, largely due to the card pool structure and sustained player demand.

To obtain Neymar, players need to repeatedly draw from this card pool. This event is limited to World Cup participating countries' player pool, and Neymar falls into that range.

This article attempts to construct a sustainable resource conversion structure based on practical experience and probabilistic logic of the cyclical operation mechanism.

It should be stated in advance that the in-game draw results are random, and the method described in this article cannot guarantee obtaining the target player.

Resource Cycle

After understanding FC 26 event mechanics and the basic principles of the cycle, we can acquire resources through the following methods to obtain at least ten Player Picks daily.

Daily Basic Output

After completing Daily Bronze Upgrade and Daily Silver Upgrade, Common Gold Upgrade converts lower-tier cards into 7 Silver and 70 Gold Common cards. These Gold Common cards are then invested in Daily Rare Gold Upgrade, reliably yielding 35 Rare Gold cards daily.

Adding the byproducts of the initial steps, at least 42 Rare Gold cards are obtained daily. Each player pick bundle only requires 4 Rare Gold cards, resulting in a zero-cost basic output of 10 Player Picks daily.

This constitutes the initial fuel for the cycle, while the acquisition and processing of high-rated cards determine whether the cycle can expand further.

High-Rated Card Processing

Cards with ratings of 85 to 88 obtained from FIFA 26 Player Picks should not be used directly or sold for FC 26 Coins. Their best destination is Provisions Pack. Each completed Provisions Pack exchange grants an additional 6 Player Picks.

For example, with 10 initial picks, if two cards rated 85+ are produced, a Provisions Pack chain can be activated, pushing the total number of picks to 16. This reset mechanism allows a limited number of high-rated cards to be converted into more picks, thus becoming a crucial lever for maintaining the cycle.

Secondary Conversion of Common Cards

Each FC 26 Provisions Pack exchange also generates 15 Gold Common Cards. Using these Common Cards in Gold Upgrades further replenishes the rare Gold Card inventory.

Each two Gold Upgrades grants an additional Player Pick. Although the efficiency of a single conversion is limited, in a large-scale cycle, the accumulated amount of Common Cards is sufficient to support an additional 10% to 15% increase in picks.

Probability and Investment

After understanding the daily basic output and the cycle's operating mechanism, the next step is to combine probability analysis to understand the card pool composition and target card proportions for this FC 26 event, thereby assessing the actual value of each pick.

Card Pool Composition

1 of 3 83+ Summer Tournament Nations Player Pick in FC 26 is limited to players from World Cup participating countries. Statistics show this pool contains approximately 180-200 players from 32 countries, including at least 3-4 Brazilian players of the same 83 rating and nationality, besides Neymar.

Based on basic probability calculations, the expected value of getting Neymar in a single pick is less than 0.5%. Assuming 46 picks per day, the cumulative probability after a week of continuous play is approximately 15%-20%.

This means that continuously accumulating picks increases the chance of obtaining Neymar, but does not guarantee the final result. While the theoretical probability can be calculated from the card pool data players' perceptions are often influenced by survivor bias.

Survivor Bias

The in-game random number generator may exhibit clusters of consecutive high or low ratings within a short period. From a behavioral psychology perspective, players tend to remember successful picks and ignore numerous idle picks.

Therefore, the so-called optimal approach essentially involves concentrating scattered resources on high-frequency, low-cost repetitive actions, rather than truly altering the underlying probabilities.

Time-to-Reward Ratio

Completing the entire upgrade cycle daily requires approximately 90 to 120 minutes of menu operations. If the same time were spent trading on the market or achieving target rewards, directly getting Neymar with 200,000 FC 26 Coins might be more efficient.

The core advantage of the cycle operation lies in maximizing the utilization of non-tradable resources and concentrating limited resources into more Player Picks.

It is suitable for zero-cost players who do not wish to invest additional coins. However, for users seeking certainty, acquiring directly after the market price stabilizes is a more rational choice.

Market Volatility

The price of Neymar will naturally decline after FC 26 market supply increases. Rare card prices typically experience a short-term drop within 48 hours of a new event launching. If the cycle operation remains unsuccessful after continuous investment, it is advisable to pause and observe market trends.

Considering Evolutions requirement, Neymar's value lies more in its malleability than its base attributes, so there's no need to rush to acquire it in the first week.

Repeating 1 of 3 83+ Summer Tournament Nations Player Picks, building a self-sustaining resource flow through daily upgrades and Provisions Pack cycles, is currently the strategy with the highest probability of obtaining Neymar in EA Sports FC 26.

Players should note that this method does not change the underlying randomness and has a significant time cost. Players are advised to dynamically balance repetitive farming, market gets, and target rewards based on their own resource reserves and patience.

Finally, the game experience should not be tied to a single card; strategic flexibility is more important than adhering to a particular method.