EA FC 26 Black Friday Best Investment Tips | Market Crash Guide & Thunderstruck Promo

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• EA FC 26 Pro Open 2025-26 | Full Schedule, Format, And Key Players To Watch

  With the development of the gaming industry, another closely related field, esports, is becoming increasingly well known, and more major game companies are starting to develop their own exclusive tournaments.

  As a leader in the sports video simulation game industry, EA Sports FC launched its official esports tournament, FC Pro, in 2023, typically starting each year with the release of a new game in the series in September.

  Therefore, this year, following the launch of FC 26 in September, FC 26 Pro tournament schedule quickly followed. The entire tournament is divided into multiple stages, with the most anticipated event besides the final being the upcoming FC 26 Pro Open.

  Below, we will mainly introduce FC 26 Pro Open schedule and other related content.

  

  What Is FC 26 Pro Open?

  FC 26 Pro Open is actually part of the entire FC 26 Pro tournament for 2025-26, including the final; therefore, the subsequent tournament is also referred to as FC Pro World Championship.

  Although only a select few will reach the finals, FC 26 Pro Open brings together 24 top players from around the world to compete in a 1v1 group stage, offering viewers and fans the most exciting matches during this phase.

  FC 26 Pro Overall Schedule

  Before Pro Open, FC 26 Pro ran through the following schedule starting in early September:

  • Late September - October: Ladder & Regional Qualifiers
  • October 31 - November 2: FC Pro Open Global Qualifier

  Pro Ladder, serving as the preliminary round, attracted an astonishing 77,000 participants, with only 43 advancing to Regional Qualifiers, highlighting the intense competition.

  From November 24, 2025, to January 20, 2026, FC 26 Pro Open group stage will continue until the final winner is determined.

  

  FC 26 Pro Open Format

  Sixteen players have emerged victorious from the qualifying rounds. These, along with eight players who qualified directly for FC 26 Pro Open based on their outstanding performance last season, will be divided into four groups.

  FC 26 Pro Open will then adopt a double round-robin format, held in London, England. Only the top four players from each group will receive results:

  • The first-place finisher will directly advance to the top eight and immediately qualify for World Championship.
  • The second and third-place finishers will advance to Open Finals.
  • The fourth-place finisher will be invited to participate in FC Pro 27 Open Global Qualifier.

  FC 26 Pro Open will conclude with the finals starting on January 26, 2026. All specific schedules during the period are as follows:

  • Group Stage, Day 1 - Monday, November 24th, 2025, 18:00 UTC
  • Group Stage, Day 2 - Tuesday, November 25th, 2025, 18:00 UTC
  • Group Stage, Day 3 - Monday, December 1st, 2025, 18:00 UTC
  • Group Stage, Day 4 - Monday, December 8th, 2025, 18:00 UTC
  • Group Stage, Day 5 - Monday, January 5th, 2026, 18:00 UTC
  • Group Stage, Day 6 - Monday, January 12th, 2026, 18:00 UTC
  • Group Stage, Day 7 - Monday, January 19th, 2026, 18:00 UTC
  • Group Stage, Day 8 - Tuesday, January 20th, 2026, 18:00 UTC
  • Finals - Monday, January 26th, 2026, TBC

  FC 26 Pro Open Fighters And Groupings

  The 24 fighters are divided into 4 groups in alphabetical order, as follows:

  Group A:

  • Vejrgang
  • LJR Peixoto
  • Tekkz
  • Lukas_Official11
  • Tuga810
  • Yaskow

  Group B:

  • ManuBachoore
  • Obrun
  • Emre Yilmaz
  • Darkley11
  • Umut
  • Caccia

  Group C:

  • nicolas99fc
  • Brice
  • Danipitbull
  • Stingray
  • Alihanlion
  • Anasbadr

  Group D:

  • GuiBarros
  • Levi de Weerd
  • GugaFerraz
  • Paulo Neto
  • Nassada
  • HHezers

  Of the players listed above, the eight who directly qualified for the competition due to their outstanding performance in the previous season are:

  • Vejrgang
  • Obrun
  • Levi de Weerd
  • LJR Peixoto
  • ManuBachoore
  • nicolas99fc
  • Brice
  • GuiBarros

  What Are FC 26 Pro Open Cups?

  While the official competitions are in full swing, to allow remaining players to continue enjoying the fun of real-world competition, the game will also host FC 26 Pro Open Cups, held monthly from November 2025 to January 2026.

  November competitions concluded on the 16th. The schedule for the following two months is as follows:

  December Cup:

  • Ladder Dates: December 9th to 16th, 2025
  • Playoff Dates: December 20th to 21st, 2025

  January Cup:

  • Ladder Dates: January 6th to 16th, 2025
  • Playoff Dates: January 31st to February 1st, 2025

  

  Which Players Are The Favorites To Win?

  Although FC 26 Pro Open has 24 participants, the real focus remains on players who have already demonstrated outstanding performances in previous editions, such as Vejrgang from Denmark and Manu Bachoore, a two-time champion.

  Of course, luck doesn't always favor the same person, and upsets are common in any competition. Who knows, this year, an underdog might ultimately lift the trophy!

  Why Should You Follow FC 26 Pro Open?

  If you're a dedicated FIFA 26 player, watching professional players will undoubtedly be beneficial. Their player selection, team building, and tactical execution demonstrate a high level of expertise and can provide valuable insights for your gameplay.

  Furthermore, FC 26 Pro Open group stage and subsequent finals will be streamed live on Twitch and YouTube. To encourage viewership, there may be rewards during the streams.

  In short, as a dedicated tournament for football games, FC 26 Pro provides a new arena for those who love football but lack the opportunity to become stars on the pitch, allowing more people to fall in love with football itself.

  If you're playing FIFA 26 and interested in the matches, don't forget to watch the games regularly and enjoy the fun of predicting the champion with other players on the game forums! Have fun!

• EA FC 26 TOTW 10 Predictions | Top Picks, Standout Performers & Best Investment Targets

  EA FC 26 TOTW is announced every Wednesday. Since TOTW primarily features players who performed exceptionally well the previous week, it is predictable who will be chosen.

  Because each TOTW announcement typically includes around 20-25 players, predictions will inevitably miss some. We need to focus on players who performed outstandingly and whose in-game cards are valuable to most players.

  

  Predictions Players

  Troy Parrott - Ireland

  In Ireland's match against Portugal, Troy Parrott led his team to a stunning comeback victory against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal. He then scored a hat-trick against Hungary, helping Ireland advance to the playoffs and ending Hungary's hopes of advancing. Such outstanding performances fully deserve a TOTW card.

  In FC 26, Parrott's silver card value has skyrocketed due to anticipation, reaching nearly 10,000 FC 26 coins. Most players believe he will definitely appear in TOTW 10 lineup and is likely to receive a significant boost.

  Malo Gusto - France, Chelsea

  In the match on November 16th, France defeated Azerbaijan 3-1. Chelsea defender Malo Gusto earned Man of the Match with two assists. Although France didn't keep a clean sheet, his two assists are enough to warrant a TOTW selection.

  While Malo Gusto's playstyles this year perfectly fit the meta, his Jockey makes him incredibly strong in one-on-one marking, so his TOTW card is likely to be very strong.

  Michael Olise - France

  In the match between France and Ukraine, although Kylian Mbappé scored two goals and provided one assist, given the abundance and strength of Mbappé's special cards, and the fact that Man of the Match went to Michael Olise, he is more likely to be selected.

  However, it's currently uncertain how high an official rating Olise will receive. Besides an 86 OVR gold card, he also has an 87 OVR Ratings Reload card. The new card might be an upgrade based on his 87 OVR card, but considering the game's power curve, it might not reach an 88 OVR.

  João Neves - Portugal

  In Portugal's resounding 9-1 victory over Armenia, many players performed exceptionally well. João Neves and Bruno Fernandes both scored hat-tricks, Gonçalo Ramos contributed a goal and an assist, and Diogo Jota also scored a goal. However, João Neves is the most likely candidate for selection.

  This is because all three of João Neves' goals were from open play, while two of Bruno Fernandes' hat-tricks were penalties, making Neves' performance more deserving. Furthermore, João Neves' game card itself is strong, possessing powerful playstyles such as Tiki Taka and Press Proven.

  Mikel Oyarzabal - Spain

  In Spain's 4-0 victory over Georgia on Saturday, Mikel Oyarzabal scored two goals and provided an assist, making him the standout player. Oyarzabal's TOTW card rating is likely to be similar to his existing Cornerstones card, possibly 84 OVR or 85 OVR.

  Anthony Elanga - Sweden, Nottingham Forest

  Sweden suffered a crushing 4-1 defeat in Saturday's Switzerland vs. Sweden match. However, Switzerland had its bright spots, with Elanga creating numerous threats in the first half. He excelled in attack and delivered a beautiful cross to help his team equalize.

  If Elanga were to be acquired as a TOTW card, he would be a highly valuable card with high Pace and Dribbling, making him a worthwhile investment.

  Lautaro Martínez - Argentina

  On November 14th, Argentina defeated Angola 2-0 in a friendly match. With Lionel Messi having just been selected for TOTW last week, Lautaro Martínez, who contributed one goal and one assist, is a more likely candidate for selection this week.

  Niclas Füllkrug - Germany

  On Friday, November 14th, Germany defeated Luxembourg 2-0. Niclas Füllkrug scored both goals, making him a potential candidate for TOTW 10. If selected, this will be Niclas Füllkrug's first special card. His gold card is very useful, but his pace is a bit low, and the developers may buff his attributes.

  Bukayo Saka - England

  In England's 2-0 victory over Serbia on November 13th, Bukayo Saka scored a sensational goal and was named Man of the Match. Despite only scoring one goal, his excellent performance and Man of the Match give him reason to be selected for TOTW.

  Other Players And Matches

  • Italy vs Moldova (0:2): Giovanni Di Lorenzo scored a goal and helped his team keep a clean sheet, potentially earning an 85-rated TOTW card.
  • Croatia vs Faroe Islands (3:1): Josip Šutalo scored a goal and was named Man of the Match. A 5-weak-foot center-back in FC 26, he would be highly sought after if he received a TOTW card.
  • Norway vs Estonia (4:1): Despite Erling Haaland and Alexander Sørloth each scoring two goals, TOTW card might go to Julian Ryerson, who provided two assists, as Haaland recently acquired another special card, and Sørloth has a Showdown card that is about to be upgraded.

  Excluding Harry Kane

  Although Harry Kane scored both goals in England vs. Albania match on November 16th, he is unlikely to be selected for this week's TOTW. This is because he currently has a Festival of Football Captains event card still in his pack, and EA FC 26 typically does not allow the same player to have two unlockable special cards simultaneously.

  The above are some predictions for the players selected for this Wednesday's TOTW 10; their selection is not guaranteed. If you agree with the player predictions above, you can invest in those players in advance.

• EA FC 26 Patch 1.2.0 Issues & Festival Of Football Captains Promo Leaks | New Cards, Ratings, And SBCs Explained

  While EA FC 26 features a large number of UEFA Primetime updates, they haven't brought any revolutionary content to the game. This week's patch 1.2.0 also fell short of expectations, with widespread feedback indicating no significant changes to the gameplay experience and even more problems.

  This week's FIFA 26 experience has undoubtedly been quite boring, even terrible. However, this situation might change with Friday's new promotion. The content of the next promotion and some players have already been leaked: Festival of Football Captains.

  

  Patch 1.2.0 Unfixed Bugs

  Before discussing Festival of Football Captains promotion, let's briefly look at why patch 1.2.0 is so bad. Mainly, this patch fixes almost nothing.

  In Gauntlet mode, trophy models still appear in the corner flag area and even on the field. The official patch notes claim to have fixed this issue, but it hasn't actually been resolved. Furthermore, using the multi-select function to quickly switch players causes the game to crash; the temporary workaround is to manually switch players one by one.

  The patch also claimed to fix an inaccurate SP display issue and add a single digit, but now a new error has appeared for players with over 10,000 SP. The patch also mentioned fine-tuning AI defenders' marking of passers on the edge of the penalty area, but players don't perceive any difference in actual gameplay.

  This patch either didn't work or made almost no real changes, and even introduced new bugs. Reverting to the previous version might result in a smoother game.

  Festival Of Football Captains Promotion

  Next is Festival of Football Captains promotion, and it will as usual begin after UEFA Primetime promotion ends on Friday.

  This promotion is a themed campaign featuring national team captains, similar to Captains promotion in FIFA 22, but combined with the international tournament theme of Festival of Football.

  The cards in this promotion are not limited to veteran captains, but also include content related to National Team Showdowns, Icon Matchday Player Picks. A total of over 60 special cards will be added to the card packs, more than UEFA Primetime.

  Leaked Players

  Player cards are always leaked before promotions, and this time is no exception. A list of some very strong players has been leaked:

  • 92 OVR Mbappé ST France
  • 90 OVR Kane ST England
  • 89 OVR Van Dijk CB Netherlands
  • 89 OVR Donnarumma GK Italy
  • 89 OVR Lewandowski ST Poland
  • 89 OVR Pajor ST Poland
  • 89 OVR Cristiano Ronaldo ST Portugal
  • 89 OVR Irene Paredes CB Spain
  • 88 OVR Marquinhos CB Brazil
  • 88 OVR Szoboszlai CAM Hungary
  • 88 OVR Marta CAM Brazil
  • 88 OVR Williamson CB England
  • 88 OVR Heaps CAM America
  • 88 OVR Ødegaard CM Norway
  • 88 OVR Hegerberg ST Norway
  • 87 OVR Bernardo Silva CM Portugal
  • 86 OVR Tchouaméni CDM France
  • 86 OVR Morata ST Spain
  • 86 OVR Robertson LB Scotland
  • 85 OVR Casemiro CDM Brazil
  • 85 OVR Otamendi CB Argentina
  • 85 OVR Højbjerg CDM Denmark
  • 84 OVR Henderson CM England
  • 84 OVR Stanciu CM Romania

  Players To Watch

  92 OVR Kylian Mbappé ST France

  • PAC: 98
  • SHO: 92
  • PAS: 83
  • DRI: 94
  • DEF: 39
  • PHY: 78

  Kylian Mbappé's gold card already makes him the strongest striker in FC 26, which need over 1,800,000 FC 26 coins, and this time he's been further strengthened. While the increases in almost every stat are not significant, This version of Mbappé receives Finesse Shot+ Playstyle, making him even more lethal.

  This is Mbappé's third special card, but such a powerful card may contradict FC 26's claimed strategy of slowing down the ability curve.

  89 OVR Virgil Van Dijk CB Netherlands

  • PAC: 76
  • SHO: 62
  • PAS: 73
  • DRI: 73
  • DEF: 91
  • PHY: 88

  Virgil van Dijk has acquired Anticipate+ Playstyle, the strongest defensive style in the game. With this style, Virgil van Dijk will undoubtedly become the best CB.

  89 OVR Cristiano Ronaldo ST Portugal

  • PAC: 89
  • SHO: 90
  • PAS: 84
  • DRI: 88
  • DEF: 30
  • PHY: 82

  Cristiano Ronaldo's second special card also improves speed and other stats, and boasts excellent Playstyle combinations including Aerial Fortress and Trickster. While players may not actually need another Cristiano Ronaldo card, his inclusion is justified given the event theme.

  88 OVR Martin Ødegaard CM Norway

  • PAC: 75
  • SHO: 80
  • PAS: 89
  • DRI: 88
  • DEF: 70
  • PHY: 70

  Compared to his 87 OVR gold card, Martin Ødegaard's pace in the 88 OVR version has improved from 68 to 75, a significant upgrade. He also possesses Incisive Pass+, which is extremely useful for an attacking midfielder.

  87 OVR Bernardo Silva CM Portugal

  • PAC: 81
  • SHO: 80
  • PAS: 87
  • DRI: 92
  • DEF: 67
  • PHY: 65

  Bernardo Silva's pace has received a huge boost (from 61), changing his previous situation where his slowness made him less effective. Combined with his top-tier dribbling stats and Ticky Tacky+, his performance will be outstanding.

  Overall, the player cards released in this promotion are considered to have significantly addressed the weaknesses of many players and given players like Virgil van Dijk a dominant style. The overall quality is high and will undoubtedly bring significant changes to the transfer market.

  Upcoming SBC Content

  According to leaked information, the following target players' SBCs will be released:

  87 OVR Ángel Di María RW

  • PAC: 87
  • SHO: 85
  • PAS: 88
  • DRI: 89
  • DEF: 50
  • PHY: 72

  According to the leak, this card has Technical+, which is currently the strongest dribbling playstyle. Furthermore, its dribbling and passing stats are excellent, making it a highly anticipated Winger or CAM card.

  88 OVR Wendie Renard CB

  • PAC: 83
  • SHO: 65
  • PAS: 74
  • DRI: 75
  • DEF: 88
  • PHY: 89

  Wendie Renard can enrich French women's national team's lineup, and this card has the strongest defensive playstyle, Anticipate. Her 6-foot-2 height also gives her a significant advantage in defense.

  The above is a general overview of Festival of Football Captains promotion. These special cards are generally much better than UEFA Primetime promotional cards. If you're looking to invest, you can sell your gold cards now to accumulate FUT 26 coins.

• EA FC 26 TOTW 9 Breakdown | How To Get And Utilize These Players?

  While FC 26 is a virtual football game, it's closely connected to the real world of football in every aspect. In fact, this is true of almost every sports game, as their audience largely overlaps with fans from various fields.

  At least in FIFA 26, the player cards correspond to real-world players, most events are based on real football leagues, and there are regular opportunities to enhance players within FC 26 based on player changes.

  Among all these similar events, Team of the Week (TOTW) is a must-mention. It updates weekly after the game's launch, letting you know the latest must-have players.

  This time, we'll introduce the newly released TOTW 9 lineup to help you build a stronger team in future games.

  

  Team Of The Week Introduction

  This mechanism first appeared in earlier EA Sports FC games and continues to this day, aiming to give both new and veteran players the opportunity to see the best player lineups as soon as possible.

  In FC 26, Team of the Week roster is usually announced every Wednesday, featuring players who have performed exceptionally well in real-world football matches over the past week.

  Team of the Week provides them with in-game upgrades, typically obtainable through Ultimate Team card packs. Even if you're busy collecting UEFA Primetime cards lately, don't forget TOTW!

  Including TOTW 9, the current TOTW promotion dates are as follows:

  • TOTW Week 1: 17/09/2025
  • TOTW Week 2: 24/09/2025
  • TOTW Week 3: 01/10/2025
  • TOTW Week 4: 08/10/2025
  • TOTW Week 5: 15/10/2025
  • TOTW Week 6: 22/10/2025
  • TOTW Week 7: 29/10/2025
  • TOTW Week 8: 05/11/2025
  • TOTW Week 9: 12/11/2025

  All TOTW 9 Players

  Based on the performances of all players in their respective clubs and leagues during the week of November 5th to 12th, FUT 26 has awarded the following players a Team of the Week 9 promotion opportunity. Their locations and OVRs are listed below:

  • Vitinha - CM - OVR 90
  • Buhl - LM - OVR 88
  • Messi - ST - OVR 87
  • Ballard - CB - OVR 86
  • Laia Aleixandri - CM - OVR 86
  • Berardi - RW - OVR 85
  • Doku - LW - OVR 94
  • Leuchter - ST - OVR 84
  • Maza - CM - OVR 83
  • Toure - RB - OVR 83
  • Sander - CB - OVR 83
  • Said - LW - OVR 83
  • Til - ST - OVR 83
  • Tierney - LB - OVR 83
  • Godfrey - RM - OVR 83
  • Shaw - ST - OVR 83
  • Zeballos - CAM - OVR 83
  • Edu Espiau - ST - OVR 83
  • Horn - GK - OVR 83
  • Cozier-Duberry - RM - OVR 83
  • Agyei - RM - OVR 83
  • Martinez - ST - OVR 83
  • Mika Marmol - CB - OVR 83

  How To Obtain These Players?

  After TOTW Week 9 begins, all standard and promotional Ultimate Team Packs will contain relevant player cards for this week. Each pack will display the probability of obtaining a TOTW player.

  If you're not confident in your luck and don't want to gamble, you can directly find your desired TOTW player in the transfer market and exchange for them. Of course, the better the player's rating and performance, the more coins will be required.

  

  In addition, FC 26 SBCs include a type of TOTW Upgrade SBC, specifically for obtaining TOTW players. Simply complete the challenge with a player lineup that meets specific conditions to redeem a pack that guarantees a TOTW player.

  Sometimes other promotional SBCs may also offer packs containing Team of the Week players, but the probability is relatively low and you need to pay attention, so dedicated SBCs are more recommended.

  Another way is to complete some special objectives released in FC 26 basic or season challenges, which may reward you with a specific TOTW player item or a TOTW Player Pick.

  If you don't get TOTW 9 player you want in time, their corresponding player item will enter the secondary market at the end of the week or when the new week's TOTW roster is announced, at which time the number of coins required may change.

  What Are TOTW 9 Players Used For?

  As with previous weeks or previous FUT games, if Team of the Week 9 players are suitable for your team, you can add them directly to your roster or use them to complete appropriate SBCs to help you earn more rewards.

  However, if you already have a better player for a position on your team than the one you drew, don't leave them idle. You can sell the extra TOTW players for coins.

  Which TOTW 9 Players Are More Valuable?

  The value and ability of players in TOTW 9 vary, so not every player is worth having. Overall, the most noteworthy is undoubtedly Messi. Although he's no longer in his prime, age doesn't matter in the game. His in-game stats are:

  • Position: RW
  • OVR: 86
  • Pace: 78
  • Shooting: 85
  • Passing: 85
  • Dribbling: 90
  • Defending: 33
  • Physical: 64

  Another recommended TOTW 9 player is Dan Ballard, who scored a goal for his team against Arsenal last Saturday, and scored a header in the final moments to equalize the score. Here are his key stats for FC 26:

  • Position: CB
  • OVR: 86
  • Pace: 79
  • Shooting: 45
  • Passing: 70
  • Dribbling: 73
  • Defending: 85
  • Physical: 90

  Of course, a player's effectiveness isn't solely determined by stats. It also depends on how effectively you integrate them into the team to maximize overall performance, as football is a team sport.

  That concludes the information on TOTW 9 and all related players. We hope you have a wonderful week in FC 26!

• EA FC 26 Patch 1.2.0 Underrated Formations & Tactics | 4-2-3-1 And 4-4-1-1 Builds

  EA FC 26's latest update patch 1.2.0 brings some changes to the game again, but it's clearly not as disruptive as patch 1.1.0. As other players have said, it's more of a placebo patch.

  While this patch adjusts player AI, the current meta formations remain largely unchanged. Still, you can try some alternative setups that, despite not being mainstream, have unique strengths.

  

  4-2-3-1 (Wide)

  4-2-3-1 formation's backline consists of a goalkeeper, a left-back, two center-backs, and a right-back. In this formation, the defenders often employ man-marking tactics, with center-backs marking the strikers and fullbacks closely monitoring the wingers. Two defensive midfielders provide a defensive barrier in front of the back four.

  • Build-Up Style: Short Passing (it allows players to move closer together during attacks, creating more passing options.)
  • Defensive Approach: Extreme

  Player Roles

  • GK (Defend): Goalkeeper+
  • LB (Support): Attacking Wingback++
  • RB (Support): Attacking Wingback++
  • LCB (Aggressive): Ball-Playing Defender
  • RCB (Aggressive): Ball-Playing Defender
  • LM (Roaming): Wide Playmaker++
  • RM (Balanced): Inside Forward++
  • LCDM (Roaming): Box Crasher++
  • RCMD (Roaming): Deep-Lying Playmaker++
  • CAM (Balanced): Wide Playmaker++
  • ST (Attack): Advanced Forward++

  You need to be especially careful with the movement of players in LM position, as their inside runs are crucial to your short passing tactics. Furthermore, the soul of this tactic is Attacking Wingback++ and Box Crasher++, which are essential for providing attacking width and late runs into the box.

  If you want to control possession throughout the game, your midfielders should ideally possess Tiki Taka+ Playstyle. Forwards should ideally possess Incisive Pass+.

  Player Requirements

  87 OVR Claudia Pina

  Claudia Pina stands out not only for her Finesse Shot and Low Driven+, but more importantly for her highly effective Tiki Taka and Incisive Pass playstyles. This makes her irreplaceable in possession-based play, and she's extremely threatening even without high race.

  Tiki Taka is essential for smooth passing and movement. Without it, players take too long to control the ball and adjust, missing attacking opportunities. Of course, if you don't have 87 OVR Claudia Pina, 86 OVR Claudia Pina is also an option; she currently takes around 6000 FC 26 coins.

  88 OVR Sergio Busquets

  Sergio Busquets also has Tiki Taka+ and Long Ball Pass. Although he only has 3-star skills and 3 weak foot, he absolutely meets the needs of this formation.

  4-4-1-1 (Midfield)

  4-4-1-1 formation is a common football formation, similar in personnel to the formation above. It features four defenders, four midfielders, one attacking midfielder, and one striker. The striker is the primary scorer, while the attacking midfielder organizes attacks and supports the striker. This formation strikes a balance between the traditional 4-4-2 and a more attacking formation, balancing defensive and offensive capabilities.

  In the latest patch 1.2.0, 4-4-1-1 formation has received a significant buff, becoming a very solid and effective formation suitable for Weekly Leagues, Division Rivals, and even Pro Ladder.

  • Build-Up Style: Balanced
  • Defensive Approach: High

  Player Roles

  • GK (Balanced): Sweeping Keeper+
  • LB (Defend): Defender++
  • RB (Defend): Defender++
  • LCB (Defend): Defender++
  • RCB (Defend): Defender++
  • LM (Balanced): Inside Forward++
  • RM (Balanced): Inside Forward++
  • LCM (Balanced): Box-to-Box+
  • RCM (Build-up): Deep-Lying Playmaker++
  • CAM (Attack): Shadow Striker++
  • ST (Attack): Advanced Forward++

  If you feel your attacking organization is not going smoothly, you can change CAM from Shadow Striker to Playmaker, allowing for more deep drops and support, which will help advance the ball.

  Player Requirements

  Fullbacks need to be fast and have good ball control. Nuno Mendes or Marcos Llorente are good options. Center-backs also need speed and a good defensive playstyle.

  Wingers need to be fast to execute through balls and create space behind the defense.

  The three central midfielders are key to the formation. The attacking midfielder and two central midfielders should ideally have Tiki Taka+ and Incisive Pass+ playstyles. This ensures accurate one-touch passing and the ability to deliver lethal through balls.

  Forwards should also have Tiki Taka+ or Incisive Pass+, crucial for linking up attacks. You can also use Claudia Pina. As for the goalkeeper, you can assign him based on the players you have.

  How To Attack?

  During the attacking build-up phase, the primary goal is to find your CAM. Use him to pass the ball to CAM to break the opponent's midfield lines.

  Press L1/LB to direct teammates to run in behind, which stretches the opponent's defensive line and creates time and space for the ball carrier.

  While pressing L1/LB, gently push the right stick towards the specific route you want your teammate to run. This is an advanced technique that manually creates passing opportunities.

  When forward passing lanes are blocked, pass the ball back to a midfielder or defender. Use this pass to push the entire formation forward, while giving yourself more time to observe and make decisions. Finally, utilize the speed of your wingers to create scoring opportunities by playing through balls behind the opponent's flanks.

  How To Defend?

  Your four defenders form a strong defensive line. You only need to keep the formation compact and cover the middle. It's better to let the opponent run down the flanks than to allow them to easily break through the middle.

  You can also manually pull your attacking midfielder back, effectively turning the formation into a 4-5-1, creating a numerical advantage in the middle. Executing an offside trap by pressing the up arrow twice will push the entire defensive line forward, further compressing the opponent's attacking space.

  While these formations are not mainstream, they both offer considerable strength. Moreover, once you've mastered it, it can actually make your attacks more difficult for your opponents to handle when they're unfamiliar with your formation.

• EA FC 26 Wing Wizards Evolution Guide | Improving Your Wingers Rating, Stats And PlayStyles

  While FIFA boasts a vast inventory of player cards based on real-world players, if these cards remained unchanged, you'd eventually lose interest, especially since the players' real-world performance is constantly evolving.

  Therefore, from the inception of the evolution mechanism to the current FC 26, the development team has consistently strived to provide players with more opportunities to improve their attributes through this system.

  This time, we'll introduce FUT 26 Wing Wizards Evolution. How does this evolution work, and which players should take advantage of this upgrade opportunity? We'll explain.

  

  Evolution Mechanism Overview

  This mechanism allows you to permanently upgrade players who meet the evolution requirements by completing specific challenges or objectives. These players typically have a low to medium OVR, and their positions vary depending on the evolution event.

  As a mechanism inherited from previous versions of the game, evolution events are the core of building and strengthening your team in FUT 26, giving you the opportunity to customize and improve weaker players, increasing your win rate without acquiring new players.

  Wing Wizards Evolution Schedule

  This evolution event will run for 21 days, has started on November 9th, 2025. This ample duration means you'll have plenty of time to carefully select players without interfering with other FC 26 events.

  How Does This Event Work?

  Wing Wizards Evolution belongs to Ultimate Team mode and aims to provide opportunities to improve your low-rated wingers. PlayStyles, base attributes, and OVR can all be improved, so don't miss out!

  To unlock this evolution, you need 20,000 FC 26 coins. If you don't have enough, you can consume 300 FC points. To participate, the player must be a right winger and meet the following conditions:

  • OVR cannot exceed 79
  • PlayStyles maximum 10
  • Cannot be a World Tour Silver Superstars Icon player

  Based on this, player evolutions are generally divided into two types. One type is the evolution at various levels obtained through leveling up after unlocking, and the other type requires you to complete relevant challenges with that player.

  Level 1 upgrades:

  • RW Inside Forward++
  • Reactions +6 (Max 89)
  • Shooting +7 (Max 85)
  • Agility +10 (Max 88)

  Level 2 upgrades:

  • Reactions +6 (Max 89)
  • Passing +10 (Max 86)
  • Stamina +10 (Max 90)
  • Balance +10 (Max 87)
  • Dribbling +10 (Max 86)

  Level 3 upgrades:

  • Skill moves +2 star
  • Weak Foot +1 star
  • RW Winger+
  • Press Proven PlayStyle
  • Quickstep PlayStyle

  Level 4 upgrades:

  • RW Wide Playmaker+
  • Tiki Taka PlayStyle
  • Pace +10 (Max 90)
  • Composure +10 (Max 87)
  • Ball control +10 (Max 86)

  All challenge requirements are as follows:

  • Challenge 1: Win two matches in Squad Battles/Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events on minimum Semi Pro difficulty using your active player.
  • Challenge 2: Play three matches in Squad Battles/Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events on minimum Semi Pro difficulty using your active player.
  • Challenge 3: Play three matches in Squad Battles/Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events on minimum Semi Pro difficulty using your active player.
  • Challenge 4: Win three matches in Squad Battles/Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events on minimum Semi Pro difficulty using your active player.

  Which Players Should You Choose For This Evolution?

  The first player we recommend is Adama Traoré. His strength lies in his high speed, with a rating of 96 and a current OVR of 76, meeting the requirements for Wing Wizards Evolution.

  You can expect to redeem about four attribute boosts for him, such as two quick steps, basic pressure, and weak foot, and possibly even a five-star skill. Whether you can acquire a new PlayStyle depends on how many you already have (maximum 5).

  Nevertheless, these attribute boosts are enough to make Adama a more valuable asset in FC 26 future matches. He will increase the team's scoring chances with his increased speed and attacking power.

  Daizen Maeda's OVR is 79, just barely passing. His base attributes are also heavily reliant on speed, with other aspects like dribbling, shooting, and physical attributes also performing well.

  If you evolve him, he should have the potential to become a new all-rounder, capable of handling different situations well and stabilizing your team's performance.

  However, this player is unique in that previous evolution events also suited him well. So, if you've already evolved Daizen, you can choose OVR 76 Daniel James or other similar players as a replacement.

  While Francisco Conceição's shooting ability is slightly lacking, he's still worth evolving considering his overall performance. Donyell Malen is also a good choice; his playing style is very solid, and he will become even more reliable after evolution.

  As for Diogo Martins, his goals are spectacular, and his OVR is projected to reach 86 after evolution. While this isn't an exceptionally high number, it's quite good for the player's existing overall abilities. If you already have him, don't hesitate to upgrade him.

  More player options and their OVR as follows:

  • Maximilian Beier: 79
  • Brennan Johnson: 79
  • Amad Diallo: 79
  • Ismaila Sarr: 79
  • Estevao: 78
  • Kuhn: 78
  • Geny Catamo: 78
  • Elena Julve: 78
  • Yankuba Minteh: 77
  • Endrick: 77
  • Franco Mastantuono: 77

  While the overall evolution potential of Wing Wizards Evolution is expected to be difficult to realize in the future, it's at least helpful for players who excel at curved shots and are suited for the later stages of the season.

  Special Strategies

  Besides choosing different players to evolve, you can also choose an evolution chain strategy. This strategy allows you to apply multiple evolutions to the same player to maximize their attributes and OVR.

  However, considering that almost every evolution requires a certain OVR, this strategy requires you to find potential players and plan carefully from the very first season of the game. Therefore, it's more suitable for experienced players with sufficient patience.

  That concludes this introduction. If you have a suitable winger in your card pool and enough points or coins, get started!