EA FC 26 Curse Of The Left Evolution Guide | How To Upgrade Left Midfielders For Season 2?

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• EA FC 26 Ultimate Scream Team 2 Leaks & Season 2 Rewards | Best Cards, SBCs, And Market Investment Tips

  Hello football experts! The second Friday of Ultimate Scream promotion is approaching, meaning Team 2 will be released soon. The Team 2 roster has already been leaked, so how should you prepare for the next market event?

  Meanwhile, FC 26 Season 1 has ended, and Season 2 begins on October 30th. Season 2 is themed around Brazil and includes Mexican players. Is the new Season 2 worth investing in? Let's take a look.

  

  Ultimate Scream Team 2 Leak

  Ultimate Scream Team 2 lineup has leaked, revealing that these players will receive a major boost to one attribute on November 5th. Of course, not all attribute boosts are valuable, but players receiving strong upgrades will see a significant rise in value - making them smart investments.

  The following are the leaked player statistics:

  91 OVR Dembélé, ST, PSG, France

  • PAC 92
  • SHO 89
  • PAS 84
  • DRI 94
  • DEF 51
  • PHY 70

  90 OVR Mariona, CM, Arsenal, Spain

  • PAC 85
  • SHO 87
  • PAS 94
  • DRI 97
  • DEF 71
  • PHY 80

  89 OVR Sneijder, CAM, Netherlands

  • PAC 82
  • SHO 91
  • PAS 87
  • DRI 85
  • DEF 57
  • PHY 77

  89 OVR Paulo Futre, LW, Portugal

  • PAC 89
  • SHO 85
  • PAS 82
  • DRI 94
  • DEF 38
  • PHY 59

  88 OVR Dybala, CAM, Roma, Argentina

  • PAC 87
  • SHO 86
  • PAS 89
  • DRI 93
  • DEF 43
  • PHY 67

  88 OVR Touré, CDM, Ivory Coast

  • PAC 80
  • SHO 84
  • PAS 87
  • DRI 85
  • DEF 81
  • PHY 90

  88 OVR Marchisio, CM, Italy

  • PAC 83
  • SHO 82
  • PAS 86
  • DRI 87
  • DEF 81
  • PHY 83

  87 OVR Griezmann, ST, Atlético Madrid, France

  • PAC 80
  • SHO 88
  • PAS 87
  • DRI 90
  • DEF 63
  • PHY 75

  87 OVR Matuidi, CDM, France

  • PAC 84
  • SHO 74
  • PAS 80
  • DRI 78
  • DEF 85
  • PHY 86

  87 OVR João Félix, ST, Portugal

  • PAC 87
  • SHO 87
  • PAS 83
  • DRI 92
  • DEF 35
  • PHY 76

  87 OVR Ljungberg, LM, Sweden

  • PAC 88
  • SHO 83
  • PAS 84
  • DRI 86
  • DEF 46
  • PHY 78

  86 OVR Weah, ST, Liberia

  • PAC 93
  • SHO 88
  • PAS 78
  • DRI 86
  • DEF 42
  • PHY 83

  86 OVR Frimpong, RB, Netherlands

  • PAC 96
  • SHO 72
  • PAS 80
  • DRI 86
  • DEF 70
  • PHY 77

  

  Recommend Ultimate Scream Cards

  This Antoine Griezmann card looks fantastic, and It has gained pace and regained Finesse Shot. With a PlayStyle+, solid improvements to shooting and passing, dribbling reaching 90, and a considerable physical boost, this will be an outstanding card - expected to generate significant hype and potentially exceed 1 million FUT 26 coins, while it is partly because of its strong French links.

  Another card worth noting is Blaise Matuidi, also a French player. He has received a solid upgrade: +3 to dribbling, +2 to physicality, and +1 each to pace, shooting, passing, and defense. The biggest change is the shift from Pinged Pass+ to Intercept+. As a defensive midfielder with such high speed, defense, and physical attributes, Intercept+ will make him an exceptional card.

  Leaked Ultimate Scream SBC

  Another leaked Ultimate Scream SBC features Romelu Lukaku, whose gold card boasts PlayStyles such as Power Shot, Low Driven Shot, Incisive Pass, and Press Proven - along with impressive passing stats. If SBC requirements aren't too demanding, this could be a cost-effective and fun card to complete.

  Is It Worth Unlocking Season 2 Premium Pass?

  Premium Pass Players

  • 85 OVR Julian Araujo RB
  • 85 OVR Johan Vasquez CB
  • 86 OVR Igor Paixao LM
  • 87 OVR Fabinho CDM
  • 88 OVR Rodrygo RW

  Free Pass Players

  • 85 OVR Julian Quinones ST
  • 85 OVR Tarciane CB
  • 86 OVR Carlos Augusto LB
  • 86 OVR Lizbeth Ovalle RW
  • 87 OVR Marta CAM
  • 88 OVR Hirving Lozano LW

  FC 26 Season 1 Premium Pass can be unlocked for free for players with Ultimate Edition, but Season 2 is not. All players need 500,000 FC 26 coins or 1,000 FC Points to unlock Season 2 Premium Pass.

  However, considering the player combinations in Season 2 rewards, they're not worth 500,000 coins. But if you have free FC 26 points, you can consider using them to get extra card packs and evolutions.

  It's best not to use your coins immediately. Instead, it's recommended to wait for the third batch of 2,000 FC points from Ultimate Edition pre-order bonus to arrive (possibly around November 1st or mid-November) before using your points to unlock it. At that time, all previous Premium Pass rewards will be credited in one lump sum, and you won't lose any rewards.

  How To invest?

  Both Ultimate Scream Team 2 and Season 2 require a lot of coins, but fortunately, you can often profit in the market at anytime.

  The biggest factor currently impacting the market is that FC 26 has rolled back last week's patch that weakened R1 dribbling and strengthened Jockey, restoring its speed to near-original levels. Note that this update is implemented via Live Tuning Update and requires a game restart to take effect.

  This update has led to a significant increase in the value of players with Technical playstyles. Demand for Claudia Pina, Lamine Yamal, Aitana Bonmatí, and Ratings Reload and Icons cards has also rebounded. If you have these cards, you can sell them now, as their value will quickly return to normal levels as their supply increases.

  That concludes our overview of Ultimate Scream Team 2 and Season 2. Hopefully, this guide helps you make some smart investments - and maybe even a fortune.

• EA FC 26 New PlayStyles Guide | How To Utilize Them To Maximize Player Performance?

  In FC games, the most direct representation of a player's ability is the various attribute data on their player cards. However, in actual gameplay, you can utilize additional mechanisms to make your players perform even better than the card data suggests.

  Of all these mechanisms, PlayStyles is one of the most commonly used and reliable. Initially called Traits, this system has been optimized and updated into the more comprehensive PlayStyles system we know today.

  Each PlayStyle has a standard version and a premium version, PlayStyle+. These are activated under specific circumstances, further enhancing your player's unique strengths on top of their existing attributes.

  Every year when a new EA FC game is released, the development team adds or removes some PlayStyles based on the situation. Therefore, you need to keep your "PlayStyles database" up-to-date to adapt to the game's pace.

  For example, FIFA 26 features five new PlayStyles. We will introduce them one by one and provide methods for utilizing these new PlayStyles to create more effective tactics.

  

  1. Enforcer

  This PlayStyle enhances your attacking forwards or midfielders, making them even more formidable by strengthening their physicality and ball control, significantly reducing the likelihood of opposing defenders intercepting the ball during attacking runs.

  Upgrading to PlayStyle+ further enhances the player's defensive attributes, improving your team's overall defensive capabilities and reducing the opponent's chances of interception while attacking or maintaining possession.

  Note that to fully utilize the Enforcer's power and attacking bonuses, you must consume coins to recruit more power forwards, such as Erling Haaland, as their physical advantages are greater.

  2. Gamechanger

  This PlayStyle allows its players to unleash extraordinary shooting skills, not only increasing the team's scoring opportunities but also adding to the appeal of virtual football matches through more engaging shooting mechanics.

  Compared to regular shooting-oriented PlayStyles, Gamechanger's unique feature is its ability to combine Flair and Trivela shooting abilities, enhancing the accuracy and power of three-footed and unconventional shots.

  Gamechanger PlayStyle+ further improves the accuracy of shots from tight angles, allowing your players to score from tricky angles even from the edge of the pitch.

  3. Inventive

  If you lack confidence in your players' passing abilities, Inventive should solve this problem. This PlayStyle, when activated, allows players to more consistently execute through balls or make more creative passes.

  Tactically speaking, because Inventive helps players withstand more passing pressure and increases the chances of completing passes in high-risk situations, it's best used when you need to penetrate a tight defense or quickly transition into attack.

  4. Aerial Fortress

  Before FC 26, Aerial was a reliable defensive PlayStyle, but it has now been removed, or rather, replaced by Aerial Fortress. Compared to the past, Aerial Fortress focuses more on defense itself, enabling your center-backs or defensive players to reliably contain opponents.

  More specifically, this defensive boost manifests as increased physical advantage and jumping height in aerial duels, as well as better positioning for defending headers. Additionally, PlayStyle+ makes corner kick defense more reliable.

  5. Precision Header

  This PlayStyle focuses on improving the accuracy of attacking players' shots, allowing them to use their shooting techniques more flexibly and increasing the chances of completing shots in this manner.

  Combined with lofted crosses, Precision Header, in addition to accuracy, allows you to better control the landing point of shots from tricky angles, and the player's heading power becomes more consistent.

  

  How To Maximize The Effect Of PlayStyles?

  The effects of PlayStyles or PlayStyles+ are fixed, but you can combine them flexibly with other mechanisms, using various synergies to allow PlayStyles to provide even more bonuses to players.

  First, as mentioned when introducing Enforcer, you should pair your PlayerStyles with the strongest available players based on their attributes and continuously improve their base attributes through events like Evolution.

  When building a team, the more players from the same country or league, the more chemistry points they and the entire team will gain. Each point provides attribute bonuses to players.

  Furthermore, you can choose appropriate tactics and formations based on the upcoming game mode or other features, allowing all PlayerStyles-enabled players to achieve efficient teamwork and further increase your win rate.

  All these additional benefits, combined with using the appropriate PlayerStyles in the right situations (for example, Inventive is best triggered when breaking through the opponent's defense), will yield surprising match results.

  How To Obtain PlayerStyles?

  After reading above introduction, you should be even more eager to obtain and trigger PlayerStyles, but they are not a built-in feature of players; you need to earn them yourself.

  To upgrade to PlayStyle+, you need to complete the regularly released Evolution challenges in Ultimate Team, then go to the squad menu, find the player you want to pair with PlayStyles, and acquire their PlayStyle Cards.

  If you want to upgrade to PlayStyle+, you need to raise OVR of players who already have PlayStyles in Career Mode to at least 90.

  All PlayStyles Available In FC 26

  Besides the five PlayStyles added with the release of FC 26, there are actually many other different types of PlayStyles available in FUT 26. A list is provided below for your reference:

  Finishing:

  • Finesse Shot
  • Chip Shot
  • Power Shot
  • Dead Ball
  • Acrobatic
  • Low Driven Shot

  Passing:

  • Incisive Pass
  • Pinged Pass
  • Long Ball Pass
  • Tiki Taka
  • Whipped Pass

  Defending:

  • Jockey
  • Block
  • Intercept
  • Anticipate
  • Slide Tackle

  Ballcontrol:

  • Technical
  • Rapid
  • First Touch
  • Trickster
  • Press Proven

  Physical:

  • Quick Step
  • Relentless
  • Long Throw
  • Bruiser
  • Enforcer

  Goalkeeper:

  • Far Throw
  • Footwork
  • Cross Claimer
  • Rush Out
  • Far Reach Deflector

  That concludes our introduction. If you're currently experiencing a plateau in improving your team or players' abilities, this guide should provide reliable assistance. Have fun!

• EA FC 26 Ultimate Scream Investment Guide: Best Cards To Invest, High-Risk Picks & Coin-Making Tips

  EA FC 26's best and most exciting promotion is underway: Ultimate Scream! Ultimate Scream Team 1 lineup has been announced, featuring some fantastic cards.

  Every promotion presents a great opportunity for trading and investing, and this one is no exception. However, you'll need to know how to leverage Ultimate Scream promo for investment and which cards to invest in.

  

  Ultimate Scream Cards

  Ultimate Scream cards are naturally the core of this promotion. Ultimate Scream cards are dynamic items. They randomly gain a stat boost (Pace, Dribbling, Shooting, Passing, Defending, Physicality) to 99 on a specific date, the most recent being November 5th.

  The best time to invest isn't in holding cards until their stats upgrade, but rather in selling them early, taking advantage of market expectations. When the specific upgrade attributes are revealed through leaks or other means, market hype will peak, making it the best time to sell and earn FC 26 coins.

  Investment Card Analysis And Risk Assessment

  Since the upgradeable attributes of Ultimate Scream Players have not yet been announced, or rather, leaked, we cannot yet know which cards are most worth investing in. Therefore, the cards listed below are speculative.

  High-Risk, High-Return Cards

  The recommended choices below will only increase in value if they acquire the desired attributes. If these cards acquire undesirable attributes (such as 99 Passing), their value may decrease instead of increase.

  86 OVR Thomas Müller (ST++/RM/CAM/RW)

  • Pac: 83
  • Sho: 87
  • Pas: 86
  • Dri: 86
  • Def: 60
  • Phy: 75

  86 OVR Thomas Müller is a well-rounded attacking player—balanced in shooting, passing, and dribbling, and versatile in position, making him suitable for various formations and ideal as a False 9, Shadow Striker, or Playmaker. However, his pace is not particularly fast, which may make him appear sluggish against high-tempo metas. If he achieves 99 pace, he will be extremely destructive as a striker, potentially doubling his value.

  85 OVR Juan David Cabal (CB++/LB/LM/LW)

  • Pac: 82
  • Sho: 50
  • Pas: 80
  • Dri: 76
  • Def: 85
  • Phy: 80

  85 OVR Juan David Cabal is highly versatile, capable of playing both wing and central roles. His 80+ passing and 85 defense make him exceptionally rare among attacking full-backs. However, his 82 pace is only decent for a center-back, providing some tracking ability. If he achieves 99 pace, combined with his existing Anticipate+ playing style, he could potentially become a top-class center-back.

  87 OVR Mbeumo (ST++/RM/RW)

  • Pac: 89
  • Sho: 87
  • Pas: 81
  • Dri: 86
  • Def: 51
  • Phy: 78

  Mbeumo's Pace, Shooting, and Dribbling are all very good, placing him among the meta players. His Physical 78 is quite good for a small forward. However, it's currently worth around 200,000 coins and requires extremely high stats, such as 99 Dribbling, to significantly increase its value. This is a difficult price to achieve.

  Low-Risk Cards

  Low-risk cards generally have low value, typically around 10,000-16,000 FC 26 coins. They are close to being sold quickly, so even if the investment fails, the loss is limited. However, the potential for appreciation is relatively small, and because the entry barrier is low, many players already hold these cards, so there's no shortage in the market. Therefore, even if their value increases, you'll face fierce competition when trying to sell them.

  Low-Risk Cards:

  • 85 OVR Madison Haley RW++/RM/CAM/ST, approximately 13,000 coins
  • 84 OVR Danny da Costa RB++/CB/RM/RW, approximately 18,000 coins
  • 85 OVR Pablo Fornals CM++/CDM/RM/RW, approximately 14,000 coins
  • 84 OVR Guela Doué CB++/RM/RW/RB, approximately 12,000 coins

  It is recommended that you diversify your investments to balance risk. You can invest in both high-risk and low-risk cards, and do not focus on a single player. Even if only some cards achieve their desired attribute upgrades, the overall investment can still be profitable.

  Timing Of Investment And Selling

  The end of the weekend league (FUT Champions) is a good opportunity to accumulate cards, as many players open packs, increasing market supply and potentially lowering card values temporarily.

  Once the official announcement or leaked information appears, market activity will gradually rise, allowing you to sell at the right moment - before the attributes are actually upgraded.

  You May Like: EA Sports FC 26 Club Mode: Unlocking And Upgrading Archetypes For Realistic Player Progression

  Other Investment Opportunities

  Low-Rated Card Investment

  The game features repeatable SBCs, requiring a large number of 83 and 84 OVR cards, leading to consistently high demand. Simply opening player packs cannot meet the demand for these SBCs. The value of these cards will rise significantly from their long-term stable lows. These fuel cards are generally not very valuable. The OVR cards are worth approximately 750 coins, and the 84 OVR cards are worth approximately 1200 coins.

  Evolution Card Investment

  Evolution cards have already brought changes to several positions, such as LB (84 OVR Mendy), LW, and CDM (85 OVR García). Once the evolution of a position is announced, the value of related player cards will skyrocket due to demand. You can stockpile potentially suitable economy player cards in advance. Positions like RW, CAM, and ST have not yet seen targeted evolutions.

  The above are the investment strategies during Ultimate Scream promotion. If you want to successfully earn coins in FUT 26 market, you need to pay close attention to game information and never miss the best trading time.

• EA FC 26 Patch 1.1.0 Meta Formations: Best Tactics After The R1 Dribbling Nerf

  EA FC 26 Patch v1.1.0 had a significant impact on the game. Whether you like it or not, it's undeniable that player movement has become heavier and slower after the patch.

  Executing intense attacks has become much more difficult, while defending has become much easier. This represents another shift in meta formations. Let's take a look at the impact of patch v1.1.0 on the game and the three most recommended meta formations.

  

  Impact Of The Patch

  The most significant change in patch v1.1.0 is the nerf to R1 Dribbling. This has reduced the value of players who rely on this skill. For example, Lamine Yamal's value plummeted to 138,000 FC 26 coins on the day the patch was released, and his value is unlikely to recover until the next patch that can restore R1 Dribbling's value is released.

  On the other hand, the enhanced defensive tracking abilities of CMs and defenders, along with the increased speed of Jockey Playstyle, also represent a shift in offensive tactics.

  General Offensive Techniques

  The current offensive approach no longer relies on possession or crosses, but rather on quick, precise through balls, allowing forwards or wingers to penetrate behind the defense and create attacking opportunities.

  This relies heavily on fast forwards and wingers, as well as midfielders with Incisive Pass and Tiki Taka Playstyles. Alternatively, the team can use the wingers to reach the byline, pass back to midfield, and utilize short-range Tiki Taka plays to find crosses or shooting opportunities.

  When in possession, you can press L1 to direct your teammates to make forward runs, which often helps break the deadlock. If the offense struggles during a match, you can switch the forward's role from Advanced Forward to False Nine at any time to strengthen midfield connectivity.

  Recommended Formation

  No.3 4-4-2

  4-4-2 formation's advantage lies in its defensive stability, with two parallel lines of four players and a compact structure. Furthermore, the two strikers constantly threaten the goal in the penalty area, facilitating the attack.

  Tactics:

  • Build-Up Play: Balanced
  • Defensive Approach: High Pressure
  • Defensive Depth: 70

  Player Settings:

  • LST (Attack): Advance Forward
  • RST (Attack): Advance Forward
  • LM (Attack): Inside Forward
  • RM (Defend): Inside Forward
  • LCM (Balanced): Playmaker
  • RCM (Balanced): Playmaker
  • LB (Defend): Fullback
  • RB (Defend): Fullback
  • LCB (Defend): Defender
  • RCB (Defend): Defender
  • GK (Balanced): Sweeper Keeper

  Both the center backs and full backs require high pace, and the full backs are set to Defend to prevent counterattacks.

  CMs are crucial and require excellent passing styles, such as Tiki Taka and Incisive Pass, to support the forwards in passing and attacking plays. Wingers, on the other hand, require absolute speed and are responsible for off-ball forward runs.

  Strikers, if they require more support, can position one player as a False 9. Players with Incisive Pass, Finesse Shot, or Low Driven Shot playstyles are recommended.

  No.2 4-4-1-1 Formation

  4-4-1-1 formation builds on 4-4-2 by adding an Attacking Midfielder (CAM) to create a tighter attacking connection through the middle.

  Tactics:

  • Build-Up Play: Balanced
  • Defensive Approach: High Pressure
  • Defensive Depth: 70

  Player Settings:

  • ST (Attack): Advance Forward
  • CAM (Attack): Shadow Striker
  • LM (Attack): Inside Forward
  • RM (Defend): Inside Forward
  • LCM (Balanced): Box-to-Box
  • RCM (Build-Up): Deep-Lying Playmaker
  • LB (Defend): Fullback
  • RB (Defend): Fullback
  • LCB (Defend): Defender
  • RCB (Defend): Defender
  • GK (Balanced): Sweeper Keeper

  CAM is a key position and must possess excellent passing playstyles such as Incisive Pass, Tiki Taka, and Pinged Pass. As long as you set his role to Shadow Striker, he'll penetrate the penalty area like a second striker.

  The Striker requires Incisive Pass playstyle to complement through-ball tactics, and Advanced Forward or False 9 is recommended. To effectively utilize this formation, you need the right players. You can trade for the players you need on the trade market, but each player can cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of FUT 26 coins. Fortunately, IGGM is currently having a Halloween sale. Use the HW2025 promo code to get 8% off all coins and players you buy. This promo ends on November 5th, so don't miss out!

  

  No.1 4-5-1 Formation

  he 4-5-1 formation was already one of the strongest before the patch, and instead of being weakened after the patch, it has become even stronger. Its strong midfield control is excellent. The three CMs dominate the midfield, while the midfielders can effectively participate in both defense and attack, making it a perfect fit for the current through-ball style.

  Tactical Settings:

  • Build-Up Play: Balanced
  • Defensive Approach: High Pressure
  • Depth: 70 (adjust to 60 if defense is struggling)

  Player Settings:

  • ST (Attack): Advance Forward
  • LM (Balanced): Inside Forward
  • RM (Balanced): Inside Forward
  • LCM (Balanced): Box-to-Box
  • MCM (Balanced): Deep-Lying Playmaker
  • RCM (Attack): Playmaker
  • LB (Defend): Fullback
  • RB (Defend): Fullback
  • LCB (Defend): Defender
  • RCB (Defend): Defender
  • GK (Balanced): Sweeper Keeper

  The only striker on your team should play with Incisive Pass style and be a good finisher. Wingers should ideally have a pace of 90 or higher, such as Nico Williams and Hansen.

  One of the left or right CM can be set up as a set as a Box-to-Box Midfielder, capable of both attacking and defending. The middle CM is responsible for defensive linkage. The final CM can be given a free role, responsible for forward runs and key passes (like Sócrates).

  While 4-5-1 formation may be considered a meta formation because of its strong midfield control and its strong compatibility with current through-ball play, 4-4-1-1 and 4-4-2 are also very compelling alternatives. The key to your success lies in configuring players with the right playstyle and attributes for your formation, and mastering advanced techniques like L1 manual movement.

• EA FC 26 (4-4-2 Formation Guide) | Mastering Two Variations To Balance Defense & Attack

  If you think of a football match as a battle, you'll find that the key to getting more shots actually comes down to a single battle strategy: proper attack and defense.

  So, just as war requires strategic deployment, leading your players to victory in FC 26 requires a sound formation. Different formations focus on different areas, but 4-4-2 undoubtedly offers the best balance between attack and defense.

  So, if you don't have a preferred tactical style, 4-4-2 is your safest bet. Below, we'll explain the principles and techniques for creating and utilizing this formation in FIFA 26.

  

  Overview Of 4-4-2 In FC 26

  Since the development team optimizes each new FIFA game, the mechanics often differ from the previous year, and the most suitable tactics and formations often need to be adjusted accordingly.

  The most notable change in FC 26 is the faster transitions and build-up times, making it more difficult for your dribblers to defend and counterattack against opponents.

  This makes the balanced 4-4-2 formation a top formation. It minimizes pressure in these situations, creates additional counterattacks, and allows for reliable speed and precision.

  While the simplicity of 4-4-2 might initially make you question its effectiveness, when in possession, it naturally transforms into a 4-2-2-2, allowing the wingers to drift inside and create more passing opportunities for the midfielders and forwards.

  If you want a more direct and effective attack, use two strikers as strike partners. In fact, two strikers can create a wide range of offensive strategies, and you can freely combine them to find the best playstyle for your game and team.

  4-4-2 Variant 1: Balanced Offense And Defense

  Most FC 26 formations can be used in more than one style. You can customize it to your desired performance by arranging different tactics and players. For example, 4-4-2, in addition to being balanced offensively and defensively, also offers more offensive uses.

  If you're aiming for a more balanced buildup in a 4-4-2, the first thing to note is that you shouldn't rush into counterattacks. This can easily trigger attacks from the opponent's left, right, and middle midfielders.

  This will force you to quickly join the attack, but your defense is often less robust, leaving many gaps, especially in the midfield.

  Since 4-4-2 allows your players to run close together by mixing in quick passes, you can encourage them to run towards the opponent's penalty area, boosting your defensive rating to 55.

  For player selection, it's acceptable to use the default options for the goalkeeper and center back. For the left and right backs, you can define their center of gravity as defensive, forming a four-man defensive line to prevent counterattacks.

  Next, you need to ensure your first midfielder maintains 100% possession of the opponent's ball, allowing them to quickly track back and prevent counterattacks. Then, you'll deploy your second box-to-box midfielder (B2B) to actively pursue the ball.

  This will allow B2B to join the attack later and then track back as quickly as possible. This player will operate behind the striker during the attack and then move in front of the center back to defend.

  If you want your midfielders to track back quickly, you can quickly drag them back and position them in front of the center back to form a solid defensive line and prevent the ball from being conceded.

  Also, avoid wasting your left and right midfielders on the touchline; instead, encourage them to cut inside into the penalty area to create more scoring opportunities.

  Generally speaking, this formation variant is sufficient for a typical full match. If you find yourself losing control of the game or struggling to put pressure on the opponent, it's best to switch to the more aggressive second formation variant.

  

  4-4-2 Variant 2: Aggressive Attack

  This 4-4-2 variation doesn't change the buildup, as the formation already possesses considerable offensive potential. Instead, your first move is to increase your defensive stat to 61: activating a high defensive line will encourage your players to be more aggressive.

  You can then apply pressure to your players, giving them more power while also allowing them to better control the situation and create more offensive and scoring opportunities through possession.

  In terms of the specific formation personnel, the goalkeeper, first center back, and second center back remain the same in this variation. However, you'll want to balance the left and right backs with the full-backs to allow them to occasionally contribute to the attack.

  To achieve this, you'll want both midfielders to move inside, leaving enough space for the left and right backs to contribute to the attack from the flanks and assist in the buildup.

  For this variation's midfield defensive strategy, the first midfielder still focuses on ball possession and winning the ball, with at least one midfielder able to quickly track back to prevent the opponent's counterattack.

  As for the second midfielder, a box-to-box attacking strategy still helps win the ball while ensuring players can advance, track back, and assist in defense. Forwards are tasked with advancing the attack.

  Comparing And Choosing Between The Two Variants

  In general, both 4-4-2 variants can be used throughout a match, but the second variant can create more scoring opportunities by allowing the left and right backs to occasionally join the attack.

  However, this variant requires a high defensive line to exert greater pressure on the opponent, so if you find it difficult to master, it's best to prioritize variant 1, the mainstream 4-4-2 formation, until you find yourself at a disadvantage and need to switch strategies.

  That's all you need to know about using 4-4-2 formation in FUT 26. If you haven't found a formation that works for you yet, give it a try!

• EA FC 26 Patch 1.1.0 Explained: Massive Dribbling Nerfs, Stronger Defense, And A Broken Meta

  EA FC 26 just released V1.1.0 Update, which has been met with widespread dissatisfaction among players, with some thinking it ruins the game, while others consider it the best update yet. Simply put, it strengthens defense while largely weakening offense, a game-changing change.

  Because the previous meta was strong in offense, most players' teams favored it. This patch weakened offense, turning many meta lineups into jokes. So what exactly caused this shift? Let's take a look.

  

  Defending Improvements

  Following the previous update, FC 26 continues to strengthen defense, which is a step in the right direction. In the previous meta, defense and offense were unbalanced, and ideally, they should be balanced. The defensive improvements are as follows:

  • Man Marking: During kickoff, the defending AI player's marking becomes more aggressive.
  • Sprint Jockey: Slightly increased speed, making manual defending more effective.
  • Tackle: Fixed an issue where the ball would incorrectly bounce back to the attacker after a tackle, and improved the tackle animation.
  • Corner Kick: Increased the number of players dropping back to defend against a Short Corner Kick.
  • Goalkeeper: Improved AI logic.

  Players previously complained that kickoffs and short corner kicks were too overpowered, allowing some players to abuse them and defeat stronger opponents. Officials are indeed working on fixing this issue, but based on player feedback, kickoffs have only been improved but not eliminated. Short Corner Kicks are still effective, but may be more difficult to execute.

  Overall, after strengthening defense, many players feel that opponents can easily shut down the field with counterattacks, while they are unable to break through their defenses, resulting in fewer goals. While the attacking team may have been in an advantageous position, the strengthened defense makes defense more effective than offense, potentially increasing the required FC 26 coins for defensive players.

  

  Passing Improvements

  Passing performance was decent and didn't require any changes per se, but there are still some improvements:

  • Ground and Lofted Through Passes: Better respects player aiming input, with less assist.
  • Low Crosses: Fixed an issue where passes sometimes ended up as regular crosses.
  • First Time Passes: Improved responsiveness.

  Dribbling Nerfs

  The dribbling nerfs were the most controversial aspect of this update, and the specific changes are as follows:

  • Controlled Sprint Dribble: Speed has been reduced.
  • R1 Dribbling Nerf: R1 dribbling has been significantly nerfed.
  • Left Stick Dribbling Nerf: Basic left stick dribbling has become clunky and unresponsive.

  These changes have slowed down the overall attack, making all tacklers' turns, movements, and ball control feel slow and laggy. Holding the R1 button no longer keeps the ball under control. Instead, players frequently kick the ball over a meter, completely losing the ability to close control.

  This change directly alters the game's meta. The previous R1 dribbling technique is essentially useless. To recreate the immediate effect, you must now combine it with L1 Dribbling and switch to R1 Dribbling at the appropriate time. Overall, however, R1 Dribbling has been completely ruined.

  Read More: EA Sports FC 26 (4 Professional Tips): Winning Through Smart Play

  Other Changes

  FUT Mode

  • Added Objective tracking. You can add Objective groups as Favorites and view your progress in the in-game pause menu.
  • Added a preview feature for Evolution consumables, allowing you to preview the upgrade requirements and availability of player items before you own them.
  • Added the ability to sort SBC menu by Newest or Expiry.
  • Added numerous improvements to reward settings, UI display, and market interactions.

  Career Mode

  • Reduced Manager Market email spam and redundant notifications.
  • Fixed logic issues with end-of-season evaluations, Caretaker ratings, and AI career stability.
  • Fixed visual and logical errors in some UI and simulation data.

  Impact Of Patch 1.1.0

  The most significant impact of Patch 1.1.0 is the reduction in the skill gap between players of different skill levels. Before the update, the game demonstrated a high skill gap through precise left-stick dribbling and playmaking, allowing skilled players to win easily. However, after the update, the increased automation of defense and the lack of offensive tools have narrowed the gap between high-skill players and average players.

  However, the post-update gameplay clearly favors players who use Park the Bus, defend with CDMs, and then rely on Skill Moves like Elastico and Mcgeady Cancel Skill to counterattack.

  Patch 1.1.0 is a devastating blow to high-skill players and offensive players, but for more average players, they can completely leave their defense to the AI. As long as their CB and CDM are strong enough, making it difficult for opponents to break through the defense, giving them a chance to compete against high-level players.

  For truly skilled offensive players, while the dribbling nerf means they can't attack with the same freedom as before, they can still create offensive opportunities creatively.

  The R1 dribbling nerf has a game-changing impact and will undoubtedly significantly alter the market. Players who excel at dribbling and defending will be worth more FUT 26 coins. However, you can't say this change is inherently bad, as it allows more players to enjoy the game. However, the correct balance may be to continue strengthening manual defending to counter strong dribbling, rather than simply nerfing a core offensive skill.