EA FC 26 (6 Elite Dribbling Skills after Patch 1.4.0 Defense Nerfed) | These Simple Moves Make Defenders Useless

Category: FC 26 Posted: Jan 12, 2026 Views: 1162

Posted: Jan 12, 2026

Source: IGGM

EA FC 26 patch 1.4.0 has weakened defense, once again impacting gameplay. Dribbling is a crucial skill for both offense and defense.

The core of dribbling lies in unpredictability. If your movements are easily predictable to your opponent, your dribbling will be ineffective. Let's look at how to dribble more effectively.

EA FC 26 (6 Elite Dribbling Skills after Patch 1.4.0 Defense Nerfed) | These Simple Moves Make Defenders Useless

1. Left Stick Dribbling & R1 Dribbling

Many players misunderstand Left Stick Dribbling, believing it must be done with technical dribbling. However, combining the two yields one of the best dribbling combinations in FUT 26.

Using the left stick or R1 alone is insufficient. They must be combined. You need to use the left stick to dribble for directional deception and to create space, then use R1 technical dribbling to quickly cut into open areas, making your attack routes unpredictable.

Left Stick Dribbling is controlled by moving the player using the left stick, requiring good dribbling attributes and agility. When your opponent is near the penalty area, or after setting up player lock-on, you need to observe the situation on the field and maintain control of the ball. Using left stick dribbling allows you to maintain tight ball control.

When you see an opening and want to cut in, don't use R2 to sprint; instead, use R1 Dribbling. This allows you to maintain precise ball control while accelerating. Using R2 to sprint will worsen ball control.

When you're using Left Stick Dribbling on the edge of the penalty area, and you see a defender pressing, feign a move towards the lower right corner, then use the left stick to suddenly change direction and get past your opponent. Use the space created to use R1 Dribbling to accelerate into the penalty area and finish with a shot.

2. L1 Stop

To use this technique, while dribbling, release all buttons and then quickly press L1 button. This will allow your player to immediately stop and turn to face the goal. Even if you're dribbling backwards, he will quickly turn to face the goal.

Controlling the ball in front of the goal can intimidate opponents, giving you time to observe their movements and react in the opposite direction. After controlling the ball, you can chain together various skill moves. It also allows you to easily evade pressing defenders with a sudden stop and quick change of direction, greatly increasing the unpredictability of your attack.

When cutting inside from the edge of the penalty area, if a defender blocks your path, you can use L1 to quickly change direction. Or, when your striker receives the ball with their back to the goal, quickly tapping L1 will make them immediately turn to face the attacking direction.

3. R2 Sprint

R2 Sprint is a basic acceleration maneuver in the FIFA 26. Sometimes you might feel that other players are running faster than you; they could be using this technique.

Simply hold down R2 while your player is dribbling, and then release and tap R2 again just before the player touches the ball again. Basically, tapping R2 just before each touch will make you run faster.

This technique requires your player to have a Rapid Playstyle, as it relates to acceleration while dribbling. This technique of repeatedly tapping R2 helps to trigger its speed boost more effectively. You can use this technique to gain a speed advantage when dribbling down the flanks or in open areas. Quick Step, on the other hand, relates to off-the-ball movement and cannot be triggered by this technique.

4. First Touch

A player's First Touch is crucial, determining the smoothness of subsequent actions. Before receiving the ball, especially under pressure in midfield, be sure to release R2 button. Holding down the sprint button while receiving the ball will cause you to lose control. So just use the left stick to control direction.

Remember to always direct First Touch towards open areas away from defenders. This not only ensures safe ball possession but also lures opposing center-backs out of their defensive positions, creating space and options for subsequent attacks.

5. R1+L1 Combination Touch

Before receiving the ball, hold down R1 and L1 simultaneously and move the left stick towards the direction of the incoming ball. This triggers a special receiving animation. The player will first make a feint to receive the ball backwards, then suddenly change the direction of the touch. This animation is extremely deceptive both inside and outside the penalty area, making it difficult for opponents to defend against.

This skill can completely stop your momentum, allowing you to pass the ball to a teammate before the defender slows down. This is crucial for completely shaking off a defender in situations that are usually difficult to handle, preventing you from directly dribbling into the defender or having your pass intercepted.

6. Ball Roll

You need to use the right stick to flick it left or right to use this skill. It's one of the simplest and most effective skill moves in EA FC 26, allowing you to flick the ball to the side and use your body as a barrier to block the opponent.

If you use it immediately after receiving the ball, the opponent will be unable to dispossess you due to your body blocking the ball. It can be used to dribble past opponents and shoot, or to safely dribble the ball away from danger zones.

Dribbling isn't just about player attributes. If you can skillfully utilize various running and sudden stop techniques, your dribbling and passing will become more unpredictable, allowing you to constantly create attacking opportunities on the field. With the defensive nerfs in patch 1.4.0, you'll score goals more easily.

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EA FC 26 Team of the Season guides and predictions | Don't miss the chance to buff your squad for free!
If Team of the Year serves as the annual marquee event for every FC title, then Team of the Season is the exclusive celebratory promo reserved for the transition between spring and summer!

While the upcoming World Cup, which has yet to begin, is capturing much of the spotlight this year, several other equally significant competitions have already concluded.

TOTS serves as a comprehensive retrospective, highlighting the players who delivered outstanding performances in these tournaments.

So, when does this promo begin and end? And what benefits and exciting experiences does it have in store for you? We're here to tell you all about it.

What is Team of the Season?

Held annually around late April, this event within FIFA game series is designed to honor real-world players who have delivered the best performances throughout the past season in leagues such as Premier League or LaLiga.

Unlike standard promos where players are released directly by the developers, these players are selected through a voting process involving you and other fans. The players who make the cut are awarded special cards featuring massive, permanent in-game stat boosts.

FUT 26 TOTS schedule

This promo officially kicks off on April 17, 2026, and will run until May 22, 2026, spanning a total of five weeks. Each Friday during this period, the final squads, determined by fan votes, will be unveiled:
- April 17th: Serie A, Eredivisie, MLS, RoE (Rest of Europe)
- April 24th: Premier League, Barclays WSL, EFL
- May 1st: Bundesliga, GPFBL, Saudi Pro League, RoW (Rest of the World)
- May 8th: Ligue 1, Arkema Premiere League, Turkish SuperLig, NWSL
- May 15th: LaLiga, Liga F, Portuguese League
- May 22rd: Ultimate Team of the Season
How to vote?

If you are the type of player who cares less about who the players are and focuses solely on whether they can help you secure a victory, then skipping the voting process is no big deal.

However, if you are a fan of specific players, this is a step you absolutely do not want to miss!

As the schedule above indicates, each week you will need to cast your votes for different leagues to determine their respective TOTS squads.

In the final week, an Ultimate Team will be selected, drawing from the standout players who made the cut in the preceding weeks. Based on this, the specific voting steps are as follows (these remain the same every week):
1. Visit the dedicated TOTS section on the official EA Sports website.
2. Locate and click Vote Now button on the page.
3. Simply drag and drop all your preferred candidate players into the starting XI formation slots.
Do not be surprised if you notice that the developers have pre-selected the winners for certain smaller leagues; this is a common practice. However, for the major top-tier leagues, the selection of TOTS squad still relies primarily on community voting.

Which players are likely to be selected?

Voting is currently in full swing for Premier League, so our predictions will focus primarily on its TOTS squad.

The final squad typically consists of 11 standard players, plus two Moments and one Flashback player. Our predictions for potential inclusions are as follows:

Standard Players:
- Gianluigi Donnarumma - GK
- Marc Cucurella - LB
- Gabriel - CB
- William Saliba - CB
- Jurrien Timber - RB
- Bruno Fernandes - CM
- Declan Rice - CM
- Casemiro - CM
- Antoine Semenyo - LW
- Erling Haaland - ST
- Igor Thiago - ST
- Virgil Van Dijk - CB
- Dominik Szoboszlai - CAM
- Harry Wilson - RM
- Joao Pedro - ST
Moments / Flashback Players:
- Eberechi Eze - CAM
- Dominic Solanke - ST
- Dominic Solanke - ST
How can you obtain these players?

Once TOTS begins, FC 26 is expected to release new SBCs and Objectives daily for you to complete.

These may reward you with specific TOTS cards, or they may provide additional card packs, thereby increasing your chances of pulling these limited-edition cards.

Completing an SBC typically involves fulfilling several specific requirements within a single task; you simply need to select players from your own club roster that meet these criteria to assemble a qualifying squad.

Objectives, on the other hand, require you to participate in actual matches, either by securing victories or by performing specific actions using designated players.

It is worth noting that while Team of the Season event is active, there is also a chance to pull TOTS cards from long-term objectives and any other reward packs obtained through various means.

Additionally, card packs will be available for trade in the in-game store.

If you prefer not to rely on chance, but instead wish to acquire a specific player card with greater precision, you can trade directly on the transfer market. With a bit of luck, the number of coins required might not even be that high!

However, given that new squads are released every week, player cards from different leagues may be available for a limited time only. Therefore, be sure to keep a close eye on the schedule to avoid missing out on the cards you desire.

Why shouldn't you miss out on TOTS?

The enhanced cards featured in this promo not only offer you deeper insight into the players who starred in 2025/26 season, but also serve to significantly boost the overall strength of your squad.

More importantly, if you happen to be a fan of these specific players, this is the perfect opportunity to acquire limited-edition, enhanced versions of your idols!

That wraps up everything we have to share with you today. Start getting ready to acquire these new cards right away and don't forget to cast your votes!
EA FC 26 Trophy Titans Team 1 and SBCs Leaked | How you should prepare your club right now?
This Friday, April 3, marks the return of Trophy Titans, a promotion that has been absent for three years. Many players are excited, as every player featured in this event is exceptionally useful.

A significant amount of leaked information has already surfaced, including the roster for Trophy Titans Team 1 and details on some SBCs. Before April Fools' Day truly kicks off, let's dive into these relatively credible leaks and how you can prepare in advance.

What is Trophy Titans Promotion?

Since this promotion hasn't appeared in EA FC 25 or even 24, newer players might not understand why it's generating so much excitement. To grasp that, we need to go back three years to FIFA 23 and see what made it a classic.

Trophy Titans Cards

Trophy Titans promotion was the first event in EA FC series history to feature only Icon and Hero cards. In FIFA 23, every selected player had dynamic images of them holding a trophy, making them highly desirable collectibles. More importantly, these cards were remarkably accessible.

FIFA 23 Trophy Titans promotion introduced "Baby" versions of Icons - for instance, an 88 OVR Alessandro Del Piero, whose value once dropped as low as 14,000 FC 26 coins, allowing everyday players to easily acquire Icon players. While the premium versions remained valuable, these Baby versions offered incredible value and sometimes even boasted stats superior to their Prime variants.

Trophy Titans SBC

Squad Building Challenges during Trophy Titans promotion were equally noteworthy. In FIFA 23, Roy Keane's SBC was widely praised for its outstanding performance and reasonable cost. Additionally, Frank Lampard's objectives were quite distinctive, allowing players to earn three different-rated versions of Lampard (86, 90, 93) by completing a series of tasks. In FC 26, such lower-rated cards can serve as excellent candidates for Evolutions.

Trophy Titans Leaked Players

According to the latest leaks, the player pool for this Trophy Titans event will be exceptionally star-studded, featuring giants like Zidane, Hullett, Ronaldinho, Totti, Morgan, Butragueño, and many more. Several of these players just received new cards during Team of the Year promotion and are now set to get another version.

This time around, there will also be Baby Heroes and Icons, giving players opportunities to acquire these athletes at a lower cost and then use Evolution system to turn them into top-tier competitors. Some of the elite cards will feature three PlayStyle+ slots, essentially signaling that FC 26 is entering the lead-up phase to Team of the Season.

Below is the list of leaked Team 1 players - player stats are not included:
- Angerer
- Barzagli
- Beckenbauer
- Beckenbauer (Baby Version)
- Berbatov
- Bompastor
- Campbell
- Campbell (Baby Version)
- Cantona
- Carlos Puyol
- Carlos Puyol (Baby Version)
- Emilio Butragueño
- Emilio Butragueño (Baby Version)
- Fernando Hierro
- Fernando Morientes
- Gullit
- Hazard
- Kohler
- Morgan
- Nesta
- Nesta (Baby Version)
- Pizarro
- Prinz
- Prinz (Baby Version)
- Ronaldinho
- Shearer
- Shearer (Baby Version)
- Thuram
- Thuram (Baby Version)
- Totti
- Veron
- Zanetti
- Zidane
Trophy Titans SBC Leaks

92 OVR Ricardo Kaká
- Pac: 92
- Sho: 88
- Pas: 90
- Dri: 92
- Def: 46
- Phy: 80
Ricardo Kaká is set to receive his first promotional SBC card of the year, rated 92 OVR. Featuring Incisive Pass and Finesse Shot - two highly sought-after PlayStyle+ - he will become a popular choice for the attacking midfielder position. While his base stats may not be the absolute highest, Ricardo Kaká has historically felt excellent to control in FIFA series and remains a fan favorite. As long as this SBC is reasonably priced, it will be well worth completing.

89 OVR Eden Hazard
- Pac: 94
- Sho: 88
- Pas: 87
- Dri: 92
- Def: 38
- Phy: 70
Compared to his premium versions, this card's lower rating means it has significant room for future improvement through Evolutions. You might be able to take this Hazard card during a future Team of the Season promotion and enhance his shooting and passing attributes via Evolution, giving him substantial potential.

Also leaked is former Real Madrid player Míchel Salgado, who will appear either as an SBC or as an Objective reward.

How to Prepare for Friday?

Sell Existing Icons

If you hold Icon cards for players who are about to receive new versions in this event, it is advisable to sell them soon. Trophy Titans promotion will release numerous new versions of these Icons, which typically drives down the value of their existing variants.

Road to the Final Cards

Your Road to the Final players are live cards that upgrade based on real-world match results. Their matches are about to begin, and their values may rise just before kickoff. Players like Victoria López have already seen some fluctuations. If you are considering investing in these cards, proceed with caution; holding onto some FC 26 coins to invest in Trophy Titans promotion may be a wiser move.

Fodder Cards

Promotions often come with a wave of SBC, which sharply increases demand for fodder players, such as 85 OVR cards and Team of the Week selections. A strategy with minimal risk is to acquire these cards when their value is low and sell them after the promotion goes live.
- 85 OVR players: can be secured for around 2,500 coins.
- Team of the Week players: can be secured for around 12,000 coins.
Many players are keeping a close eye on this promotion, so starting this Friday, it's shaping up to be a very busy week. Here's hoping Trophy Titans promotion lives up to its legacy from three years ago, and that you get the Icons you're after.
EA FC 26 Road to the Final Roster leaked | Master the timing to maximize card value upgrades!
FC 26 Festival of Football: Answer the Call promo, held to celebrate the new World Cup, is set to conclude this Friday. With barely a moment's rest, the new Road to the Final (RTTF) promo will launch immediately thereafter!

This promo is also designed to celebrate real-world football competitions; so if you are a fan of the featured players or simply enjoy watching the matches, this is an event you absolutely do not want to miss!

Road to the Final release date

The promo will go live this Friday, March 27th, adhering to the standard FC 26 game update schedule. As it features only a single squad release, the event will run for just one week, concluding on April 3rd.

RTTF overview

Road to the Final is a recurring annual event that has taken place almost every year since FIFA 19.

Its purpose is to celebrate the knockout stages of UEFA Champions League, UEFA Women's Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Europa Conference League by releasing limited-edition player cards.

During the competition period, RTTF player cards replace the corresponding players' standard base cards. Subsequently, if a player's team advances in the actual real-world tournament, their RTTF card will receive upgrades to its overall rating and stats.

It is worth noting that even if a player selected for Road to the Final promo does not personally participate in a match for any reason, their RTTF item remains active and eligible for upgrades, provided they do not transfer clubs mid-event and their team continues to advance in the competition.

Road to the Final Squad in FIFA 26

The players selected for this event are categorized into two groups: the first consists of players whose cards can be unlocked only by opening packs and pulling them via the drawing.

The second consists of players available as specific rewards for completing designated SBCs or Objectives.

Team 1：
- GK - Diogo Costa - OVR 91
- RB - Nahuel Molina - OVR 90
- RB - Andrei Rațiu - OVR 90
- CB - Piero Hincapié - OVR 91
- CB - Irene Paredes - OVR 90
- CB - Ingrid Syrstad Engen - OVR 89
- CB - Lucas Beraldo - OVR 88
- CB - Carl Starfelt - OVR 88
- CB - Chris Richards - OVR 90
- LB - Ricardo Rodríguez - OVR 88
- LB - Sara Holmgaard - OVR 88
- CDM - Ryan Yates - OVR 91
- CM - Aurélien Tchouaméni - OVR 92
- CM - Alexis Mac Allister - OVR 91
- CM - Vicky López - OVR 90
- CAM - Jamal Musiala - OVR 92
- CAM - Frida Maanum - OVR 89
- CAM - Morgan Gibbs-White - OVR 90
- CAM - Yuito Suzuki - OVR 88
- CAM - Teun Koopmeiners - OVR 90
- CAM - Orbelín Pineda - OVR 89
- CAM - Ismaïla Sarr - OVR 90
- CAM - Sebastian Nanasi - OVR 89
- RM - Johanna Kaneryd - OVR 89
- RM - Federico Bernardeschi - OVR 91
- RM - Víctor Gómez - OVR 90
- RM - Jack Harrison - OVR 90
- RM - Pedrinho - OVR 88
- RW - Mohamed Salah - OVR 93
- RW - Désiré Doué - OVR 92
- RW - Naomie Feller - OVR 88
- LM - Klara Bühl - OVR 92
- LM - Maximiliano Araújo - OVR 88
- LW - Jadon Sancho - OVR 90
- ST - Kylian Mbappé - OVR 93
- ST - Marcus Rashford - OVR 92
- ST - Alexander Sørloth - OVR 91
- ST - Thijs Dallinga - OVR 90
- ST - Troy Parrott - OVR 91
- ST - Armindo Sieb - OVR 90
- ST - Elisabeth Terland - OVR 90
SBC and Objective Rewards:
- RB - Konrad Laimer - OVR 90
- CB - Pau Cubarsí - OVR 91
- CAM - Eberechi Eze - OVR 91
How to obtain RTTF cards?

First, special card rewards can only be obtained by participating in SBCs and Objectives released over the coming week. These events are updated almost daily; in addition to individual player cards, the rewards also include card packs.

Card packs serve as a primary method for acquiring Team 1 players. While they appear as in-game rewards, you can also unlock additional packs in the in-game store by consuming FC 26 coins.

Alternatively, if you prefer not to rely on luck and wish to acquire specific RTTF player items you desire as quickly as possible within the limited timeframe, you can wait for the optimal moment to get them on the transfer market.

How to participate in SBCs and Objectives?

As one of the most important daily activities, SBCs require you to assemble a squad that meets various specific criteria, such as including a certain number of players from the same country or club, or achieving a specific total chemistry rating.

As for Objectives, they are primarily categorized into long-term Objectives (which can be completed at any time) and limited-time Objectives (which change with each new season update).

It is worth noting that some Objectives require you to complete a specific number of SBCs; therefore, you can plan ahead by keeping an eye on upcoming tasks to maximize your efficiency through smart scheduling.

Participating immediately in FC 26 Road to the Final giveaways hosted on IGGM Discord is also an effective way to acquire player cards or card packs. We will be drawing 10 lucky players to share a prize pool of 5 million coins - you just might be one of the lucky ten!

Card upgrade tips

All FUT 26 RTTF items launch with ratings and stats that are superior to standard player cards. Subsequently, these items undergo a unified stat update every Friday evening, following the conclusion of the corresponding real-world match fixtures. The specific upgrade effects are as follows:

UEFA Men's Champions League / Europa League / Conference League:
- Win/Draw in the Round of 16: +1 OVR
- Qualify for the Quarter-Finals: +1 OVR, +1 Role++
- Qualify for the Semi-Finals: +1 OVR, +1 SM or WF
- Qualify for the Final: +1 PS+ (+2 PS+ if the player currently possesses only 1 PS+)
- Win the Final: +1 OVR (or 96 OVR), +5 SM or WF
UEFA Women's Champions League:
- Win/Draw in the 1st Quarter-Finals match: +1 OVR
- Qualify for the Semi-Finals: +1 OVR, +1 Role++
- Win/Draw in the 1st Semi-Finals match: +1 OVR, +1 SM or WF
- Qualify for the Final: +1 PS+ (+2 PS+ if the player currently possesses only 1 PS+)
- Win the Final: +1 OVR (or 96 OVR), +5 SM or WF
In addition to the above, these limited-edition players will also be eligible for an additional upgrade mechanism based on their team's performance in their first match.

If a specific player card is released after the conclusion of their team's first knockout stage match, its first match upgrade outcome will instead depend on the results of the next knockout stage match.

Road to the Final is just around the corner! If there are any coveted Answer the Call cards you have yet to acquire, be sure to make a final push to get them before the last day ends! Good luck!
EA FC 26 Festival of Football: Answer the Call | This new one-week promo is your best chance to snag 2026 World Cup Powerhouses!
Recently, FC 26 has been rolling out new promotional events every few weeks. To non-fans, this might appear to be nothing more than a meaningless accumulation of cards; however, as a seasoned player, you alone understand the true significance of these new cards.

New promotional events typically launch on a Friday, and the latest, Festival of Football: Answer the Call, is no exception. Below, we provide a detailed breakdown of this promotion, with a particular focus on Team 1.

What is Festival of Football: Answer the Call?

This event is designed to spotlight powerful players who stand a chance of being selected for their national squads for 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Should any of these featured players ultimately make the final roster, their dynamic in-game cards will receive an upgrade, boosting their stats by +1 OVR and +1 PlayStyle+ (with the potential for up to 3 PlayStyle+ upgrades).

Therefore, if you have high hopes for a specific player, consider consuming FC 26 coins to acquire him directly via the transfer market, he just might surprise you with his future performance!

When will Answer the Call go live?

This promotional event is scheduled to launch this Friday, March 20, 2026, immediately following the conclusion of the previous event, FUT Birthday Team 2.

Notably, and unlike previous events, Answer the Call appears to feature only a single squad release. Consequently, the promotion will run for just one week, concluding on March 27.

Squad predictions

All Festival of Football: Answer the Call promo cards fall into two categories: those obtainable by opening packs, and those that must be earned by completing specific new SBCs (Squad Building Challenges) or Objectives:
- GK - David Raya
- GK - Liam Kelly
- RB - Tariq Lamptey
- RB - Julián Araujo
- RB - Marcus Pedersen
- RB - Cristian Manea
- CB - Harry Maguire
- CB - Josip Šutalo
- CB - Mark McKenzie
- CB - Alidu Seidu
- LB - Alejandro Grimaldo
- LB - Nuno Tavares
- LB - Leonardo Spinazzola
- LB - Marcos Acuña
- CDM - N'Golo Kanté
- CDM - Ryan Gravenberch
- CDM - Sandro Tonali
- CDM - Angelo Stiller
- CDM - Sofyan Amrabat
- CDM - Ryan Christie
- CM - João Neves
- CM - Mateo Kovačić
- CM - Weston McKennie
- CM - Mateo Chávez
- LM - Mohammed Al Breikan
- RM - Leroy Sané
- RM - Ilias Akhomach
- RM - Karim Adeyemi
- RM - Jude Bellingham
- CAM - Xavi Simons
- CAM - Giovani Lo Celso
- CAM - Finn Azaz
- LM - Nico Williams
- LW - Salem Al Dawsari
- LW - Jens Petter Hauge
- RW - Roony Bardghji
- RW - Michał Skóraś
- ST - Julián Álvarez
- ST - Jean-Philippe Mateta
- ST - Roman Yaremchuk
- ST - Che Adams
- ST - Kieffer Moore
SBCs or Objectives:
- RB - Trent Alexander-Arnold
- CB - Chancel Mbemba
- CAM - Francisco Trincão
- RM - Jean-Giovanni Reyna
- RW - Jean-Rayan Cherki
- RW - Crysencio Summerville
- ST - Jean-Rasmus Højlund
- ST - Callum Wilson
Most of the players expected to be selected for World Cup squad are highly rated; even if some of them ultimately do not make the final cut, they will still provide a significant boost to the strength of your club.

How to obtain new cards?

Almost all cards featured in FUT 26 promo can be obtained by opening packs, or by completing Objectives/SBCs to earn specific individual cards, as well as by trading on the transfer market.

Card packs will be available as mission rewards, or you can acquire additional packs by using coins or points in the in-game store.

Over the coming week, you can expect new SBCs or Objectives to become available every single day. Whether you're looking to experience the thrill of opening card packs or aiming to acquire specific featured players, you certainly won't want to miss out on these opportunities!

To complete an SBC, you must assemble a squad that meets the specific requirements of the current challenge. While this doesn't require you to play any actual matches, it does demand a robust and diverse roster within your club.

Therefore, when managing your club on a daily basis, avoid the temptation to sell off players who might seem useless at the time; they could very well come in handy for a future SBC.

As for Objectives, they are primarily categorized into three types: Season Objectives, Foundations, and Live Objectives.

Over the next week, you should prioritize Objectives related to Answer the Call campaign; for the others, simply focus on completing those that offer the most lucrative rewards.

One important tip: if you plan to acquire a specific player card via the transfer market, don't be hasty. Instead, exercise patience, observe market fluctuations closely, and strike when the value is right. The coins you save can be put to much better use elsewhere!

However, there is currently another opportunity to get new cards for free: by participating in IGGM FC 26 Festival of Football: Answer the Call Celebrate giveaways!

If you are lucky enough to be selected, you will receive 500,000 coins, which you can then used to acquire any cards or packs you desire from the market or the store!

2026 FIFA World Cup

As a real-world event closely tied to Festival of Football: Answer the Call campaign, 2026 FIFA World Cup will kick off on June 11 and run until July 19.

During this period, 48 national teams will compete on the pitches of 16 host cities across three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

What makes this year's FIFA World Cup particularly unique is the significant departure from previous tournaments regarding format; the number of participating teams, the duration of the competition, and various other aspects have all been substantially expanded.

If you're looking forward to an exhilarating summer and want to be the very first to know if Answer the Call players you've acquired have made their national squads, be sure to stay tuned for the latest World Cup news updates!

That wraps up everything we have to share with you for now. The new promo is about to begin, get ready!
EA FC 26 FUT Birthday Team 2 Leaks Signal Market Dip | Smart Moves Could Yield Hidden Profits!
Last Friday's release of EA FC 26 FUT Birthday Team 1 sent the market into a crash, and a similar downturn could be on the horizon for this Friday, March 13th, as leaks for FUT Birthday Team 2 have already begun to surface.

However, there's no need for excessive concern, as we can analyze this week's investment strategies based on the latest leaked player information, Evolutions, and SBCs.

Market Crash

The market experienced a significant drop last Friday. For instance, Stam's Winter Wildcards card plummeted from 2.4 million to 1 million coins, and Jill Scott dropped from 430,000 to just over 100,000 FC 26 coins. This Friday, the market could face even greater challenges.

The primary reason lies in a store pack: Deluxe FUT Birthday Guarantee Pack. This pack is not limited to the first week's squad, meaning that starting this Friday, players from both Week 1 and Week 2 of FUT Birthday will be present in the pack pool. Official intention with this move is to give more players the opportunity to acquire these customizable players, or in other words, to sell more of this pack.

The increase in supply will have a massive impact on the current market. Not only will the value of FC 26 FUT Birthday Team 1 players decline, but all transactions involving high-value players will also face downward pressure.

FUT Birthday Team 2 Leak

FUT Birthday is arguably one of the best promos recently, as it allows you to utilize Evolution system to customize players' Playstyles. This means you can make these players fit perfectly into your squad, which is why the Team 1 players have gained significant popularity.

Now, the full lineup for Team 2 has been leaked. Players like Claudia Pina and Paulo Dybala are likely to be the most sought-after in Team 2, but other players are equally valuable. Here's a look at the specific leaks.

All Live Players:
- Claudia Pina
- Pedri
- Antonio Rüdiger
- Paulo Dybala
- Scott McTominay
- Antony
- Balde
- Alessandro Bastoni
- Dominik Szoboszlai
- Barış Alper Yılmaz
- Sakina Karchaoui
- Lindsey Heaps
- Paul Pogba
- Mohammed Kudus
- Dávid Hancko
- Johan Bakayoko
- Guro Reiten
- Alexandre Lacazette
- David
- Ollie Watkins
- Rayan Aït-Nouri
- Lauren Hemp
- Jobe Bellingham
- Brahim
- Julio César Enciso
- Jean-Mattéo Bahoya
- Aaron Wan-Bissaka
- Miguel Ángel Merentiel
- Stina Blackstenius
- Dominique Janssen
- Maximilian Mittelstädt
- Keita Baldé
- Václav Černý
- Wouter Burger
- Vanessa Fudalla
- Rocío Gálvez
- Taylor Flint
- Tara McKeown
- Jaelin Howell
- Aron Dønnum
- Ko Itakura
- Can Bozdoğan
- Bia Zaneratto
- Nadia Krezyman
- Ane Azkona
- Bartosz Kapustka
- Luciano Valente
- Kelechi Iheanacho
- Cláudio Braga
- Anaële Le Moguédec
All FUT Birthday Team 2 Heroes:
- Marek Hamšík
- Daniele De Rossi
- Lúcio
- Vincent Kompany
- Simone Laudehr
All FUT Birthday Team 2 Icons:
- Ferenc Puskás
- Bobby Charlton
- Lothar Matthäus
- Samuel Eto'o
- Aya Miyama
- Hernán Crespo
- Javier Mascherano
Specific stats for the players above haven't been released, but some could become the major prizes in Team 2.

92 OVR Pedri CM

Pedri is expected to be a top-tier card similar to FUT Birthday Team 1's Federico Valverde, boasting excellent attributes but with a high value, potentially reaching a million FC 26 coins. He is well-suited as an attacking midfielder.

90 OVR Paul Pogba CM

Since you can freely customize Paul Pogba's Playstyles this time, he could become the best midfielder in the game. You can opt for Trickster+ and Technical+ to make the game more enjoyable, or choose Block+ and Incisive+ Pass to mold him into an all-around midfield powerhouse. Consequently, his value is also likely to be very high.

Investment Advice

The current market environment is unstable, so investment requires extra caution.

88+ OVR Players

Currently, investing in these high-tier fodder players is not recommended. With players focused on FUT Birthday Evolutions, demand for traditional SBCs is low, causing the value of these high-tier fodder cards to drop as well. Unless an exceptionally enticing Icon SBC appears in the future, the value of 88+ OVR players is unlikely to recover before FUT Birthday concludes.

Team of the Week

Team of the Week has always been a relatively stable and safe investment target. They can be used as fodder or for Evolutions. Due to their limited supply and considering the demand for upgrade packs in the future, Team of the Week players remain a comparatively safe investment option.

89 OVR Jill Scott Fantasy FC Hero

Although this card's value has dropped to around 100,000 coins, it is still worth considering for investment. With Manchester City Women's matches approaching, she has the potential for an upgrade. If she receives a +1 OVR or stat boosts, the card's value could potentially return to 200,000-250,000.

85 OVR Pedro Lomba Neto Team of the Week

This is a lower-value TOTW card. Its current value has dropped to around 20,000 coins. As supply dwindles, it could potentially return to a value of 30,000 to 40,000 coins each.

89 OVR Lionel Messi Team of the Week

This is Lionel Messi's third TOTW card. Considering the massive coin investment required for his other high-rated cards, and the possibility of future Evolutions requiring players rated 89 OVR or below, this card featuring Dead Ball+ could appreciate in value. After all, it's Messi.

In summary, the current market is full of both risks and opportunities. This Friday, with the addition of the second week's squad, the market is highly likely to experience another significant dip. Please operate cautiously, keep an eye on low-value fodder cards with strong demand and potential sleepers, and you might just find opportunities for profit amidst the turbulence. So, best of luck to you.
EA FC 26 FUT Birthday Team 1 Leaked | Getting More 5-Star Icons and Heroes in Two Weeks!
Regardless of recent player reviews, FC 26 consistently releases new promos, proving the game's continued activity and providing loyal fans with opportunities to acquire new cards.

Based on this, the new FUT Birthday event will launch on March 6th! While this is an anniversary celebration, its purpose and operation are no different from regular FUT 26 promotions.

Below, we'll introduce the details of FC 26 Birthday event, as well as how to obtain related player cards and other rewards.

What is FUT Birthday?

This is an event that has been held in FC series since FIFA 14, designed to commemorate the core mode Ultimate Team, making it as popular and important as Team of the Year.

The enhanced cards introduced in this event primarily focus on improving player ratings and attributes, as well as the weak foot and skill moves of 5-star players. Additionally, you can use evolution points to assign desired PlayStyles+ attributes to two of the cards.

FIFA 26 FUT Birthday schedule

This event will run from March 6th to March 20th, a total of two weeks, and will be divided into two phases based on the order in which the two teams are released:
- Team 1 and Icons & Heroes Team 1: March 6th to March 13th, 2026
- Team 2 and Icons & Heroes Team 2: March 13th to March 20th, 2026
Team 1 cards will expire immediately after Team 2 becomes available. Therefore, if your favorite player is in Team 1 and you've had terrible luck opening packs, be sure to buy FC 26 coins immediately and acquire them directly from the market.

FUT Birthday Team 1 roster

Player rosters for almost every new event are released a few days in advance. Therefore, although there are still two days until the event starts, all Team 1 rosters for FUT 26 Birthday are already visible. Based on this, it is expected that Team 2 rosters will be leaked around March 11th.

Team 1:
- RB -Marcos Llorente
- CB - Wendie Renard
- CB - Willian Pacho
- CB - Aymeric Laporte
- CB - Loïc Badé
- CB - Jawad El Yamiq
- CB-Dante
- CB-Marcos Senesi
- LB - Katie McCabe
- LB - Jayden Oosterwolde
- CDM - Tyler Morton
- CM - Luka Modrić
- CM - Joelinton
- CM - Kobbie Mainoo
- CM - Mikel Merino
- CM - Thelo Aasgaard
- CM - Federico Valverde
- CM-Julia Grosso
- CM - Nadiem Amiri
- CM - Musab Al Juwair
- CAM - Kenan Yıldız
- CAM - Caroline Weir
- CAM - Charles De Ketelaere
- CAM - Pernille Harder
- CAM - Croix Bethune
- RM - Kerolin Nicoli
- RM - Iñaki Williams
- RM - Nicolas Pépé
- RM - Harry Wilson
- RW-Lamine Yamal
- RW - Alex Pfeiffer
- RW - Ivan Perišić
- RW - Kiko Seike
- LM - Luis Díaz
- LM - Fridolina Rolfö
- LM - Allegra Poljak
- LM - Rayane Messi
- LW - Bradley Barcola
- LW - Jérémy Doku
- LW - Allan Saint-Maximin
- ST - Cristiano Ronaldo
- ST - PE Aubameyang
- ST - Hugo Ekitiké
- ST - Melchie Dumornay
- ST - Jamie Vardy
- ST - Selina Cerci
- ST - Larissa Mühlhaus
- ST - Igor Thiago
- ST - Luca Marseiler
- ST - Noah Ohio
Icons & Heroes Team 1:
- CB - Andrea Barzagli
- CDM - Esteban Cambiasso
- ST - Zlatan Ibrahimović
- ST - Gabriel Batistuta
These new cards will provide a permanent boost to the corresponding player's rating and attributes, 5 Star-level skill moves and 5-star weak foot. While FUT Birthday cards cannot be upgraded, these enhancements are enough to allow you to experience more Playstyles.

Since FC 26 FUT Birthday is an anniversary event, the rewarded player cards are not only plentiful but also include many well-known stars. Therefore, your card pack/card farming pressure will probably be high for the next two weeks, so be prepared!

How to obtain event player cards?

Although the cards obtained this time are valuable and powerful, the difficulty of acquiring them hasn't increased! The sources remain card packs and the transfer market.

While the transfer market requires you to invest more coins or points, it allows you to acquire your desired cards more purposefully and faster. Alternatively, if you have time, you can keep an eye on market dynamics and act when it's most worthwhile.

As for card packs, you can directly obtain them by consuming coins in the in-game store, or by completing specific SBCs and objectives.

SBC stands for Squad Building Challenges. Each challenge will release a series of requirements regarding player nationality or club, team chemistry, etc. Your task is to build a team according to these requirements.

Since no matches are required, SBC (Summoning, Crafting, and Completion) is a relatively easy task to complete in FC 26, provided your club roster is sufficiently diverse.

As for objectives, these refer to completing tasks in various EA FC 26 game modes, which can also help advance your Season Pass. Common objective types include:
- Winning a specified number of matches.
- Participating in a specified game mode.
- Completing a specified number of matches using a specified player in certain events.
- Completing a specific country/region set.
It's worth noting that the results of opening card packs largely depend on luck, although opening multiple packs at once seems to slightly increase the chances of obtaining rare cards.

That concludes this introduction. We hope you have great luck starting with FC 26 FUT Birthday and easily obtain the cards you want!