EA FC 26 Greats of the Game Drops on June 19: Ronaldo Nazário, Zidane Headline | Is Your Club Ready?

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• EA FC 26 New OP Striker Builds in Clubs Mode: How to craft them after The World’s Game Update goes live?

  The World's Game Update for FIFA 26, released to coincide with the 2026 World Cup, introduces new tournament gameplay and updates to classic modes, including Clubs.

  While the updates to this mode are largely separate from the unlicensed World Cup simulation featured elsewhere in FC 26, you will still need to understand the changes if you want to continue enjoying the mode's core mechanics, which center on Player Archetypes.

  With that in mind, we are using the striker position as an example to introduce effective Striker builds for the current game environment.

  

  What are the builds in Club Mode?

  As a multiplayer mode, FC 26 Clubs allows you to create or join a custom club with friends, select a Player Archetype to embody, and lead that player through matches to improve their abilities. You can join up to three clubs.

  As you play more matches, your Archetype's stats improve, and you unlock new customization options.

  Club Mode offers plenty of flexibility; you can play casually for fun, or, if you want to take it further, buy FC 26 coins on IGGM to boost your Archetype, climb the league rankings, and earn better seasonal rewards.

  There are currently 13 Archetypes available in Clubs; the first is unlocked for free, while the others are obtained by consuming in-game currency or using specific Archetype unlock consumables.

  A build in this mode essentially involves fine-tuning your Archetype's attributes to create a powerful virtual player that suits your specific Playstyle. If you have experience with ARPGs, this concept should be easy to grasp.

  Striker builds overview

  Among the 13 available Archetypes, three fall into the attacker (striker) category: Magician, Finisher, and Target. Each excels at a different style of play.

  In short, Magician focuses on dribbling, using superior technique to control passing angles and execution.

  Finisher takes a more steady, reliable approach, aiming for balanced all-around ability development. Target excels in physical duels, utilizing strength for aerial headers and hold-up play.

  When crafting a striker build (or builds for other positions), you need to determine the development path based on the style of your chosen archetype; you cannot simply stack PlayStyles that you happen to consider powerful.

  Changes to Club Mode in The World's Game Update

  Unlike other FUT 26 modes, which received updates largely based on the virtual World Cup tournament, Club Mode focused primarily on optimizing its unique gameplay mechanics.

  For instance, the maximum number of PlayStyles available for an archetype has been increased to four, and the pool of available PlayStyle options has expanded.

  Additionally, the archetype level cap has been raised to 95, and reaching max level now unlocks a total of nine customizable PlayStyle slots.

  Current strategies for crafting striker builds

  Based on the latest changes to Club Mode, we will outline the currently OP builds for each of the three striker archetypes. This ensures that whether you want to switch archetypes or unlock a new one, you'll have a clear path to leveling up quickly.

  Finisher Builds

  First, Acrobatic PlayStyle has been introduced for striker archetypes in The World's Game update. If you have reached the max level, this is the best choice for your fourth PlayStyle slot.

  Furthermore, Low Driven Shot is currently the best shooting PlayStyle in FIFA 26, and First Touch is also excellent for strikers.

  Quick Step is incredibly powerful for off-the-ball movement and remains effective while in possession; it works particularly well when paired with Finisher archetype.

  Beyond PlayStyles, you also need to select Perks when crafting your build.

  For Finisher, a signature perk is Fake to Real. It boosts your shot power, finishing, and composure for a short period after performing a fake shot inside the box.

  1v1 Close Down boosts your ball control, agility, and balance for a short time during one-on-one situations with the goalkeeper. Additionally, while Hunter Specialization has some downsides, it grants you Gamechanger PlayStyle.

  Another essential perk is First Time Finisher. It boosts your shot power, balance, and composure for a short duration when you take a first-time shot inside the box. It works exceptionally well when paired with Acrobatic.

  Magician Builds

  For this archetype, the recommended specialization is Hot Shot. You can subsequently choose Finesse Shot and Chip Shot, and unlock Power Shot+ through specific specializations. This means you can score a wide variety of goals, whether inside or outside the box.

  In this update, Magician archetype gains Inventive PlayStyle. This is incredibly useful for a forward, enabling moves like fancy passes or outside-of-the-foot passes. Combine this with Technical PlayStyle, and you have the ultimate Magician build.

  As for perks, Getaway Driver is a must-have; it boosts your agility, balance, and reactions for a short period when dribbling at full speed, effectively enhancing three key dribbling-related attributes.

  Next, Ankle Breaker perk boosts your balance, ball control, and dribbling abilities after you beat an opponent with a fake shot near their penalty area.

  Target Builds

  The latest PlayStyle for this archetype is Press Proven; when paired with Enforcer traits, it significantly improves the feel of shielding the ball and left-stick dribbling.

  Regarding perks, Sixth Sense is one you shouldn't miss. It provides a temporary boost to finishing, balance, and composure when you take a shot with your back to the goal in the attacking third.

  Then there is Physical Shooter perk, which boosts strength, shot power, and balance when you shoot after shielding the ball and holding off an opponent inside the box.

  If you've been playing a lot of the World Cup-related content in EA FC 26 and want a change of pace, Club Mode is a fantastic option, and this guide will help you make the right choice when selecting your forward archetype!

• What Does EA FC 26 Update v1.6.2 Change in The World's Game, Career Mode, Clubs, and Presentation Systems?

  FC 26 is about to receive a brand new version 1.6.2 update, which has garnered considerable attention in the player community. This new version represents a significant adjustment focused on optimizing multiple core modes, laying a more stable foundation for the long-term experience of each mode.

  Besides fixing long-standing system bugs, EA FC 26 has also updated numerous real-world football-related assets, including jerseys, player faces, hairstyles, stadiums, boots, and club badges, further bringing the game closer to the real world of football in terms of visual presentation and licensing completeness.

  

  More importantly, this update has comprehensive coverage, launching on all platforms including PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC, ensuring a consistent experience for players on different devices. IGGM will now guide you through all the details of FC 26 Update v1.6.2.

  The World's Game

  Regarding The World's Game, the biggest highlight of FC 26 Update v1.6.2 is the completion of the match information display system. Previously, many FIFA 26 players complained that they couldn't view the full schedule and other teams' match results in the knockout stages, resulting in a lack of real-world match atmosphere in World's Game experience.

  With the update, EA FC 26 has added a Tournament Tree widget to Office Hub of World's Game Tournament. You can see this widget after entering knockout stages.

  This means you can not only track your own progression but also get real-time updates on other countries' match results and match progress, making FUT 26 The World's Game mode closer to the viewing experience of a real World Cup.

  While this change may seem like just a UI optimization, it's actually one of the most practical additions to FIFA 26, The World's Game, since its launch, making each match more immersive.

  Meanwhile, while participating in EA FC 26 The World's Game, you can directly access FC Hub from Tournament Hub to view current activity objectives and track progress. FC 26 Coins you earn after completing match objectives and other reward progress are also more intuitively displayed. See Tree Overview screen UI elements have also been updated and optimized.

  Besides new features, EA has fixed several issues present in The World's Game. For example, issues such as incorrect score display after penalty shootouts in some matches, abnormal trophy display after winning a match, and incorrect text arrangement will all be resolved in Update v1.6.2.

  Clubs

  Clubs mode has also received fixes. Previously, some FUT 26 players encountered the error Failed to create your Virtual Pro when creating a new Goalkeeper Clubs Pro, and Clubs AI Facility boosts sometimes incorrectly affected player-controlled Pros. These issues disrupted gameplay and affected the player experience.

  EA FC 26 Update v1.6.2 addresses these issues, ensuring greater stability in Clubs mode. IGGM believes that while these updates may seem insignificant, they are crucial for a long-term mode like Clubs.

  Career Mode

  Compared to Clubs, FC 26 Career Mode offers a more comprehensive set of fixes, most notably for Manager Career.

  Manager Career

  First, national team selection has been re-enabled for Manager Career Live Start Points that occurred in May 2026, meaning you can once again experience full national team coaching content.

  Furthermore, several long-standing issues in FUT 26 Manager Career have been fixed. The issue where selecting International Cup final from the calendar could incorrectly display the third-place match, resulting in the finals tag being missing from the standings, has been fixed.

  The department filter in FIFA 26 scouting instructions resetting incorrectly and certain positions disappearing from the attacking player department list has also been fixed. This significantly reduces repetitive actions in the game, making squad planning smoother and avoiding the frustration of unexpectedly resetting filter conditions.

  Incorrect display of Youth Academy scouting reports and incorrect display of jerseys in social media posts are also on the fix list. Incorrect player data display in Men's International Cup is also nearing completion. While these typical data presentation errors don't affect the actual game, they do impact the gameplay experience, and it's great to see they've been fixed.

  

  Presentation

  However, for most FUT 26 players, the most anticipated update in Update v1.6.2 remains general audio and visual updates. EA FC 26 has confirmed that version 1.6.2 will update some jerseys, Star Heads' realistic faces, hairstyles, 2D avatars, club crests, stadiums, boots, TIFOs, and commentary text.

  This means that missing national team jerseys in Career Mode are expected to be added, and some teams' latest season jerseys may also be added to FIFA 26. Some players will receive new realistically scanned faces, and currently problematic player models will be fixed.

  The hairstyle and 2D avatar updates will further improve the completeness of the player database, while the stadium, boot, and club crest updates mean that the latest licensed content from the real-world football world will be gradually synchronized to the game. For many players who value realism, this is undoubtedly the most anticipated part of Update v1.6.2.

  In addition, Update v1.6.2 also fixes several in-game issues in FUT 26, including the inability to properly restore default values ​​in display settings, abnormal switching of competition mode settings after the start of a match, and text display errors in some locations, further improving the overall stability of FIFA 26.

  While version 1.6.2 doesn't make major changes to the gameplay of EA FC 26, it represents a significant upgrade for players. EA is using the final stage of FC 26's lifecycle to refine the game details, preparing for the upcoming FC 27. If no new major bugs appear, this is likely to be one of the last major updates with substantial content value for FC 26.

• EA FC 26 World Cup Update Fails on Every Level: No Licenses, No Offline Play, No Celebration!

  When EA released the World Cup update for EA SPORTS FC 26 at the last minute in late May, many players thought the football game giant, long criticized for its lackluster performance, was finally going to redeem itself with its national team content.

  However, when players actually entered this supposedly significantly expanded version, they were greeted not with the expected World Cup excitement, but with a complete disaster, from chaotic lineups to numerous bugs.

  Severe Licensing Gap

  Although the number of national teams in FIFA 26 World Cup has increased significantly, many of the newly added national teams have licensing issues.

  Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and several other Middle Eastern countries lack both official team crests and authentic World Cup jerseys. Japan cannot use its official jerseys and crest because another company holds the license; only other teams have complete licenses.

  The lack of these licenses makes FC 26 World Cup update feel like a hastily produced, unfinished game.

  

  Forced Internet Connection

  The most perplexing design flaw in this FC 26 World Cup update is that even in the purely offline Tournament mode, players must maintain a constant internet connection and be linked to EA's servers to access and play.

  If a player loses internet access or the servers crash, the game displays an error message, fails to load any World Cup content, and may even crash, resulting in a garbled interface when returning to the main menu.

  This means that two or three years after FC 26's release, if EA shuts down the game's servers, players will permanently lose access to any mode of 2026 World Cup, completely eliminating the possibility of saving the game or replaying it for nostalgia.

  Function Missing and Incorrect Lineups

  If players want to experience the World Cup in FUT 26 through Career Mode, they must choose Manager Live Challenges or Live Start Points, but this requires a constant internet connection.

  Furthermore, players cannot manage a national team independently; they must first bind to a club before jumping directly from the end of the season to the summer when the World Cup begins. Regarding the rosters, the official claim is that they used the final rosters announced by each team, but in reality, many players are missing.

  Furthermore, players have virtually no control over their national team call-ups. In Live Start Points or Tournament modes, team rosters are completely locked; you cannot replace players as you would in the main game settings, or even remove obviously unsuitable players and add real stars.

  Tournament Mode is Unrealistic

  First of all, EA FC 26 did not even follow the most basic, realistic World Cup schedule.

  The real-life opening match is Mexico vs. South Africa, but in the game it's Mexico vs. South Korea.

  Regarding stadiums, no real World Cup stadiums are included; Estadio Azteca stadium, which appeared in FIFA 22, is not included.

  The match ball, trophy, and scoreboard are all generic, poorly designed purple models, lacking any of the solemnity and atmosphere expected of the World Cup.

  Even without official authorization, FC 26 development team could have easily compensated by creating more refined graphics, but they didn't even make that effort.

  Fatal Bugs

  EA FC 26 World Cup also suffers from a series of unbearable bugs.

  Once the knockout stage begins, all World Cup group stage statistics in the game are completely erased. You can't review points, goals scored, goal difference, or any other information from each group; only a single knockout stage tree remains.

  The most serious bug in the knockout stage is the incorrect penalty shootout ruling. If you win a match in a penalty shootout, the game system might register it as a loss, resulting in your elimination.

  This bug has existed in Career Mode and Tournament Mode for years and remains unfixed, directly causing players to be inexplicably eliminated in crucial matches.

  Even if you eventually win World Cup, the celebration scenes are exactly the same as in any other game like Community Shield, offering nothing new. There are no unique World Cup victory animations or award ceremonies, no post-match awards, and no social media or news recaps.

  After choosing to end Tournament, players simply exited, as if nothing had happened.

  National Team Coaches Not Updated

  This 2026 World Cup update added almost no new national team coach faces.

  Carlo Ancelotti of Brazil was absent, as was Mauricio Pochettino of United States and Jesse Marsch of Canada. The Italian coach, on the other hand, had a strangely shaped, patchwork-like face.

  Furthermore, many newly added national teams still use generic coach assets from ten years ago, with serious errors in coach allocation and a lack of updates.

  From this perspective, we can see that FC 26's World Cup is almost entirely devoid of sincerity.

  

  A Few Remaining Advantages

  Of course, this FUT 26 World Cup update isn't all bad.

  Players can replace or randomize the entire World Cup participating teams, such as manually getting Italy into the finals or randomly generating entirely new group stage draws, providing some customization and endless simulation possibilities.

  Some players also have exclusive 2D avatars and faces in World Cup mode, adding subtle detail.

  In addition, FIFA 26 development team fixed a bug in previous versions where the national anthems played before matches; now both teams can play their respective national anthems completely.

  However, these minor improvements cannot compensate for the numerous systemic flaws, bugs, licensing issues, and perfunctory attitudes mentioned above.

  Overall, this FC 26 World Cup update is a belated gift for console players eagerly awaiting World Cup content. Hopefully, the development team can gradually resolve the various problems exposed, making The World's Game truly worthy of its name.

• EA FC 26 Path to Glory Team Week 2 SBC Leaks and Free Icon | Eto'o Arrives as a Gauntlet Mode Reward Next Week

  The spotlight for this Friday through next week will be on EA FC 26's Festival Football Path to Glory Team 2, with several high-value cards entering the promotion from Friday onward. In addition to the officially announced Path to Glory Team 2 squad, a number of SBCs and new Icons have also been leaked.

  For these leaked cards, the official team has only confirmed a portion of their stats so far, without verifying which Playstyle+ upgrades they will receive. Even so, that is already enough to excite players.

  

  Free Icon

  95 OVR Samuel Eto'o Icon ST

  • Pac: 94
  • Sho: 92
  • Pas: 82
  • Dri: 91
  • Def: 48
  • Phy: 83

  Legendary striker Samuel Eto'o will arrive next week. He will not be an SBC player but rather a reward from Gauntlet mode. This mode starts next Monday, and players must win five consecutive matches using five different squads. The challenge allows for losses, but only a perfect run will earn Eto'o.

  According to the leaks, this card will most likely come with only three Playstyle+ traits instead of the 4 many hoped for. However, given his elite shooting, his exceptional pace, and the fact that he is completely free, this is still a pleasantly surprising reward.

  Leaked SBCs

  94 OVR Aaron Wan-Bissaka RB

  • Pac: 93
  • Sho: 70
  • Pas: 87
  • Dri: 90
  • Def: 95
  • Phy: 95

  Aaron Wan-Bissaka will receive an SBC next week. The stats on this card are very impressive: as a full-back, he boasts excellent defending attributes, great physicality, and superb speed. The leaks do not yet include his Playstyles, but the official team will likely give him Bruiser and Quick Step.

  Nevertheless, his biggest drawback is the national team he represents: Republic of Congo. That side is not a strong contender in World Cup, so unless they unexpectedly advance through multiple rounds, this card's upgrade potential remains very limited. For this reason, SBC's value is also limited, and its expected fodder cost is around 50k to 60k FC 26 coins. While he may not be a top-tier option in the current meta, he can still serve as a solid evolution candidate.

  96 OVR Alexia Putellas CM

  • Pac: 91
  • Sho: 95
  • Pas: 95
  • Dri: 96
  • Def: 89
  • Phy: 88

  This is an End Of An Era SBC, created for Alexia Putellas as she prepares to leave Barcelona Femení and transfer to an English club. Previously, Barcelona Femení won UEFA Women's Champions League, and Putellas already received a 96 OVR UWCL Road to the Finals tradeable card. This SBC version has extremely similar attributes to that tradeable one, with even slight improvements in some categories.

  The tradeable 96-rated Putellas card is currently worth around 500k coins on the market. If SBC's construction requires roughly 250k to 300k coins in fodder, then it will be well worth completing.

  94 OVR Pedro Neto RM

  • Pac: 97
  • Sho: 92
  • Pas: 89
  • Dri: 94
  • Def: 53
  • Phy: 86

  The first SBC arriving this Friday with EA FC 26 Path to Glory Team 2 squad is Pedro Neto. This dynamic card already has excellent base stats. More importantly, Portuguese national team is very strong in this World Cup, with a realistic chance of reaching the semi-finals or even the final. As Portugal advances each round, this card will receive upgrades. Should they make it to the final, Pedro Neto's stats would become truly lavish.

  Considering that a similar Cody Gakpo SBC cost around 300k-400k coins in fodder, Neto's SBC will likely be in the 500k coins range. Even so, players can accumulate fodder cards without too much difficulty, so this is almost a must-complete SBC for everyone.

  94 OVR Alexis Mac Allister CAM

  • Pac: 93
  • Sho: 94
  • Pas: 95
  • Dri: 94
  • Def: 93
  • Phy: 91

  This Alexis Mac Allister SBC has virtually no weaknesses: his lowest attribute is 91 Physical, while every other stat is 91 or above.

  As the midfield core of Argentinian national team - another tournament favorite - Mac Allister already boasts a strong base card. With upgrades, this SBC card will be one of the very best in Path to Glory Team 2. If Neto's construction costs 500k coins, Mac Allister's will only be higher. Any Argentina fan would likely not want to miss this SBC.

  Other Leaked Players

  Besides SBC leaks, there are some other leaked players whose specific stats are currently unknown, but they could be very strong:

  • 95 OVR Noni Madueke (RW) - National Pride Red (Token Reward)
  • 95 OVR Kim Min Jae (CB) - National Pride Red (Token Reward)
  • 95 OVR Maghnes Akliouche (CAM) - National Pride Red (Token Reward)
  • 94 OVR Giorgian de Arrascaeta (CAM) - Path to Glory (Token Reward)
  • 94 OVR Djibril Sow (CM) - Path to Glory (Token Reward)
  • 94 OVR Sadio Mané (LM) - Path to Glory (Token Reward)

  These are the main leaked SBCs and new players for the second week of EA FC 26 Festival Football Path to Glory. Most of them are dynamic cards, so their stats have room to improve further. Choose the team you trust the most, and go complete those SBCs.

• EA FC 26 Path to Glory Team 2 Players can be unlocked through at least three ways: How to Farm Packs, Coins, and FoF Tokens Fast?

  The countdown to the 2026 World Cup (hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico) is on. Meanwhile, in the virtual football world of FC 26, Path to Glory promo, which tracks the real-world progress of select teams, is about to launch its second squad (Team 2)!

  This event is part of the broader Festival of Football celebration and stands out as the only promo directly linked to the actual World Cup schedule.

  Below, we outline the leaked Team 2 lineup and explain how to acquire these player items, helping you make the most of the content from the first week.

  

  When will Path to Glory Team 2 launch?

  EA FC 26 Path to Glory event features two squads, each running for one week. Team 1 launched last Friday, June 5, and concludes this Friday, June 12, at which point Team 2 will go live.

  Path to Glory Team 2 will also run for one week, ending on Friday, June 19. It will be immediately followed by the second phase of Festival of Football: Greats of the Game.

  Note that among the World Cup-themed promos in FC 26, only Path to Glory and the third event, Glory Hunters, run for two weeks; the others last only one week.

  Based on Path to Glory schedule, it is likely that Glory Hunters will also launch in two separate batches. Since Team 1 players cannot be earned once Team 2 launches, be sure to plan your time accordingly.

  Path to Glory Team 2 lineup leak

  It has become common for new event lineups to leak within FUT 26 community days in advance; this allows you to decide early on whether the event is worth your time.

  The lineup is divided into three categories: new cards available in packs, guaranteed rewards from completing SBCs and Objectives, and items redeemable in the token store using Festival of Football Tokens.

  Notably, some players in the second category carry over from Team 1, so if you missed them during the first week, you still have another week to earn them. Below are Team 2 players by position, along with their OVRs.

  Team 2:

  GK:

  • Emiliano Martínez 94

  RB:

  • Jules Koundé 96
  • Daniel Muñoz 93
  • Amir Murillo 92
  • Yan Valery 91

  CB:

  • Marquinhos 95
  • Joško Gvardiol 95
  • Aymeric Laporte 94
  • Ezri Konsa 94
  • Arthur Theate 92

  LB:

  • Antonee Robinson 93
  • Pervis Estupiñán 93

  CDM:

  • Granit Xhaka 95
  • Franck Yannick Kessié 94
  • Felix Nmecha 94
  • Kristijan Jakić 91
  • Ahmed Fathi 91

  CM:

  • Hakan Çalhanoğlu 95

  CAM:

  • Jude Bellingham 96
  • Florian Wirtz 96
  • Jean-Ricner Bellegarde 93

  RM:

  • Iñaki Williams 96
  • Takefusa Kubo 94
  • Nestory Irankunda 94
  • Dodi Lukébakio 93
  • Jordan Ayew 93
  • Oston Urunov 91

  RW:

  • Lee Kang In 95
  • Zizo 94
  • Sultan Mandash 94
  • Cristian Martínez 92

  LM:

  • Willy Semedo 92

  LW:

  • Edmilson Junior 92

  ST:

  • Alexander Isak 96
  • Jonathan David 94
  • Edin Džeko 94
  • George Hirst 93
  • Antonio Sanabria 92
  • Frantzdy Pierrot 92
  • Kerem Aktürkoğlu 91

  SBC and Objectives:

  • RB - Noussair Mazraoui 93
  • CB - Chris Richards 93
  • CM - Lucas Paquetá 93
  • CAM - Martin Ødegaard 95
  • RW-Pedro Neto 95
  • LM - Cody Gakpo 95
  • LW - Ferran Torres 94

  Token Store Rewards:

  • CM - Jens Castrop 93
  • CAM - Amad Diallo 94
  • ST - Patrik Schick 93

  It is also worth noting that you can win plenty of free coins by participating in IGGM Path to Glory giveaways on Discord, significantly easing the grind for your card farming in the coming week!

  

  How to get these new player items?

  The primary way to obtain player cards that drop randomly from packs is, naturally, by playing the game and opening more packs. However, since the drops are random, you might find yourself nearing the end of the event without having secured the player you wanted.

  In that case, it is best to buy FC 26 coins on IGGM immediately; this gives you a chance to unlock those player cards via the transfer market. While others may still be selling them later, the need for coins will almost certainly be higher.

  As for reward cards from SBCs and Objectives, you can obtain them simply by completing the relevant tasks. This content will roll out over the coming week (or span a two-week period).

  Finally, if you want to get reward cards from the token store, you need to earn enough Festival of Football (FoF) Tokens before FUT 26 Path to Glory Team 2 event ends, then redeem them as you wish.

  How to farm FoF Tokens?

  These tokens are part of a new mechanic introduced alongside Season 8 Festival of Football. You can earn them by participating in most FIFA 26 Ultimate Team modes, such as the aforementioned SBCs and Objectives, as well as Rivals, Squad Battles, Rush, and more.

  However, keep in mind that there is a weekly cap of 1,000 FoF Tokens, so the number of tokens required to unlock Path to Glory Team 2 Token Store rewards shouldn't exceed this limit.

  

  What other features can you engage with at the same time?

  With the launch of EA FC 26 Path to Glory Team 2, the real World Cup is already underway; why not kick off your own tournament in The World's Game mode? You can even simulate matches to predict the champion yourself!

  Another new Ultimate Team feature, Journey of Nations, also launched last week with a bi-weekly update schedule. Each week, you can unlock rewards by completing specific objectives, and finishing all of them grants you access to exclusive ICONs.

  Last week featured North America, with Hugo Sánchez as ICON reward. This Friday, Asia and Oceania region launches alongside Path to Glory Team 2, offering Saeed Al-Owairan as the ultimate reward.

  It is also worth noting that if you complete all Journey of Nations objectives over five consecutive weeks, you can unlock an exclusive version of Diego Maradona.

  Summary

  Path to Glory Teams 1 and 2 are just the beginning of a packed schedule for FIFA 26 this summer; get ready for an incredibly busy month ahead, gear up!

• EA FC 26 World Cup Simulation Predicts Shocker 2026 Winner: How to unlock your own results through the special tournament?

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

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

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

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

  

  Simulation details and final results

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

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

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

  Group Stage

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  Knockout Stage

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

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

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

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

  Finals

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

  • Germany
  • Belgium
  • Argentina
  • Norway

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

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

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

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

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

  

  How is the simulation conducted?

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

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

  How does FC 26 connect to the current World Cup?

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

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

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

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