EA Sports is set to release EA Sports FC 26 on September 26, 2025, the third installment since the franchise rebranded after parting ways with FIFA. This edition promises to take football gaming to the next level with gameplay innovations, extensive licenses, and the return of football legend Zlatan Ibrahimović.
🏆 Zlatan Ibrahimović on the Ultimate Edition Cover
Iconic Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimović will grace the cover of the Ultimate Edition. The cover art recreates a famous childhood photo of Zlatan in his room surrounded by memorabilia of his idols, including a PSG jersey with his name and an image of Ronaldo Nazário. The Ultimate Edition grants early access starting September 19, 2025.
🎮 Gameplay Innovations
EA Sports FC 26 introduces two distinct gameplay modes:
•Competitive Mode: Designed for fast-paced modes like Ultimate Team and Clubs, featuring enhanced AI and quicker gameplay.
•Authentic Mode: Tailored for Career Mode with realistic tactics and behaviors modeled on real-world data.
The game also boasts a completely revamped dribbling system, smarter player positioning powered by AI, and much more realistic goalkeeper animations.
🌍 Licenses and Content
The game will include:
•Over 20,000 licensed players
•More than 750 clubs and national teams
•Over 35 leagues, including exclusive rights to UEFA Champions League, CONMEBOL Libertadores, Premier League, Bundesliga, LaLiga, Liga F, and Barclays Women’s Super League.
🧠 Ultimate Team Enhancements
Ultimate Team receives a major overhaul with improved archetypes, dynamic live events, and expanded modes for Career and Clubs. The Ultimate Edition also features an additional Evolution slot and scalable FC Points to balance gameplay.
🧓 Confirmed Icons
New icons joining the roster include legends like Andrés Iniesta, Toni Kroos, Giorgio Chiellini, Francesco Totti, Oliver Kahn, and Cha Bum-Kun. On the women’s side, icons such as Alex Morgan, Sissi (Brazil), Sogger (Sweden), and Steffi Jones (Germany) will be featured.
📅 Key Date
•Worldwide Release: September 26, 2025
•Ultimate Edition Early Access: September 19, 2025