EA Sports FC 26: Release Date, Price, Cover Stars, Icons & New Features Revealed

EA’s popular football gaming series is back in the form of EA Sports FC 26. Recently announced to fans, EA FC 26 not only introduces improvements to gameplay and new feature set but will also add cover stars and the iconic Zlatan Ibrahimovic as an Icon card. For club football gaming fans around the world, this looks like it is going to be one of the most exciting installments in the series.

Here is all the information you need to know about EA FC 26 release date, price, platforms, cover stars, new Icons, and gameplay features.

When Will EA FC 26 Release?

• Release Date: September 26, 2025
• Early Access: September 19, 2025 (for Ultimate Edition owners)

As usual, the Ultimate Edition comes with early access and exclusive pre-order bonuses, making it the preferred choice for hardcore fans.

EA FC 26 Price: How Much Will It Cost?

The pricing remains consistent with the previous edition:

• Standard Edition: $69.99 / £69.99
• Ultimate Edition: $99.99 / £99.99
• Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: $89.99 / £79.99

Unlike some AAA titles moving towards $80 as the new standard, EA Sports is holding prices steady, which is a relief for fans.

EA Sports FC 26 Supported Platforms

EA FC 26 will be available on nearly every major platform, ensuring maximum accessibility:

• PlayStation 5 (PS5)
• PlayStation 4 (PS4)
• Xbox Series X/S
• Xbox One
• Nintendo Switch & Switch 2
• PC

Notably, this marks the franchise’s first-ever appearance on Nintendo Switch 2, and fans are curious to see how the handheld console handles the game.

Also Read: Mohun Bagan Dominate! Top 10 Indian Players EA FC 26 Ratings

Who’s on the Cover of EA Sports FC 26?

This year’s cover stars are a mix of fresh faces and an all-time great:

• Standard Edition: Jude Bellingham & Jamal Musiala
• Ultimate Edition: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (as an in-game Icon)

You asked. Zlatan is back.

Presenting your #FC26 Ultimate Edition Cover. See the full reveal July 16: https://t.co/5s9nHPPxcw pic.twitter.com/BsoYcqY7Vr

— EA SPORTS FC (@EASPORTSFC) July 14, 2025

EA is putting two of football’s up-and-coming players with one of the sport’s legends, balancing new talent and proven superstars.

EA Sports FC 26 Icons: New Legends Added

Every new installment brings new Icon cards, and EA FC 26 introduces 12 new legends. So far, the confirmed names include:

• Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden)
• Alex Morgan (USA)
• Ronaldo (Brazil)
• Marcelo (Brazil)
• Toni Kroos (Germany)

These additions, alongside returning legends, promise to make Ultimate Team even more competitive and exciting.

EA Sports FC 26 Game Modes

FC 26 brings back all the fan-favorite modes while adding a brand-new competitive online tier.

• Kick Off
• Clubs
• Career Mode
• Seasons
• Ultimate Team
• Rivals
• Champions
• Challengers (new)
• UT Draft
• Rush
• Moments
• Squad Battles

The new Challengers Mode serves as a second-tier Weekend League, designed to give players in lower divisions a fairer competitive space.

All-New EA FC 26 Features

EA has committed itself to heavily rely on feedback from the community and focus on the gameplay improvements. What has been uncovered so far are the changes made to EA Sports FIFA 22:

Overhauling Gameplay: More responsive dribbling, more precise movement, and better positioning of the AI.

Playstyles & Player Roles: Still largely under wraps, however, anticipated to radically change player interactions.

Competitive vs Authentic Presets:

• Competitive: Optimized for Ultimate Team & Clubs with quicker gameplay.
• Authentic: Created for Career Mode with more accuracy.

Manager Career Upgrades

Manager career mode is receiving the long-awaited update including:

Manager Live Challenges: a mix of real-world and fantasy scenarios to be played in short or long-term sessions.

Manager Market Feature: a completely new layer of depth to the management decisions at the club.

There are Season Points, Vanity Items, Icons, and Heroes for modern-day Clubs to be earned through these features!

World Cup Mode Might Be Back in EA Sports FC 26

Even though EA and FIFA split up in 2023, there are rumors that EA wants to get the FIFA World Cup 2026 license. If they do, FC 26 could bring back the World Cup Mode, which is something a lot of fans have been asking for.

With new stuff in the game and Zlatan Ibrahimovic being a big part of it, EA Sports FC 26 is looking like a game-changer for people who love football games. It’s trying to find a good mix between being competitive and feeling like real football, hoping to get back fans who weren’t happy with the older games.

If you like Ultimate Team, Career Mode, or just playing football games for fun, EA Sports FC 26 should have some cool new stuff when it comes out. The release date is September 26, 2025.