As the calendar transitions from summer to fall, one thing is on the mind of every sports game fan: the release of a new EA Sports FC. EA Sports FC 26 is set to release in a couple of months, and it’s going to introduce a slew of new gameplay mechanics and features, while returning with all of the game modes that fans know and love. We’ve already seen a solid chunk of what the game is going to offer, but there could still be some surprises from EA over the next two months.
There’s a lot to know about the next entry into EA’s soccer franchise, so we’re going to take a deep dive into everything we currently know about EA Sports FC 26. Here’s what to expect when the game launches later this year.
When will EA Sports FC 26 be released?
EA has confirmed the release date of EA Sports FC 26 is Sept. 26. This is almost one year to the day of when EA Sports FC 25 was released, which came out on Sept. 27, 2024.
However, if you can’t wait that long to play EA Sports FC 26, you can gain up to seven days of early access and start playing on Sept. 19–but only if you pre-order a specific edition of the game. The early access period features the full game, and you’ll keep all of your progression during this period after EA Sports FC 26 has been released worldwide. So if you wanted to get a head start in Ultimate Team, for example, the seven days of early access is a huge boon.
How to preorder EA Sports FC 26
There are two editions of EA Sports FC 26 you can preorder: the Standard and Ultimate Edition. Preordering either edition will net you some exclusive bonuses that aim to give you a head start across a variety of game modes. However, preordering the Ultimate Edition is how you gain the seven days of early access that begins on Sept. 19.
You can see the prices and preorder bonuses for the Standard and Ultimate Editions of EA Sports FC 26 in GameSpot’s preorder guide.
You can preorder either one of these editions of EA Sports FC 26 on your system’s marketplace (PS Store, Microsoft Store, Nintendo Store, Steam, EA App). Alternatively, you can visit the official EA FC 26 section of EA’s website and preorder using your system account through there.
Watch the EA Sports FC 26 trailer here
If you want to see some actual gameplay of EA FC 26, then you can watch the official reveal trailer below.
The trailer was received generally well by fans, with many calling it the best reveal trailer for the franchise in years. However, there was a consensus that EA needs to focus on Career Mode with the new game.
EA went a little deeper into the gameplay side of EA Sports FC 26 with the Gameplay Deep Dive trailer, which you can watch if you want some more detailed explanations of the changes the game is introducing and how they play out in real time.
EA Sports FC 26 platforms
Fortunately for fans across the video game community, EA Sports FC 26 will be available on every major platform when it releases in September. This includes PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2. EA has decided to make the game available on both Switch consoles, an interesting move considering it isn’t doing the same for Madden 26, which is only coming to the Switch 2.
If you decide to play EA Sports 26 FC on PC, you have the choice of playing on either Steam or via the EA App for Windows. Neither platform has an edge over the other, so pick the one you feel most comfortable with.
EA Sports FC 26 gameplay
EA Sports FC 26 will offer the core content that the franchise has become known for over the years. You’ll be able to play Player and Manage Career, Ultimate Team, Clubs, and Live Events, as well as basic Quick Play matches.
When it comes to gameplay, EA is making some stark changes to how you play EA Sports FC 26. For starters, there are now two separate gameplay presets: Competitive and Authentic. These presets determine the difficulty level at which you’ll be playing, and each is designed for a specific area of the game.
The Competitive preset features increased responsiveness and player control with an added emphasis on smarter passing, more intuitive rebounds, and so on. This preset is designed for online game modes, such as Ultimate Team and Clubs.
On the other hand, the Authentic preset is designed for offline game modes, like Career. You’ll find added realism in this preset, making opponents more difficult to play against, and bringing a higher match speed to coincide with how players actually manage the pitch.
Between these two new gameplay presets, you can also take advantage of freshly tuned gameplay fundamentals. EA has taken community feedback and made sweeping changes across a variety of mechanics to make them feel smoother and more responsive. You’ll experience better dribbling, more intuitive AI player positioning, and improved animations, among a flurry of other changes. You can read about all of the mechanics EA has changed in its dedicated blog post.
Finally, EA has also updated goalkeepers in an attempt to make them more fluid and realistic. Goalkeepers have been given new animations and optimized with machine learning to improve their stances and attack readiness. They also have new deflection control mechanics, so you should see balls go where they’re supposed to after a goalkeeper makes a nice save.
