What we know about EA FC 26 – expected release date, leaks and new FUT Heroes
EA FC 26 will be the next EA Sports FC game to be released, with the game projected to drop in a few months.
With EA FC 25 coming towards the end of its cycle, all eyes are now turning to the future, with EA FC 26 the next game to be released by EA Sports.
We're rapidly approaching year three of EA Sports ' EA Sports FC era, with EA FC 26 set to be released this fall, as confirmed by EA in its Q4 and FY25 results. A tough start to life for EA FC 25 saw EA admit at the beginning of the year that EA FC 25 had 'underperformed' financially in its preliminary Q3 FY2025 results, but after an impressive gameplay update, the game seems to be back on track, giving players of the game some optimisim ahead of EA FC 26's release later this year. Based on past releases, we should start to get our first official look at EA FC 26 in July, but once again, leakers have beaten EA to the punch, with lots of EA FC 26 information starting to circulate on social media.
From new game additions to when EA FC 26 will be released worldwide, leaks are appearing more and more each day, so here's everything we know about EA FC 26 so far, and all the leaks we've found on social media in one place.
EA FC 26 leaks round-up
Here are all the EA FC 26 leaks we know so far. There seem to be endless amounts of leaks out there at the moment, so we've whittled it down and included leaks from sources that have proven reliable in the past.
EA FC 26 leaked release date and expected price
Starting strong, one of the most reliable leakers in the game, @FutSheriff, has revealed the EA FC 26 release date, with the leaker claiming that the EA FC 26 Ultimate Edition will be released on September 19, 2025, while the EA FC 26 Standard Edition will be released on September 26, 2025.
Debunking any theories of an August release, the leaker has a proven track record when it comes to leaks, and the majority of EA's past EA Sports FC and FIFA have been released in the last week of September, so this looks to be nailed on.
Price-wise, there have been no leaks as of yet, but as reported by Esports Insider, EA CFO Stuart Canfield confirmed during an earnings call that EA isn't planning a change in its current strategy, meaning EA FC 26 should be priced the same as EA FC 25. So, we can expect that these will be the EA FC 26 prices when the same is released in September:
EA FC 26 Ultimate Edition (PlayStation, Xbox, and PC) - £99.99 / $99.99 / AU$149.95
EA FC 26 Standard Edition (PlayStation, Xbox, PC) - £69.99 / $69.99 / AU$109.95
For Nintendo Switch players, the EA FC 25 Ultimate Edition was released at £69.99 / $69.99 / AU$119.95 while the EA FC 25 Standard Edition cost £54.99 / $54.99 / AU$89.95. But, with Nintendo Switch 2 now available, we expect EA FC 26 will likely be priced the same as the PlayStation, Xbox, and PC versions of the game.
EA FC 26 leaked FUT Heroes
More of a potential slip-up by EA rather than a leak, but some of the new FUT Heroes coming in EA FC 26 may have already been revealed, and it's been there for all to see since March. As we reported a few months ago, Nexon, one of the developers of EA Sports FC Mobile, a PC and Mobile version of EA Sports FC, which is only available in South Korea, China, Thailand and Vietnam, posted a bunch of unseen FUT Heroes in a blog post.
19 new FUT Heroes were being added to the game, but eight of them are not in EA FC 25, so they could be coming to EA FC 26. The eight FUT Heroes are as follows:
Cesc Fabregas (Spain)
Michael Carrick (England)
Marouane Fellaini (Belgium)
Mario Mandzukic (Croatia)
Andrea Barzagli (Italy)
Jan Koller (Czech Republic)
Estaban Cambiasso (Argentina)
Gilberto Silva (Brazil)
EA tends to add a handful of new Heroes to the game each year, but this doesn't mean that all of these players are guaranteed to feature in EA FC 26. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
EA FC 26 leaked Ultimate Team changes
@DetectiveFUT is the source of the majority of FC 26 Ultimate Team leaks, with the leaker having a proven track record with Ultimate Team leaks during EA FC 25. According to the leaker, we could be set for a big shake-up to some of the biggest game modes in EA FC 26 Ultimate Team, including a change to FUT Champions.
According to @DetectiveFUT, Champions Play-Offs will be scrapped, meaning you will no longer have to qualify for FUT Champions Finals before playing. But, there will now be two different FUT Champions events each week instead – FUT Champions and FUT Champions Challengers.
Players who are in Division 5 or higher in Division Rivals will qualify for FUT Champions, while players in Division 6 or lower will qualify for FUT Champions Challengers. The leaker has also revealed a change is coming to Division Rivals in EA FC 26.
Checkpoints are being turned into 'Stage Events', with each Stage Event featuring an objective that can give out extra rewards. For example, the objective may be to score first in your next game, and if you do so, you could earn some extra rewards.
If you go on a win streak, you will earn double Rivals points, while there is also relegation protection for tough runs. The leaker hasn't elaborated on the latter, so we'll have to wait and see what the criteria is for that. The leaker also reported that EA is testing a penalty system for players who quit too many games to try and stop players from regularly leaving games. This may be the best addition of them all if true.
Lastly, @DetectiveFUT has claimed that a big focus for EA in EA FC 26 could be Live Events and Tournaments in Ultimate Team. According to the leaker, there will be up to two tournaments per week, both competitive and friendly. Qualification for tournaments may be needed, and winning the tournaments could give you bonus rewards on top of early access to SBCs. The leaker also claims that these tournaments will be in the form of Live Events and that it's not a new game mode.
EA FC 26 leaked gameplay updates
Once again, coming from @DetectiveFUT, the leaker has revealed some new additions coming to EA FC 26 gameplay, including new Player Roles, updated PlayStyles, and a new Tactical Focus. Here are all the new additions in full:
New Player Roles
CB: Wide Back
CDM: Box Crasher
LB/RB: Inverted Wingback
We guess that Wide Back will be most useful for left and right centre-backs in three-at-the-back and five-at-the-back formations, Box Crasher will instruct your CDM to make late runs into the box to meet crosses, and Inverted Wingback will have your fullbacks play high and central, almost as two extra attacking midfielders.
PlayStyle Updates
Enforcer (NEW)
Aerial - Aerial Fortress
Flair - Trailblazer
Trivela - Inventive
We don't really have any idea what these new PlayStyles could mean. We predict Enforcer could be a PlayStyle best suited to defensive midfielders, while the updated names for Aerial, Flair and Trivela may simply just be name changes.
New Tactical Focus
A new Tactical Focus called 'Versatility' is reportedly coming to EA FC 26. We predict this could be a set-up that allows your players to adapt to opponents' tactics, but this could limit player familiarity with certain roles and positions.
EA FC 26 cover star
The EA FC 26 cover star will be announced when EA starts to reveal information about the new game in July, and as always, there's lots of speculation over who it could be. Jude Bellingham? Mohamed Salah? Lamine Yamal? Well, we already know for a fact it can't be the latter.
Yamal was revealed as an ambassador for eFootball, previously known as Pro Evolution Soccer (PES), earlier this year, meaning the Spaniard cannot be on the cover of EA FC 26. Bellingham will likely feature on the cover once again in EA FC 26 after making his debut on the front of the game in EA FC 25.
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But, with Nintendo Switch 2 now available, we expect EA FC 26 will likely be priced the same as the PlayStation, Xbox, and PC versions of the game. EA FC 26 leaked FUT Heroes More of a potential slip-up by EA rather than a leak, but some of the new FUT Heroes coming in EA FC 26 may have already been revealed, and it's been there for all to see since March. As we reported a few months ago, Nexon, one of the developers of EA Sports FC Mobile, a PC and Mobile version of EA Sports FC, which is only available in South Korea, China, Thailand and Vietnam, posted a bunch of unseen FUT Heroes in a blog post. 19 new FUT Heroes were being added to the game, but eight of them are not in EA FC 25, so they could be coming to EA FC 26. 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But, there will now be two different FUT Champions events each week instead – FUT Champions and FUT Champions Challengers. Players who are in Division 5 or higher in Division Rivals will qualify for FUT Champions, while players in Division 6 or lower will qualify for FUT Champions Challengers. The leaker has also revealed a change is coming to Division Rivals in EA FC 26. Checkpoints are being turned into 'Stage Events', with each Stage Event featuring an objective that can give out extra rewards. For example, the objective may be to score first in your next game, and if you do so, you could earn some extra rewards. If you go on a win streak, you will earn double Rivals points, while there is also relegation protection for tough runs. The leaker hasn't elaborated on the latter, so we'll have to wait and see what the criteria is for that. The leaker also reported that EA is testing a penalty system for players who quit too many games to try and stop players from regularly leaving games. This may be the best addition of them all if true. Lastly, @DetectiveFUT has claimed that a big focus for EA in EA FC 26 could be Live Events and Tournaments in Ultimate Team. According to the leaker, there will be up to two tournaments per week, both competitive and friendly. Qualification for tournaments may be needed, and winning the tournaments could give you bonus rewards on top of early access to SBCs. The leaker also claims that these tournaments will be in the form of Live Events and that it's not a new game mode. EA FC 26 leaked gameplay updates Once again, coming from @DetectiveFUT, the leaker has revealed some new additions coming to EA FC 26 gameplay, including new Player Roles, updated PlayStyles, and a new Tactical Focus. Here are all the new additions in full: New Player Roles CB: Wide Back CDM: Box Crasher LB/RB: Inverted Wingback We guess that Wide Back will be most useful for left and right centre-backs in three-at-the-back and five-at-the-back formations, Box Crasher will instruct your CDM to make late runs into the box to meet crosses, and Inverted Wingback will have your fullbacks play high and central, almost as two extra attacking midfielders. PlayStyle Updates Enforcer (NEW) Aerial - Aerial Fortress Flair - Trailblazer Trivela - Inventive We don't really have any idea what these new PlayStyles could mean. We predict Enforcer could be a PlayStyle best suited to defensive midfielders, while the updated names for Aerial, Flair and Trivela may simply just be name changes. New Tactical Focus A new Tactical Focus called 'Versatility' is reportedly coming to EA FC 26. We predict this could be a set-up that allows your players to adapt to opponents' tactics, but this could limit player familiarity with certain roles and positions. EA FC 26 cover star The EA FC 26 cover star will be announced when EA starts to reveal information about the new game in July, and as always, there's lots of speculation over who it could be. Jude Bellingham? Mohamed Salah? Lamine Yamal? Well, we already know for a fact it can't be the latter. Yamal was revealed as an ambassador for eFootball, previously known as Pro Evolution Soccer (PES), earlier this year, meaning the Spaniard cannot be on the cover of EA FC 26. Bellingham will likely feature on the cover once again in EA FC 26 after making his debut on the front of the game in EA FC 25.
