The World Cup is approaching, and EA Sports FC 26 has released its major update, titled "The World's Game," to coincide with the summer's premier football event. This marks the first World Cup since EA Sports rebranded its franchise from FIFA to FC, but the update follows a familiar pattern seen in 2018 and 2022. However, without the FIFA license, the update lacks official branding but still delivers substantial new content for players to enjoy before the inaugural 48-team tournament in North America.
Release Date and New Features
The World's Game update launched on Thursday, May 28, at 11:15 AM GMT, as version 1.6.0. The headline addition is a new 48-team international tournament mode, arriving on June 4. It includes 53 fully licensed national teams, 41 of which will participate in the actual World Cup. The mode mirrors the tournament format and also introduces more national teams in Kick Off mode, along with new international tournament objectives.
Ultimate Team Content
In Ultimate Team, players who log in during the Festival of Football event starting June 4 will receive a free 93-rated Pelé card. A dedicated Event Hub will feature weekly themed campaigns, player items, and evolutions. Three "Choose Your Journey" evolutions allow upgrades to Pelé, offering choices between a Striker with Low Driven+, a CAM or CM with Incisive Pass+, or a Winger with Finesse Shot+. These evolutions celebrate Pelé's 1970 World Cup performances.
Other Ultimate Team changes include the first-ever Evolution Undo option, which resets evolved players to their original state, restoring tradeability if applicable. A new PlayStyles Lab replaces Birthday Bakery options, making FUT Birthday items eligible for upgrades. Evolution Repeatables allow players to earn extra evolution entries.
A new reward type called Tokens arrives on June 4, becoming the primary weekly reward system. Players can earn up to 1,000 Tokens per week (5,000 total) through Squad Battles, Rivals, Live Events, and objectives. Tokens can be spent in a dedicated store on players, packs, and evolutions.
Festival of Football Campaigns
The Festival of Football runs throughout summer, starting with the Journey of Nations campaign. Weekly themed squads tackle over 250 challenges, beginning in North America on June 4, then moving to Asia and Oceania (June 12), Africa (June 19), South America (June 26), and ending in Europe (July 3).
Five additional campaigns run alongside: Path to Glory (June 5-19) with live player items that upgrade based on country performance; Greats of the Game (June 19-26) celebrating Icons and Heroes, introducing Mario Kempes and Rivellino; Glory Hunters (June 26-July 10) offering PlayStyle customization; Phenoms (July 10-17) highlighting young players; and Summer Stars (July 17-24) celebrating top performers.
Full Patch Notes
PlayStyles
Bruiser: Shoulder challenge outcomes have been rebalanced. The boost from Bruiser and Bruiser+ is slightly reduced. Enforcer or Enforcer+ now provides a slight boost to the receiver. Stumble direction and force better reflect Strength and PlayStyle differences. Challenges from behind are improved with logic to cancel if hitting the opponent's back.
Intercept: Players without Intercept but with 90+ Interceptions attribute now have access to the same animations as those with the PlayStyle.
Team Press: Pressure on the ball carrier is reduced when activated in the defensive half. AI defenders will not double up if the user controls a defender marking the ball carrier. Marking tightness is reduced as opponents advance. These changes do not apply in the attacking half.
Career Mode
End of Season Live Starting Points allow players to jump into a save just before the international tournament begins. A server release will enable selecting a national team at the start. Festival of Football themed Icons and Heroes are added, along with weekly Manager Live Challenges from June 5. New season objectives involve playing with national teams.
Penalty Shootouts Event
A limited-time Penalty Shootouts event is available from June 28 in Ultimate Team and Kick-Off.
Clubs
Archetypes level cap increased from 90 to 95. Customizable PlayStyle slots increase from 8 to 9, unlocked at level 95. Signature PlayStyles increase from 3 to 4, with the fourth including options like Shot Stopper, Deflector, Sweeper Keeper, Far Throw, Progressor, Intercept, Boss, Anticipate, Engine, Rapid, Marauder, Trickster, Recycler, Tiki Taka, Maestro, Incisive, Creator, Quick Step, Spark, Technical, Magician, Inventive, Finisher, Acrobatic, Target, Press Proven. The fourth Signature can be upgraded to PS+ at level 95. Maximum range of Archetype-specific attributes is increased for several categories, including Vision (99), Short Passing (99), Ball Control (99), Standing Tackle (99), Defensive Awareness (99), Dribbling (99), Aggression (99), Short Pass (99), Cross (99), Curve (99), Balance (99), and Balance (99) for Target.
