The festive season has officially kicked off in the virtual football world, with the highly anticipated Winter Wildcards promotion making its return to EA Sports FC 26. This annual event brings a flurry of special player items to Ultimate Team, perfect for holiday squad building.
Winter Wildcards Release Time and Details
Players did not have to wait long to dive into the new content. The promotion went live directly into Ultimate Team at 6pm GMT on Friday, December 17. This weekly event is now active, offering a fresh batch of enhanced player cards to earn and pack, just in time for the Christmas period.
The Complete Winter Wildcards Team 1 Roster
The first squad of the promo features a wide array of footballing talent from across the globe. The headliners include a formidable 91-rated Ousmane Dembele (with both ST and CAM versions) and Real Madrid's 90-rated Federico Valverde, available as a CM or RB.
Other notable players in Team 1 are:
- Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool/Argentina) - 89 rated CM
- Gabriel (Arsenal/Brazil) - 89 rated CB
- Claudia Pina (Barcelona/Spain) - 88 rated (ST & LW)
- Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit/USA) - 88 rated (ST & RM)
- Rafael Leao (AC Milan/Portugal) - 87 rated LW
- Mary Fowler (Manchester City/Australia) - 87 rated RW
The squad is rounded out by players like Eric Dier, Tino Livramento, and a host of other men's and women's stars, all receiving significant stat boosts for the promotion.
Icon and Hero Cards Join the Festivities
As always, the Winter Wildcards event also introduces special versions of legendary players. The Icon selection is particularly stellar this year, led by a 95-rated Zinedine Zidane at CAM. He is joined by other greats like a 94-rated Ronaldinho (LW), a 94-rated Johan Cruyff (CAM), and George Best (91-rated RW).
Furthermore, the promo welcomes new and returning Heroes to the game. These club-specific legends include:
- Jurgen Kohler (Bundesliga/Germany) - 90 rated CB
- Ivan Zamorano (La Liga/Chile) - 89 rated ST
- Ivan Cordoba (Serie A/Colombia) - 88 rated (CB & RB)
- Claudio Pizarro (Bundesliga/Peru) - 87 rated ST
- Jill Scott (Women’s Super League/England) - 87 rated CM
This injection of content provides EA Sports FC 26 players with a wealth of new objectives, Squad Building Challenges, and pack opportunities to engage with throughout the holiday season. The return of Winter Wildcards continues to be a cornerstone of the game's festive calendar, blending classic football legends with current stars in a winter-themed celebration.
