It’s that time of year again when the new instalment of the most popular football (not soccer) is upon us. It’s taken me a while not to call it FIFA anymore, and it’s been a few years now since the name change to EAFC. EAFC26 is a little over a month away, and whilst there are always adjustments to the game year after year, this time around seems to be a bit more of an overhaul. In this article, I am going to gloss over what is new when the game arrives in September.
Competitive & Authentic Style
One of the most notable additions is the introduction of two different styles of play to cater to alternative playstyles. Competitive play has been implemented for Ultimate Team, Online Seasons and Friendlies, which will have faster pressing, reduced auto-defending, smarter goalkeeper deflections, redesigned fatigue system, increased variability and less predictability. It is perfect for competitive players who want to experience fast-paced and fluid football. Skill, precision and control will matter here.
Authentic play is available in Career Mode and offline play, which brings more realism, smarter AI, smarter defence, realistic tackles and rebounds and authentic animations and visuals. Weather effects will also come into play here. So for those who aren’t keen on competing against real-world players online, this will bring immersion and a true-to-life simulation experience.
The great thing is these presets can be switched, and no matter which one you use, smarter goalkeepers are present in both, along with improved animation transitions and refined physics.
Ultimate Team New Stuff
Ultimate Team isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but unfortunately, it is the most popular mode in the game and EA’s goldmine with its consistent revenue stream. This year sees even more additions, including live events and knockout tournaments, along with numerous revamped areas. Let’s see what we are dealing with in UT this time.
Gauntlets – New to Ultimate Team, this is a five-round event which requires the use of a different squad each match to progress. No players can be reused once they have featured in a match. There are no eliminations, so you can keep playing even if you lose. However, reap the rewards for winning, as you’ll obtain more by gaining glory in matches—time to keep hold of those cards you always cash in on SBCs.
Tournaments – Knockout tournaments will feature in Ultimate Team this year across four rounds; lose and you’re out. But you can keep attempting them until you win.
FUT Champions Changes – This section is becoming more accessible with no more standalone playoffs, divisional qualification replacing this. FUT Challengers will allow lower-ranked and skilled players the chance to compete in a space not dominated by the elite.
Division Rivals Overhaul – Division Rivals is having a much-needed mix-up. Progression has been tweaked to make things a little more interesting. Win streaks will grant bonus points or even allow climbing multiple divisions. Bounty events bring random objectives to allow for exclusive rewards.
There are many more subtle changes throughout Ultimate Team for EAFC26 to keep it fresh and entertaining, and more accessible to casual players. One of those is myself these days!
Career Mode Changes
Manager Live Challenges – Every week, Career Mode will drop real-world storylines and objectives labelled as the new Manager Live feature. With a range of challenging opportunities, such as trying to save a team from relegation or win trophies. Exclusive rewards await you in the form of retro kits and more.
Unexpected Events – This one seems long overdue, but events off the field can now affect your squad. It could be team members getting food poisoning, or fireworks going off in the middle of the night outside the hotel. There are several off-the-cuff events that could crop up. Fear not, though; you can turn this off if it’s not for you.
Authentic Play Style – Mentioned earlier in this article, the authentic play style is a simulation approach. Slowed down matches, defenders have better positioning, and scorelines are more believable. You can change back to competitive if this isn’t the style for you.
Manager Shake Up – There is a manager transfer feature where clubs can hire and sack coaches based on their performance. You can look up job security across all the leagues within Career Mode and apply for jobs. It gives off a Football Manager vibe. Assistant managers can also take jobs on a permanent basis if they perform well on an interim basis.
Pro Clubs Changes
Something I’ve been requesting for over a decade now is the ability to be a member of more than one club at a time. This season, you can be in up to three clubs simultaneously, which is perfect for those with multiple groups of friends. Only your favourite club will count towards progression, though. There are also various tweaks such as more control over set pieces, a team lobby overhaul, improved AI teammates and more quick chat options.
Final Thoughts
Seems like a lot more work has gone into EAFC this time, and I am all for it. It is refreshing to see more love poured into modes outside of the flagship Ultimate Team area. Along with all the additions, we see more animations, improvements to physics, AI and goalkeepers. The new playstyles are a great idea for those who like to switch between fast-paced gameplay and ultra realism.
Release Details
EAFC26 officially releases on 25th September 2025 on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Playstation 4|5, Nintendo Switch 1|2, Amazon Luna and PC via Steam, EA App, Epic Game Store and Microsoft Store.
You can, however, get 7-day early access by purchasing the Ultimate Edition, which begins on 19th September 2025. This edition comes with numerous goodies. Details can be found HERE.