EA Sports FC 26: Release Date, Editions, Pricing, and Pre-Order Bonuses Explained
- Sagar Mankar
- Sep 17
- 3 min read
EA Sports FC 26 will launch worldwide on September 26, 2025, with early access available for select players a week earlier. The annual football release continues EA’s push with its post-FIFA rebrand, and once again, fans are weighing whether the Standard Edition or the Ultimate Edition is worth picking up.
Release Date and Early Access
The global launch of EA Sports FC 26 is set for September 26, 2025, across consoles and PC. Players opting for the Ultimate Edition will get 7 days of early access starting on September 19, giving them a head start in Career Mode, Clubs, and Ultimate Team.
The rollout includes support apps as well:
Web App: Goes live on September 17
Companion App: Refreshes on September 18
PC players on EA App, Steam, and Epic Games Store will get access slightly earlier on September 25, 2025, at 11:00 PM UTC, while console players can dive in at midnight local time (12 AM UTC).
Supported Platforms
EA Sports FC 26 is releasing on:
PlayStation 5 / PlayStation 4
Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One
PC (EA App, Steam, Epic Games Store)
Nintendo Switch and Switch 2
Notably, Nintendo players get a slightly different content structure for bonuses, which we’ll break down below.
Editions and Pricing
Two editions of EA Sports FC 26 are available, each with different perks.
Standard Edition
Price: $69.99
Content Includes:
Full game
Archetype Unlock x1
Double XP boosts (10 matches ×2)
Career Mode perks: 3× Icon Players, 5-Star Coach, 5-Star Youth Scout, Manager Live Challenge
Bonus: 92+ OVR Icon card for EA FC 25 (untradeable)
Ultimate Edition
Price: $99.99
Content Includes:
Everything in Standard Edition
7-day early access (Sept 19)
6,000 FC Points (over two months; 4,500 on Switch)
Season 1 Premium Pass
Extra Ultimate Team Evolution slot
Choice of 1 of 15 Icon Players (untradeable)
Pre-order before Aug 26 for an extra ICON Player Item in FC 26 (upgraded later when they become a Champion)
Pre-Order Bonuses Explained
EA has added a variety of pre-order rewards, though they differ by edition and platform.
Ultimate Edition (Console & PC)
7-day early access
Untradeable ICON Player Item (upgraded later)
Season 1 Premium Pass
Two EA FC 25 rewards, including a 93+ OVR ICON card and Player Evolution
Career items: 3x ICONs, 5-Star Coach, 5-Star Scout, Manager Challenge
6,000 FC Points (PC/Console)
Extra FUT Evolution slot
Standard Edition (Console & PC)
92+ OVR ICON card for FC 25
Career and Clubs perks (Icons, coach, scout, XP boosts, archetype unlock)
Nintendo Switch & Switch 2 Editions
Ultimate Edition: 7-day early access, Season 1 Premium Pass, 4,500 FC Points, FUT Evolution slot, Career/Clubs bonuses
Standard Edition: Career and Clubs perks similar to console versions, though without some of the FUT extras
Some FAQs
How do I redeem a code? Through the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, or EA App on PC.
Can I transfer my FC 25 Ultimate Team to FC 26? Coins and consumables won’t transfer. Some items, like FIFA Points, club name, and certain cosmetics, may carry over.
Can I buy or sell FC Coins? No! It’s against EA’s rules and can result in bans.
Any discounts? EA Play members get 10% off digital purchases; retailer promos may also apply.
Is it coming to PS3 or Xbox 360? No! Legacy consoles are no longer supported.
Is it on Xbox Game Pass or PS Plus at launch? No! It’s not included on day one. EA titles usually join EA Play/Game Pass months later.
Does it support cross‑play? Yes, but only within the same console generation.
Can I turn off cross‑play? Yes, there’s a toggle in the settings.
Does it have cross‑progression? Partially. Progress carries over only within the same console family (e.g., PS4 to PS5). No transfers between PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.