2025/26 Kits
Review: EA SPORTS FC 26 (PS5)
Alright, let’s get into it—EA SPORTS FC 26 just dropped on PS5, and honestly? This might be the best soccer game EA has ever made. We’re not just hyping it up because it’s new. After grinding through countless matches across different modes, we can confidently say this is EA’s best soccer simulation to date in terms of realism.
The devs clearly listened to what we’ve been complaining about for years, and they actually did something about it. Whether you’re vibing in Career Mode, sweating it out in Ultimate Team, or just playing casual matches with your boys, FC 26 hits different. It respects the sport and the fans, which is honestly refreshing.
Key Updates
The biggest game-changer? Two gameplay presets: Competitive and Authentic. This is huge. Competitive is for your online modes—faster passing, better keeper rebounds, all that good stuff for Ultimate Team and Clubs. But yo, the Authentic gameplay option is an absolute game changer, resulting in the best EA SPORTS FC playing experience in recent memory. No cap.
Authentic mode slows things down in the best way possible. Defenders actually hold their positions, corners aren’t automatic goals anymore, and matches feel tactical instead of just pace-abusing your way to victory. It’s perfect for Career Mode when you want that realistic sim experience. Being able to switch between arcade-style competitive play and true-to-life football is honestly genius.
Career Mode got some solid upgrades with Manager Live Challenges that update weekly and monthly, keeping things fresh. The new Archetypes system is inspired by football legends, letting you build your player in Clubs and Player Career with actual unique progression paths. You earn Archetype XP, unlock perks, and your player genuinely feels different based on your choices.
Ultimate Team gets Tournaments, Live Events, and this new Challengers mode for lower division players. They also added Bounties for extra rewards, which is clutch. The whole Rivals and Champs experience got revamped based on community feedback, which is nice to see.
Graphics and Presentation
The graphics in EA SPORTS FC 26 are insane. From cut scenes to gameplay, everything is better than ever as we approach the end of the current generation of consoles. EA really squeezed every bit of juice out of the PS5. Player faces look crazy realistic, and you can actually see emotions—like when a striker is locked in before a penalty or when a defender is mad he got cooked.
The stadium atmospheres are next level. Over 130 authentic stadiums including sick additions like Bayern’s Allianz Arena (rebuilt from scratch), Napoli’s Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, and Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium. Each one feels alive with proper lighting and crowd details.
But here’s where it gets wild—the immersive feel in-games is amazing and very realistic. The views of the crowds during goal celebrations are electric. You’ll see the entire stadium going absolutely mental, which just hits different. Then there’s these player POV replays of goals where you see it from the scorer’s perspective. It’s such a cool angle that makes you appreciate the positioning and skill even more.
EA SPORTS even added new cut scenes showing fans celebrating in pubs. When you score a crucial Champions League goal, you’ll see people in bars absolutely losing their minds, throwing drinks everywhere, hugging random strangers. These little touches make big moments feel genuinely special. It’s not just a football game—it’s capturing the whole culture around the sport.
The broadcast presentation for major competitions is clean too, especially the Champions League with its new format. That iconic anthem still gives you chills every single time.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack goes hard this year. It’s super diverse with massive names like Ed Sheeran, BLACKPINK’s JENNIE, Young Miko, and get this—Juventus striker Moise Kean (KMB) becomes the first-ever professional footballer on an EA SPORTS FC soundtrack with his track “BOMBAY.” That’s actually fire.
You’ve got everything from Sampa The Great bringing Southern African vibes to Dutch DJ Woodcamp’s electronic beats, Jamaican sensation Original Koffee, and French hyperpop artist Sheng. Fred Again is back, plus there’s PinkPantheress, HAIM, Dominic Fike, and even The Cure with a special remix.
Breakout artist Myles Smith debuts with “Gold,” and there are unreleased tracks from Labrinth, Joy Crookes, and Artemas. The variety keeps menus from getting stale, and you’ll definitely discover some new artists. It mirrors the game perfectly—truly global, bringing different styles together.
Teams and Leagues Included in the Game
FC 26 is absolutely stacked with over 20,000 licensed players across 750+ clubs and 35+ leagues. This is the most comprehensive football game ever made, period.
The Barclays Premier League is the crown jewel, as always. All 20 clubs with their 2025/26 kits, logos, and authentic broadcasts. As EA’s exclusive partner, the Premier League representation is unmatched. From Old Trafford to Anfield to the newer Tottenham stadium, it’s all there.
The UEFA Champions League shines brighter than ever with its new format fully integrated. You get complete licensing, custom commentary, presentation—the whole package. Also included are Europa League, Conference League, and the Women’s Champions League.
LaLiga brings all 20 Spanish clubs, Bundesliga has all 18 German teams, Serie A showcases Italian football, and Ligue 1 delivers French action. MLS includes all 30 clubs, while CONMEBOL Libertadores, Sudamericana, and Recopa bring South American heat with legendary clubs like River Plate, Boca Juniors, and Flamengo.
Women’s football gets solid representation with the Barclays Women’s Super League (12 teams), Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga (14 clubs), Liga F Moeve (16 teams), Arkema Première Ligue (12 clubs), and NWSL (14 teams). Each women’s league has authentic broadcasts and top players.
A couple of notable teams missing from the game are the Brazil men’s and women’s national teams. That’s definitely a bummer considering Brazil’s football legacy, but with the insane amount of content available, you barely notice. Brazilian players are still scattered throughout club teams anyway.
Commentary
Commentary is handled by two solid English teams. Derek Rae and Stewart Robson are the main duo, bringing that smooth play-by-play mixed with tactical insights. They recorded a ton of new material with better contextual awareness about form, history, and tactics.
Guy Mowbray and Sue Smith provide a fresh alternative, which is nice if you’ve been hearing Rae and Robson forever. Mowbray brings his Premier League broadcasting experience, while Smith offers expert analysis from her playing career. Having Smith in the booth adds authenticity, especially for women’s matches.
Both teams benefit from better audio mixing and more natural conversation flow. Less repetition than before, and they actually react appropriately to what’s happening—building tension, celebrating sick goals, analyzing the game during slow moments. The league-specific commentary for licensed competitions is particularly well done.
Gameplay
This is where EA SPORTS FC 26 really shines. The gameplay is the most responsive and rewarding the series has ever been, hands down.
The Authentic gameplay preset is genuinely transformative. Matches feel like actual football with proper defensive positioning, realistic possession battles, and tactical depth that rewards smart play. Defenders hold their shape, fullbacks don’t randomly sprint forward and leave you exposed, and midfielders actually control the tempo. Corner kicks have realistic success rates instead of being goal-fests, and the overall pace encourages patient build-up over just pace-abusing with Mbappé.
If you’ve been frustrated with football games feeling too arcade-y, Authentic mode will feel like a revelation. Every pass, tackle, and goal feels earned. It’s not just marketing—the difference is obvious from your first match.
Goalkeepers are finally fixed. They’re way more consistent now, with better positioning and decision-making. Deflections don’t conveniently bounce to opponents anymore—they’ll go out of bounds or into open space like they should. Keepers make spectacular saves when appropriate and don’t get beaten by weak shots. The balance finally feels right.
Passing and shooting are noticeably more responsive. You can execute passes across broader angles now, including better backheel options. First-touch passing is snappier, letting you quickly switch the point of attack without frustrating delays.
Movement and dribbling feel smoother thanks to animation improvements. Transitions are better, skill moves are more reliably detected, and your player actually does what you’re trying to make them do. The game selects animations that match your player’s current speed better, making everything feel more fluid and predictable.
Defensive AI is legitimately improved. CPU opponents play according to their tactical identity—some teams prefer crossing, others use quick passing, while defensive sides sit deep and counter. They know when to press, when to hold shape, and how to double-team effectively. Different teams actually feel different now.
The new PlayStyles and Player Roles give you more tactical control, and stamina management has been improved (especially in Competitive mode where you stay agile longer). Input responsiveness got a major upgrade too—EA literally visited players’ homes across Europe to test and fix delay issues. Even one-frame improvements make a noticeable difference, and FC 26 feels immediately more responsive.
Replay Value
EA SPORTS FC 26 will keep you busy for hundreds of hours. Career Mode’s Manager Live Challenges refresh weekly and monthly, keeping each season fresh. The deeper simulation lets you track five additional leagues simultaneously, making the football world feel more connected and alive.
The Archetypes system in Clubs and Player Career offers 13 distinct classes inspired by legends, encouraging you to experiment with different styles and positions. Each archetype feels meaningfully different with unique perks and progression.
Ultimate Team’s new structure with Tournaments, Live Events, Challengers, and Bounties gives you more ways to compete all week. Challengers is great for lower division players to experience that competitive thrill with meaningful rewards.
Having Competitive and Authentic gameplay is like getting two games in one. Fast-paced online action or tactical offline simulation—pick your vibe. Rush mode provides quick arcade fun, while traditional 11v11 delivers depth. With over 130 stadiums, 35+ leagues, and 750+ teams, you can explore different football cultures for months.
The soundtrack keeps menus fresh, and the improved gameplay keeps matches engaging instead of repetitive. Whether you’re grinding Rivals, managing your club to Champions League glory, or building your pro in Clubs, there’s enough depth to keep you coming back.
Final Thoughts
EA SPORTS FC 26 is genuinely EA’s best soccer simulation to date in terms of realism. The Authentic gameplay is revolutionary, finally giving us the tactical, true-to-life experience we’ve been asking for. Competitive mode ensures online players get the responsive, high-control gameplay needed for sweaty matches.
The graphics are absolutely stunning—cut scenes and gameplay visuals better than ever as we approach the end of the current console generation. The immersive feel with crowd reactions, player POV replays, and pub celebration scenes captures what makes football special on an emotional level.
The Barclays Premier League and UEFA Champions League with its new format remain the shining jewels among the many leagues. The depth of licensing and presentation in these competitions sets the standard. While missing the Brazil national teams sucks, the sheer amount of content—20,000 players, 750+ clubs, 35+ leagues—more than makes up for it.
Gameplay improvements address real issues. Goalkeepers are reliable, passing is responsive, movement feels fluid, and defensive AI actually works. All the modes got meaningful updates instead of just superficial changes.
If you’re playing on PS5 and have any love for football, FC 26 is a must-buy. Whether you’re a Career Mode grinder, Ultimate Team sweat, or casual player, this game delivers. It’s EA SPORTS FC at its peak—polished, responsive, authentic, and loaded with content. From kickoff to final whistle, it captures everything that makes football the world’s game.
Gameplay: 9.9 /10Graphics: 9.9 /10
User Interface: 9.9 / 10
Realism: 10 / 10
