FC 26 release date, editions, pre-orders and latest news
Another year, another FC.
It's that time of year again. The football season is over, and EA has announced the next EA Sports FC title – FC 26.
After a somewhat disappointing year for FC 25, with many fans choosing to stick with FC 24 instead of upgrading, this year is a big one as EA will be attempting to win fans back on side.
And with Rematch capturing many players' attention and more challengers cropping up all the time, we're expecting some big changes in this year's game.
So, when is the FC 26 release date, and what do we know about it so far? Here's what you need to know.
FC 26 release date
EA Sports FC 26 will release on 26th September 2025.
This was confirmed in the official reveal trailer that was released in July.
At the same time the game was released, it was confirmed that Jude Bellingham would be returning as the game's cover star, joined this year by Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala.
When does the FC 26 early access start?
FC 26 early access begins on 19th September 2025. That's a full week before the game fully releases.
In order to get early access to FC 26, you will need to purchase the Ultimate Edition of the game.
As well as seven-day early access, the Ultimate Edition will net you some extra bonuses, more details on which you can find below.
All FC 26 editions explained
There are two editions of FC 26 available to purchase: the Standard Edition and the Ultimate Edition.
Here's what's included in both:
FC 26 Standard Edition – £59.99
- Clubs rewards:
- 1x Archetype Unlock Consumable
- 2x Double AXP for 10 Matches Consumables
- Career rewards:
- 3x ICON Career Players
- 5-Star Coach available for hire in Manager Career
- 5-Star Youth Scout available for hire in Manager Career
- Manager Live Challenge Content
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FC 26 Ultimate Edition – £89.99
- Up to seven days of early access
- Season 1 Premium Pass
- 6,000 FC Points over 2 months
- 1x additional Ultimate Team Player Evolution Slot
- Standard Edition Clubs and Career content
- Everything included in Standard Edition
Can I pre-order FC 26?
Yes, FC 26 is currently available to pre-order, and comes with some pre-order bonuses too.
Players looking to pre-order a digital version of the game can do so directly from the Steam store on PC, the PlayStation store or the Xbox store.
At the time of writing, pre-orders for physical copies of FC 26 have not yet opened, so check back later if you're after one of those.
FC 26 pre-order bonuses
Players who pre-order the game will receive a variety of in-game bonuses, with different perks available depending on which edition you buy. Here are all of the FC 26 pre-order bonuses:
Standard Edition
- Football Ultimate Team 92+ OVR Icon (untradeable) for EA Sports FC 25 (sold separately)
Ultimate Edition (purchase by 26th August)
- Ultimate Team ICON Player Item (untradeable) for EA Sports FC 26
- Ultimate Team Player Evolution for EA Sports FC 25 (sold separately)
- Ultimate Team 1 of 5 Player Pick ICON Player Item (untradeable) for EA Sports FC 25 (sold separately)
Is there an FC 26 trailer?
Yes, the official reveal trailer for FC 26 was released in July, showing off some of the new gameplay changes and mechanics coming in this year's game:
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