As the cycle of EA SPORTS FC 25 nears its conclusion, the anticipation for the next installment in the franchise—EA FC 26—is starting to build. With the 2024/25 domestic football season winding down around the world, and Team of the Season (TOTS) serving as FC 25's final major Ultimate Team promo, fans are beginning to look toward what's next.
EA has already started hinting at EA FC 26, and while an official announcement has yet to be made, several key details have emerged through leaks, reports, and financial disclosures. From potential release dates and platforms to logo leaks and cover star rumors, here's everything we know so far about EA FC 26.
EA FC 26 Release Date Window
While Electronic Arts has not officially confirmed a release date for EA FC 26, the timing of its launch has been narrowed down significantly.
In EA's Q4 and fiscal year 2025 financial report, the company shared release windows for its upcoming titles. According to that report, EA FC 26 is scheduled to be released in Q2 of the publisher's financial year, which falls between July 1, 2025, and September 30, 2025. This window is slightly earlier than previous entries, which traditionally launched in late September.
Supporting this earlier release window is a leak suggesting that EA FC 26 Ultimate Edition will launch on August 23, 2025. If this proves accurate, it would represent a notable shift in EA's launch strategy, giving players access to the game a full month earlier than EA FC 25 was released.
This move would allow players to jump into Ultimate Team and Career Mode sooner, potentially capitalizing on the start of the 2025/26 club football season around Europe. It's also a move that could help EA compete with other fall releases by grabbing player attention before the crowded Q4 season.
EA FC 26 Logo Leak: A Bold New Color Scheme
One of the first substantial leaks regarding EA FC 26 came in the form of its logo. In April 2025, trusted leaker shared what appears to be the official logo for the game. This is the same source that correctly leaked the logos for EA FC 25, FC 24, and FIFA 23 months in advance, lending credibility to the image.
The EA FC 26 logo features a bold new palette, incorporating navy blue, light blue, purple, green, and yellow. Compared to the darker or more minimal tones of past entries, this new look stands out significantly.
This likely isn't just a design choice for branding purposes. Historically, the colors in the game's logo are used throughout the in-game user interface, menus, and Ultimate Team layouts. That means fans can expect this fresh color scheme to be featured in Career Mode menus, Squad Building Challenges, and pack animations.
This could signify a broader stylistic change for the FC franchise, aligning with EA's push for a more modern, community-driven experience.
EA FC 26 Platforms: Will Old-Gen Still Be Supported?
With the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S now well into their life cycles, many new titles are beginning to skip the previous generation of consoles entirely. EA's own F1 25, for instance, will only be available on current-gen platforms.
This raised immediate questions about whether EA FC 26 would follow suit. However, current information indicates that EA FC 26 will still be released on both old-gen and current-gen consoles, including PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
This isn't too surprising. EA FC has a massive global player base, and a large percentage of players, especially in certain markets, still play on older systems. Dropping support too early could alienate a substantial part of the community.
That said, it's worth noting that the experience will differ depending on your platform. As with previous editions, the Frostbite Engine enhancements, HyperMotion technology, and other gameplay improvements are likely to remain exclusive to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
EA FC 26 Cover Star: Jude Bellingham Returns?
In EA FC 25, Jude Bellingham made his debut as the global cover star. The Real Madrid and England midfielder, now one of the biggest names in world football, looks set to reprise his role for EA FC 26.
Leaks have suggested that Bellingham has signed a long-term deal with EA SPORTS, making him the franchise's face for multiple years. This would mark the first time a player has graced back-to-back EA FC covers since Kylian Mbappe, Bellingham's Real Madrid teammate.
Bellingham's selection again would reflect EA's strategy of targeting younger, globally marketable stars who represent the future of football. With a UEFA Champions League title potentially under his belt by the end of the 2024/25 season, he's an ideal candidate to headline another major entry in the series.
EA FC 26 Game Modes: What Can We Expect?
While no gameplay details have been officially revealed, we can make educated guesses based on franchise trends and current community demand.
Ultimate Team
Ultimate Team remains the most popular mode in EA FC, generating the bulk of EA SPORTS' annual revenue. Expect it to return in EA FC 26 with new promos, chemistry tweaks, and hopefully better pack odds transparency.
There's also hope that EA will further refine Evolutions, a feature introduced in FC 24 that allowed players to upgrade cards across the season by completing challenges. Community feedback has been largely positive, and a more expansive Evolutions system is expected in FC 26.
Career Mode
Fans of Career Mode have been asking for deeper customization, more intelligent AI, and better youth development systems. While FC 25 made modest improvements, such as Tactical Visions and revamped training, players are still hoping for features like improved transfer logic, dynamic storylines, and online Career Mode.
Whether EA FC 26 delivers remains to be seen, but there is strong demand for a more immersive, RPG-like experience that matches the depth of sports sims like NBA 2K's MyGM mode or Football Manager.
Clubs and Volta
The Clubs mode (formerly Pro Clubs) has continued to grow since its online cross-play expansion. Expect EA to invest more in Clubs again in FC 26, possibly with seasonal rewards, club customization, and player rankings.
Volta Football, the street football-inspired mode, may get minor updates, but it's not expected to be a major focus unless EA chooses to tie it into a live-service progression model.
What We'd Like to See in EA FC 26
While EA FC 25 introduced welcome additions, including women's players in Ultimate Team and better AI adjustments, there's still a lot of room for improvement in FC 26.
Final Thoughts
EA FC 26 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated football games in years. With a potential August 23, 2025, release date, a fresh logo and UI design, cross-generational platform support, and the return of Jude Bellingham as the cover star, EA SPORTS is clearly looking to build on the foundation laid by FC 25.
There are still many details to be confirmed, but based on everything leaked and disclosed so far, the future of the FC series looks bright.
As we get closer to July, fans should stay tuned for official news, trailers, and pre-order details. Whether you're a hardcore Ultimate Team trader, a Career Mode tactician, or a Clubs competitor, EA FC 26 has the potential to push the franchise to new heights.
For more EA FC 26 updates, be sure to follow all the latest news, leaks, and Ultimate Team tips right here on NBA2King and buy FC 26 Coins here.