EA FC 26 release: Everything we know about the upcoming soccer sim

The EA Sports FC 26 release will continue to build on the company’s rebranded football series. Also, it will perhaps be the most important title for the series since its relaunch, as it will be in play as the FIFA World Cup kicks off in North America next year, which as EA CEO Andrew Wilson said in a recent earnings call is a “great acquisition and engagement opportunity for the franchise.” 

Luckily, we have years of release date patterns from the FIFA games franchise and the EA FC titles to give us an idea of when fans will finally be able to get their hands on the game. So, without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about the EA Sports FC 26 release date, and more, around the anticipated soccer sim. 

Based on past patterns, the EA FC 26 release date is expected to be around late September 2025. 

While the official release date hasn’t been announced, we are confident that this is the FC 26 release window. This is because EA has followed a near-identical release pattern for the past decade, whether it’s with FIFA or FC. 

Furthermore, the release in late September 2025 occurs approximately a month after the major football leagues – the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, and others – begin. Therefore, the hype for the game is also at a high. 

That’s not all, as the release also coincides with the biggest football competition at the club level—the Champions League. The game is usually released shortly after the group stage of the Champions League begins. 

Historically, EA announces the official release date in July. The past two years have featured on-ground FC Clubhouse events, along with live streams. We can expect something similar for EA FC 26 as well. 

Based on past behaviour, fans of the franchise can expect teasers in late June, followed by an official announcement in July with the FC 26 trailer. Then, just a few months later, the EA Sports FC 26 release date is expected to arrive in September. 

FC 26 is expected to cost $69.99; pre-orders are not yet live

Electronic Arts hasn’t officially announced the price yet. Luckily, while many other games are increasing their prices, EA won’t be doing it this time. During a recent earnings call, when asked about other games raising their prices, EA’s CFO, Stuart Canfield, confirmed that the company isn’t planning a change in its current strategy. Therefore, we can expect the EA FC 26 to retain the same price as last year. 

Based on the cost of the previous edition, the EA FC 26 price should be $69.99 for the Standard Edition and $99 for the Ultimate Edition. 

Are you wondering what the difference is between the two? You will basically get access to most of the same content in both titles. However, the Ultimate Edition gives you early access to the game before anyone else grinds before the rest of the people get their hands on it. 

Players also get access to FC points, which usually make up for the extra $30 you spend for the FC 26 Ultimate Edition. It also features custom kits, some Ultimate Team content, and occasionally, different cover art. 

You shouldn’t have to wait long for EA FC 26 pre-orders. Following the announcement, pre-orders are expected to open as early as mid-July 2025. Players should also get to find out which player or players make the coveted covers on both the standard and ultimate editions of EA FC 26. 

Additionally, this is the time players will get their first look at the FC 26 gameplay. Furthermore, pre-ordering EA FC 26 before its release date will give you some bonuses. These will be announced when pre-orders open, but may include exclusive items or packs to encourage early ordering. 

The game is expected to be available on all major consoles and PC 

Perhaps the biggest question arising from the EA FC 26 release is whether the older generation of consoles — namely, the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch —will continue to receive the new game. 

During EA’s Q3 2025 earnings call, Wilson stated that the company expects products like FC to find “real energy” on any new console when asked about the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2. That being said, since this is the first year of the new Switch, the older model is likely to support the game, but it may be through a legacy edition. 

Additionally, the older generation Xbox and PlayStation consoles still have a high number of players; therefore, the new FC will likely find its way there directly, rather than through a legacy edition, which is essentially a roster update based on the previous version. 

Therefore, the full list of EA FC 26 platforms is expected to be available as follows. Please note that this list should be taken with a grain of salt until the official announcement is made soon. 

The title was alluded to in a recent EA earnings call 

Electronic Arts hasn’t officially confirmed the development of FC 26. However, the company has made comments in its earnings call regarding engaging with audiences through FC 26. 

The most recent of them came during the Q4 2025 earnings call. EA CEO Wilson said that hosting the World Cup in North America presents a significant opportunity for the company. He confirmed that they have the “ability to activate it deeply in and around the celebration of football in the context of our game and our game community.”

Therefore, we can expect some tailored events and community engagements in EA FC 26 during the World Cup. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. 

The official system requirements are yet to be revealed; expected to be similar to FC 25

While EA has yet to announce the FC 26 system requirements for PC, we expect them to be similar to those of the two previous releases, FC 25 and FC 24, as they’re among the least demanding sports games on the platform. For reference, we’ve highlighted last year’s rig requirements to play, and we’ll update you with the official information as soon as we’ve more details. 

The recommended FC 26 system requirements could be as follows: 

The EA FC 26 release date is highly anticipated for several reasons, including support for the latest Switch consoles, the FIFA World Cup 2026, and a rumoured similar price point. 

We can expect teasers as early as June, before the official announcement, which is expected sometime in July. The official release will follow in September, with the players who purchase Ultimate Edition getting access a bit before other users.