With the launch of EA FC 26 almost near, the FC team released a new Pitch Notes. This time, it’s all about the Launch Update. From launch dates to icons & heroes, to gameplay changes and more, let’s pick out the key details and dive in! Check out everything you need to know about this update, be prepared for the release, and most importantly, don’t forget to buy EA FC 26 coins at the best prices, and also get ready for FUT!
- Early Access, Worldwide Launch, and More
- Refreshed Chemistry Styles in FC 26
- All About FC 26 Rewards
- FC 26 ICONS and Heroes
Early Access, Worldwide Launch, and More
Console players who purchased the Ultimate Edition can access the game starting at midnight local time on September 19. For PC players, early access begins at 1 PM BST on September 18. Players with an EA Play membership can enjoy a 10-hour early access trial, while EA Play Pro members on PC get full access to the game.
The release dates for both the FC 26 Companion App and Web App have been confirmed. The Companion App will go live on September 18, while the Web App is set to launch on September 17. You can download the Companion App from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store after its release. If you’re not a fan of dedicated apps, you can use the Web App directly through a browser. These apps will help you complete SBCs, track your progress, manage UT, customize your squad, sign players, and more!
Refreshed Chemistry Styles in FC 26
The Pitch Notes also included key details about EA FC 26 Chemistry Styles. The pace at which players progress in FC 26 will be slower; this decision was made by the team after considering community feedback. Compared to FC 25, squads will be rated a little lower in FC 26, and weekly campaigns will provide smaller attribute boosts on average.
Big promos like Black Friday, Team of the Year, and Team of the Season will still deliver major upgrades, but most campaigns in between will be tuned more gradually. Rewards have also been balanced to match this pace, and base items like Rare Golds, ICONs, and Heroes will remain useful deeper into the year.
And to support this slower pace, Chemistry Styles have been rebalanced. Instead of the old 4/8/12 boost model, FC 26 now uses a 3/6/9 system, which narrows stat gaps and keeps overall balance tighter.
Pace-heavy styles are no longer the default for fast players. Speed boosts now come with trade-offs, while non-pace styles have been adjusted to highlight key stats like Composure, Reactions, and Stamina, giving players more ways to build their squads.
These changes should mix things up and help keep the game feeling fresh. Most importantly, you need to be careful when choosing players and always stay up to date with the current meta. Make sure to check the attached image to see how Chemistry Styles work in FC 26 and how they affect each player.
All About FC 26 Rewards
Who doesn’t love rewards? FC 26 has plenty to offer! Here are all FC 26 rewards explained, for returning players, EA Play members, Club members, and pre-season bonuses.
Returning Player Rewards
Players coming from FC 25 get early rewards to build a squad and start completing SBCs.
EA Play Rewards
EA Play members get content across modes during FC 26. In FUT, players will receive the EA Play Welcome Pack with 3x 85+ OVR Loan 1 of 5 Player Pick Items for 10 matches each. These picks include Attackers, Midfielders, and Defenders. Players also receive 1x FUT Draft Token.
For Clubs, you will receive the World’s Game Dark Blue Headband. To qualify for these EA Play rewards, you must: one, have an active EA Play subscription during the FC 26 cycle; and two, log into FC 26 Ultimate Team with the account associated with EA Play or Game Pass Ultimate between September 18, 2025, and October 30, 2025.
Club Member Rewards
To qualify for Club Member rewards, players must have a Founder account. Founders are players who played FC 24 before November 1, 2023. To obtain an FC 26 Club Membership, you need to play both FC 25 and FC 26 before November 1, 2025.
Founder rewards include kits and crests for FUT, as well as Founder TIFOs to showcase your legacy.
Club Member rewards include branded kits, XL TIFOs, and crests in FUT; arm sleeves, AXP multipliers, boots, and gloves in Clubs; and new Legendary items and accessories in Career mode.
Pre-Season Rewards
Carry-over rewards from FC 25 FUT will arrive in FC 26 starting October 14, 2025. To claim them, log in to FC 26 FUT using the same EA account that earned the rewards. These rewards are platform-specific, so PlayStation rewards can only be claimed on PlayStation, and the same for other platforms.
FC 26 ICONS and Heroes
Here is the list of all new ICONs in EA FC 26:
- Alex Morgan
- Andrés Iniesta
- Caroline Seger
- Cha Bum-kun
- Francesco Totti
- Giorgio Chiellini
- Marcelo
- Oliver Kahn
- Sissi
- Steffi Jones
- Toni Kroos
- Zlatan Ibrahimović
You can find out detailed information about these ICONs here: 12 Iconic Players in FC 26: Overall Rating Revealed.
ICONs are available beyond FUT and remain a feature in Career Mode. Season 1 of Player Career will start with a rotating set of ICONs that includes four options. These ICONs will be available for a limited time before being replaced by new selections.
Players who own the Ultimate Edition, or those who pre-ordered the Standard Edition, will permanently unlock ICONs in both Player and Manager Career from day one, including Zlatan Ibrahimović, Toni Kroos, and Alex Morgan.
The rest of the ICONs and Heroes can be unlocked in Manager Career through the Season 1 Pass. Players can also unlock one ICON for Player Career through the Standard Tier of the Season Pass each season. For Season 1, this reward is David Beckham. Every ICON and Hero unlocked through the Season Pass is a permanent addition, including in Player Career.
These are all the key details from the EA FC 26 Launch Update Pitch Notes. If you want to learn more, you can view the full Pitch Notes on the official EA website.
To stay up to date with all the key FC 26 information, including new features, changes, FC 26 prep, returning ICONs, and more, check out our blog!
