How to Start EA Sports FC 26 Ultimate Team: Early Game Guide

• Claiming Your Welcome Back Packs
• Completing Early Objectives
• Intro to SBCs
• Smart Pack Management
• Club Maintenance and Market Mastery
• Daily and Weekly Objectives
• Early Access Tournaments and Live Events
• Wrapping It All Up

Welcome to EA Sports FC 26 Ultimate Team, the yearly classic where the grind begins, and the choices you make early on can shape your entire FUT journey. Every year, players look for the smartest ways to maximize packs, coins, and players right out of the gate, and FC 26 is no different. The first big change is that instead of picking your starter squad based on nations, this year EA has introduced leagues as the starting point. Going Premier League or Women’s Super League gives you an advantage because of chemistry and player quality.

Another big shift is the replacement of the traditional loan player system with a Moments challenge that rewards you with a Squad Foundations player pick. Once you complete this short challenge, you get to choose one out of five very usable cards to kickstart your team. From there, you can also transfer over your unused FC Points from FC 25 into FC 26. It’s a clean system that rewards loyalty and activity while also setting up the foundations for the season.

Claiming Your Welcome Back Packs

The first thing you should do when loading into FC 26 is grab your welcome back packs. These free packs are EA’s way of rewarding returning players, and they give you a chance to start building coin flow and filling your club with players. Some fans are already panicking about missing FC Points or icon packs, but don’t worry, they only drop once the full game officially releases at midnight (local time).

Until then, these welcome packs are your bread and butter. Even if the pulls aren’t crazy maybe you get a Zardowski or a Santi Comenzana, they’re still coins in the bank or squad depth for early SBCs. Don’t sleep on discarding cards you don’t need either; sometimes a quick 700–800 coins from a discard can be more valuable than holding onto a fringe player.

Completing Early Objectives

After packs, your next focus should be Foundations objectives. These are easy tasks that reward you with Squad Foundations players, coins, and packs. In total, you can secure up to five or six untradeable but very usable cards. These objectives are designed to help you build a solid base squad before stepping into Rivals or competitive modes.

Players like Bruninia at right back or Fry at center back may not look flashy, but they’re reliable day-one cards with good stats and solid playstyles. Doing these objectives not only strengthens your team but also prepares you for the longer grind ahead.

Intro to SBCs

Once objectives are under control, SBCs (Squad Building Challenges) should be your next target. EA has brought back the Intro to SBCs set, which is simple and gives back silver, gold, and two-player packs. It’s perfect for recycling lower-rated players from your club into more valuable rewards.

The trick here is being smart with club management. Don’t waste two players from the same club too early; you’ll need them later. Prioritize unneeded silvers and low-rated golds, and save rare cards from top leagues for when you’ll actually need them. SBCs remain the most coin-efficient way to build a starter squad, so treat them as priority.

Smart Pack Management

When opening packs in the early stages, it’s easy to get carried away. That shiny 79-rated Diallo with multiple positions and great agility may look tempting, but sometimes the smarter move is to discard him for coins and use that cash elsewhere. Every 800 coins gained can fund a quick trade or cover the cost of an SBC requirement.

At the same time, be cautious with your consumables. For example, applying a valuable Anchor chemistry style to a player you’ll replace in a week is wasteful. Instead, stockpile items and only apply them when you’re sure you’ve got a starter worth investing in. Smart pack management is about balancing short-term boosts with long-term growth.

Club Maintenance and Market Mastery

The early “Club Maintenance” objectives are easy wins. Changing your club name, applying a chem style, and adjusting formations all net you packs and consumables. While small, these stack up quickly and unlock more coins and resources for trading.

“Market Mastery” is where things really kick off. Buying and listing three items completes the group and rewards you with a Shadow, a Hunter, and packs. The best way to do this is to grab bronze rares for 200 coins, relist them, and profit. Not only do you complete the objectives, but you also build your transfer market experience while stacking useful consumables.

Daily and Weekly Objectives

Don’t ignore the daily and weekly objectives, even though many will complete naturally as you play. Simple tasks like playing matches, scoring goals with specific nationalities, or keeping clean sheets with silver players feed into milestone rewards. Over time, these add up to packs, coins, and even special cards like Yashin or Garrincha from the “World Tour” challenges.

The best strategy is to overlap them with your Squad Battles grind. For example, while playing Squad Battles to complete New Beginnings, you can also chase Brazilian scoring objectives or Portuguese goal milestones. This efficient overlap saves time and maximizes rewards.

Early Access Tournaments and Live Events

One of the most exciting additions to FC 26 is the Early Access Elimination Tournament. This limited-time event gives you daily entries to compete for incredible rewards, from league-specific packs to a powerful 84-rated Dolan card. Winning multiple times also grants access to even bigger tournaments later on.

These tournaments aren’t just about rewards; they’re about building competitive experience in FUT early on. If you can construct a half-decent squad within the first few days, you’ll give yourself a head start in both coins and gameplay experience.

Wrapping It All Up

Starting FC 26 Ultimate Team the right way means more than just opening packs. It’s about following a structured path: choose your league, complete Moments for your first Squad Foundations pick, grab your welcome back packs, knock out Foundation objectives, complete SBCs, and work through club and market mastery. Do this and you’ll have a competitive starter squad within hours, not days.

The key takeaway is efficiency. Every coin, consumable, and untradeable player has value early in the game. By being smart with discards, doubling up objectives, and grinding tournaments, you’ll put yourself in the best position to dominate FUT 26 from day one.

We will share more updates on FC 26 in separate articles. If you found this information helpful or would like to learn more, please be sure to explore the other articles on our site.

Unlocking the FC 26 Transfer Market: Graduated Access Explained

FC 26 Web App Tips: 5 Things You Must Do on Day One to Get Ahead in Ultimate Team