EA SPORTS FC 26: Everything you need to know about Career Mode, more immersion, challenges, and authenticity
EA SPORTS FC 26 revolutionizes the manager and player experience with dynamic challenges, and a realistic coaching market.
During our coverage of EA SPORTS FC 26 in Vancouver, Canada, we got an in-depth look at Career Mode, one of the most beloved modes among fans. This edition includes a series of features designed to offer a deeper, more realistic, and challenging experience. From team management to individual player progression, the new features aim to capture the essence of modern soccer and give fans unprecedented control over their destiny in the beautiful game.
Manager Live
One of the most significant additions is Manager Live, an experience that spans an entire season and introduces dynamic challenges and attractive rewards. This feature counteracts the “overwhelming freedom” that Career Mode sometimes presents by setting specific and varied objectives. Players will no longer have to invent their own narrative: Manager Live will offer unique situations such as:
- Winning one of the 35 available leagues or cups.
- Generating profits through transfers.
- Conquering the Bundesliga with Norwegian players under the age of 21.
These challenges, which will be updated weekly (up to 150 throughout the game’s lifecycle), not only set clear goals, but also offer rewards such as 35 iconic retro kits and, for the first time, the chance to unlock Icons and Heroes to add to your squad in Manager Career Mode. This integration of legends—which has already been successful in Player Career—will allow you to build dream teams or experiment with alternative scenarios, such as seeing Real Madrid’s “Galácticos” executing a gegenpressing tactic.
A dynamic manager market and unexpected events
EA SPORTS FC 26 also introduces the highly requested Manager Market. Now, coaches have job security based on club objectives (beyond just winning titles), can be fired, retire, or even be “signed” by other teams, reflecting the reality of professional soccer. When a manager leaves their position, an interim coach will temporarily take control, with the possibility of staying on permanently if results support it. Additionally, clubs will seek coaches with a specific tactical vision, adding a strategic layer to hiring and determining the long-term direction of the institution.
To keep the experience fresh and challenging, the game introduces unexpected events inspired by real-life soccer situations. From financial irregularities that could cause a major club to be relegated, to food poisoning affecting the team, more than 40 different scenarios have been included that will test the player’s ability to adapt. These situations can be enabled or disabled according to user preference, ensuring a customizable experience.
Player progress and quality-of-life improvements
Player Career Mode also gets a significant overhaul with the addition of the archetype system. The old predefined growth model has been replaced by an XP-based progression system, influenced by performance in pre-match training sessions, according to the chosen archetype. In addition, new “origin stories” are introduced, such as Rising Star and Golden Hand (for goalkeepers), along with improvements to controls and the user interface.
Finally, various improvements to the quality of life have been implemented, including:
- Customizable shortcuts for the menu.
- Player roles that can be changed without affecting tactical vision.
- Scout reports showing player potential as a range, not a fixed value.
- Stadiums in youth tournaments with different categories depending on club size.
- Improvements to lineup selection, allowing Premier League teams to rotate players in minor competitions.
- Live kickoff times for more than 20 leagues.
Changes to transfer behavior, allowing immediate loans after a purchase and fixing the issue of AI accumulating players in the same position. Players can now also decide not to renew their contract.
EA SPORTS FC 26 promises a Career Mode that not only respects the traditional experience, but elevates it with dynamic content, challenging challenges, and unprecedented authenticity.
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