EA FC 26 Career Mode brings with it a slate of new features that aim to make the experience more dynamic and varied. The mode has historically attracted football enthusiasts who lean towards the simulation side of things, whether that’s making dream transfers or crafting tactical setups to lead teams to glory. The latest iteration of the game mode offers the same satisfying experience but with deeper simulation options to further the realism. So, if you’re looking for a rundown on the fundamentals of EA FC 26 Career Mode, here’s everything to know.
Getting Started in EA FC 26 Career Mode
As most players will know, FC 26 Career Mode offers two different types of saves:
- Manager Career
- Player Career
Just like the names suggest, Manager Career is all about taking the helm at any club of your choice and setting them up for success. Player Career, on the other hand, sees players step into the boots of an existing footballer or a custom player. Both variants come with their own challenges and objectives, which help make them engaging for hours on end.
Best EA FC 26 Career Mode Saves
EA FC 26 has almost every club and domestic competition you could ask for, which makes picking a team for a Career Mode save all the more difficult. Your chosen club is obviously the fulcrum of your experience. Depending on the state of the squad and the finances, your managerial run could be as easy or as tricky as you want.
In most cases, players are looking for exciting projects or rebuilds aimed at resurrecting a fallen giant to their former glory. Teams such as Leicester City and Sevilla immediately come to mind, and you can find out more detailed ideas in our dedicated Career Mode Saves guide.
EA FC 26 Tactical Visions Explained
Tactical Visions in EA FC 26 dictate your team’s style of play, and by extension, your coaching philosophy. The mechanic is a lot more fluid this year as compared to FC 25, but you can still think of it as a template for how you’d like your team to operate on the pitch, as well as the various roles each player is expected to carry out.
There are seven different options available in the game. For an overview of every Tactical Vision, including our recommendations for the best ones, be sure to check out our dedicated guide.
How to Sign Players in EA FC 26 Career Mode
The transfer machine is constantly whirring in Career Mode, and Manager Career players can participate in the action by stitching together a few moves for their teams. To get started, head to the ‘Transfers’ section in the main Career Mode menu.
From here, you’ll be able to check out players handpicked by Scouts, or manually search for a player using their name. Once you’ve found your desired target, you’ll have the option of scouting them further to learn of their true potential and the finances required to fund the move. Once that’s done, simply shortlist the player and then initiate negotiations in the ‘Transfer Shortlist’ section.
Doing so will trigger an interactive cutscene where you’ll be able to present a bid for the player. You can offer a straight cash deal or propose exchanging players instead. Whatever the approach, make sure your offer is close to the player’s in-game valuation. Lowballing can cause the player’s current club to exit negotiations out of annoyance, and they’ll also refuse any further talks in the process.
Best Players to Sign in FC 26 Career Mode
The Career Mode database features over 19,000 real players, including the biggest superstars in world football. The sheer volume of players adds to the immersion since it feels like a genuine representation of the actual Transfer Market. With that said, only a small selection of players can be considered top class, and to help you recruit them, we’ve put together some handy lists for every position:
- Best EA FC 26 Career Mode Strikers
- Best EA FC 26 Career Mode Wingers
- Best EA FC 26 Career Mode Midfielders
- Best EA FC 26 Career Mode Centerbacks
- Best EA FC 26 Career Mode Fullbacks
- Best EA FC 26 Career Mode Goalkeepers
- Best EA FC 26 Career Mode Free Agents
- Best EA FC 26 Career Mode Loan Players
Best EA FC 26 Wonderkids
Planning for the future is the only way to ensure prolonged success in Career Mode. And there’s no better way to secure your side’s future success than by signing and developing the best Wonderkids in EA FC 26. These young talents have the highest potential ratings in the game, meaning they’re likely to turn into world-class players if developed properly.
To ensure they meet their lofty potential, make sure to fine-tune their development plans by tailoring them to their position. Focus on the traits that top players in their positions are expected to have, and make sure to give them regular game time. If there’s no space in your matchday squad, consider loaning them out for a couple of seasons to boost their development.
EA FC 26 Manager Live Explained
Manager Live adds more variety to Manager Career by offering unique weekly and monthly challenges. Some Challenges align with real-world football, like a frenzy of transfer windows or the Champions League knockout ties. On the other hand, Reactive Challenges are timed to capture specific events, creating “What If?” moments like unexpected upsets or epic title races.
With Manager Live, FC 26 presents interesting scenarios in the form of challenges, making it easier for players to craft narratives around their season. For instance, you could be tasked with keeping a newly-promoted side in the Premier League, with little in terms of financial assistance. Similarly, you could take charge of a traditionally mid-table team that’s managed to sneak into a European competition. Their resources might be humble, but ambitions are high, and your goal is to embark on a memorable cup run.
Icons and Heroes in Career Mode
With EA FC 25, a small selection of Icons were added to Player Career. FC 26 is set to join in on that experiment by allowing players to manage some of the greatest names to ever grace a football pitch. Icons and Heroes can be teamed together to create a unique XI, or they can also be used as part of current-day teams. And to unlock the players for Manager Career, you’ll need to progress through the Season Pass.
EA FC 26 Manager Market Explained
Manager Market finally allows AI managers to move between clubs, and helps simulate the roller-coaster ride that is a season of football. Depending on their performances, managers in EA FC 26 can switch jobs, get sacked, or even be poached by other clubs. Here are the scenarios that can cause a gaffer to leave the helm:
- Sacking: If a manager underperforms relative to their board objectives, their job security drops. If it falls too low, the board will sack them.
- Poached by Another Club: Managers may be approached and hired by other clubs, especially if their reputation and tactical vision align with the hiring club’s needs.
- Voluntary Departure: Managers who have been at a club for a long period may choose to leave, seeking a new challenge. The longer a manager stays at a club, the higher the chance they’ll consider looking for a new challenge.
As is the case in real life, a mid-season departure is replaced by a caretaker manager, who begins imposing their own football philosophy on the side. If the caretaker excels in the role, they can be turned into long-term hires.
The Manager Market also brings with it a Job Application and Hiring Process, allowing players to apply for jobs at any club of their choosing and switch teams throughout their Career Mode save. Within the Manager Market menu, you’ll be able to inspect the current job safety of every manager in a specific league. If you see the wheels falling off at a particular club, you’re free to apply for the job and move up the ladder.
However, your likelihood of getting that role depends on factors such as the compatibility of your Tactical Vision with the club’s vision, the prestige of the team you’re currently managing, and the length of your employment at your present club. All of this will be reflected under the ‘Hiring Likelihood’ bar, which will let you know the chances of your application being successful.
Authentic Gameplay Overview
EA are really pushing their new Authentic Gameplay preset this year, which has been created with Career Mode in mind. The preset aims to provide a true-to-football experience, where realism is paramount, be it the passing animations, the tactical setups, the set-piece routines, and everything in between.
The overall pace is more tactical and methodical, encouraging patient build-up, smart positioning, and strategic decision-making over relying on speed or individual ability. This new approach means that Authentic matches can feel less predictable. The emphasis is on immersion and realism, making every pass, tackle, and goal feel more earned and meaningful.
However, if you’re dissatisfied with the experience, you’ll be able to fine-tune gameplay sliders to suit your needs, and you can also switch to the Competitive preset if you prefer the high-octane gameplay of Ultimate Team.
Unexpected Events Explained
For years, players had been clamoring for unpredictable scenarios that spice up the gameplay and help break the repetitiveness. EA FC 26 has finally addressed those demands in the shape of Unexpected Events, which will throw Football Manager-esque curveballs in your direction.
From sudden player injuries to surprise transfer offers, these moments will challenge your decision-making and adaptability as a manager. When an Unexpected Event is triggered, you’ll be directly brought to an event screen, complete with unique imagery and individualised narrative framing. Here, you’ll be forced to make the all-important decision that can have a major impact on your club, and could even derail your season. On paper, the features sound identical to the narrative twists of Madden’s Franchise mode.
As for the twists themselves, here are some of the decision types that you’ll be confronted with:
- Player-Related Events: These are events that affect your squad, how you manage them week to week, and who makes the team sheet for the next game. For example, a key player might pick up an injury during international duty, forcing you to reshuffle your starting eleven for the weekend’s crucial match.
- Club and Board Events: These are a little higher level and can have bigger impacts on the long-term direction of the club. For example, sudden cash injections or the owner meddling in the team, and everything in between.
- Fans and media events: How the fans and the media see your team isn’t always under your control, but how you deal with them is. You might see fans flocking to buy tickets or even a hotel problem the night before a match that leaves players fatigued.
The introduction of Unexpected Events should mean that no two Career Mode seasons will play out the same way. But if you find the unpredictability to be unsettling, you can change the frequency and impact of Unexpected Events in the settings, or turn them off entirely.
And that wraps up our guide on EA FC 26 Career Mode. Has any new feature grabbed your attention? Be sure to let us know in the comments.
