EA FC 26 Career Mode is receiving 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 and enjoy making dream transfers and crafting tactical setups to lead teams to glory. For their latest release, EA have revealed some interesting new additions for both Player and Manager Career that should result in a more captivating game mode. With that said, here’s a look at all of the new features in FC 26 Career Mode.
Manager Live
Manager Live aims to introduce 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 will present 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.
The objective behind the feature, as described by the devs, is to “let you live the intensity of legendary rivalries, celebrate monumental achievements, and navigate the drama of shock sackings, all while engaging with the season’s biggest football storylines.”
Icons and Heroes in Manager Career
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.
Manager Market
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
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
For years, players have been clamoring for unpredictable scenarios that spice up the gameplay and help break the repetitiveness. EA FC 26 is finally addressing 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 directly be 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.
Player Archetypes
Archetypes are really the only new feature of note being added to EA FC 26 Player Career. Just like in Clubs, Archetypes are tied to the player progression system where you’ll be able to unlock, progress, and develop 13 distinct player Archetypes, each inspired by an Icon, and each built to give you options that fit your style of play.
As part of this system, you can unlock Specialisations that bolster a specific area of expertise, acquire new PlayStyles to improve your versatility on the field, and improve your stats to be more effective. To go along with the new progression system, Training Drills have been redesigned to match the correct exercise with your chosen focus area.
And that wraps up our guide on all the new features in EA FC 26 Career Mode. Has any new feature grabbed your attention? Be sure to let us know in the comments.
