EA Sports FC 26 could be revealed in May and launched in August

The ball has finally stopped rolling on EA Sports FC 25 and rumors surrounding the next edition of the franchise are already dominating the community backstage. According to information shared by insider AhcanFut, EA Sports FC 26 is expected to be officially revealed between May 20 and 27, 2025, with the Ultimate Edition set to be released on August 23.

If the rumors are true, it will be an early release compared to previous installments of the series, which usually come out between September and October. The title is expected to be available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, although with some significant differences between generations.

But the changes don't stop there.

According to the same sources, EA Sports FC 26 may leave behind controversial features such as Ultimate Team Moments — a functionality that, despite offering quick rewards, divided opinions among players. In addition, crossplay support between consoles and PC may also be discontinued, something that would directly impact the competitive experience, especially in the UT mode.

Another major expectation revolves around the new ICONs and HEROES that are expected to join the star-studded lineup of the Ultimate Team. Although there is no official confirmation, the community is already speculating on historical names from the world of football that could reinforce the catalog, bringing more variety and nostalgia to the gameplay.

Meanwhile, a strategic acquisition recently made by Electronic Arts could indicate significant technical advancements in EA Sports FC 26. The company acquired TRACAB Technologies, a reference in optical tracking solutions for high-performance sports. According to official data, the TRACAB system is capable of recording players' movements on the field at 60 Hz per second, generating 600 million data points per match — including 65 unique tracking points per player and referee.

“We capture practically everything that happens on the field,” explains TRACAB. This type of technology, if intelligently integrated into the game engine and physics, could represent a significant advancement in the precision of movements, collisions, and tactical behaviors of the AI, offering an unprecedented level of realism.

There is still no information about improvements in the Career Mode, nor confirmations regarding the licensing of the Brazilian League, which remains a question mark for Brazilian fans of the series. It is worth noting that the national championship has faced difficulties in recent years to remain licensed in the franchise, especially after the partnership with the CBF was terminated.

What is clear is that, even with the end of the partnership with FIFA since 2023, EA Sports continues to double down on its football simulator. The expectation for EA Sports FC 26 is high, especially after the commercial success of FC 25, which, despite some criticisms, solidified the franchise's new name among virtual football fans.

Now, we just have to wait and see if the company will confirm these dates at upcoming events, such as the possible EA Showcase scheduled for June, or if they will hold their cards for another strategic marketing moment. Until then, all we can do is closely follow the next steps of the Canadian giant — and keep our fingers crossed that the news lives up to the hype.