Every year, EA Sports FC releases a series of in-game events designed to keep Ultimate Team engaging. Among these promotions, Team of the Year (TOTY) is the pinnacle event, offering some of the highest-rated cards of the year while celebrating standout player performances globally.
As FC 26 kicks into 2026, TOTY is one of the most anticipated events, combining community voting, elite player cards, and a month-long schedule of content. Here’s everything you need to know to prepare.
EA Sports FC 26 TOTY Schedule
Unlike short-term promotions, TOTY unfolds across multiple phases over several weeks, giving players numerous opportunities to earn and collect top-tier cards.
Voting Phase
The TOTY voting phase for FC 26 is expected to start between January 5 and January 7. During this period, players can vote daily for their preferred male and female players in four categories:
• Goalkeepers
• Defenders
• Midfielders
• Attackers
Voting influences the final lineup, though global popularity often weighs heavily alongside on-field performance.
In-Game TOTY Launch
After voting concludes, the TOTY promo officially begins in Ultimate Team. This phase features:
• Themed objectives
• Squad Building Challenges (SBCs)
• Upgrade packs
These allow players to start earning rewards before the final TOTY XI is revealed.
Projected Release Timeline
Although dates can shift slightly, the anticipated schedule for FC 26 TOTY is:
• Attackers Only: January 16 – January 18
• Midfielders Only: January 18 – January 20
• Defenders Only: January 20 – January 22
• Full TOTY XI: January 22 – January 30
Additional content expected alongside main squads:
• TOTY Icons 1: January 16 – January 20
• TOTY Icons 2: January 20 – January 23
• TOTY Icons XI: January 25 – January 30
• Honourable Mentions: January 23 – January 30
• Fan Favourites: January 23 – January 30
In the final week, EA typically reveals a 12th player for both men’s and women’s teams—a fan-favourite who narrowly missed the main XI.
How to Acquire TOTY Cards in FC 26
TOTY cards are highly sought after for their massive stat boosts and blue design. Here are the main ways to obtain them:
• Opening packs earned via objectives, SBCs, and in-game rewards
• Completing limited-time TOTY upgrade SBCs
• Purchasing packs in the store using FC 26 coins or FC Points
• Trading on the transfer market
Key points:
• TOTY cards can appear in all packs, including free ones, once the promo begins.
• These cards replace base versions temporarily and have fixed stats—they cannot be upgraded via Evolutions.
• The final TOTY lineup includes 1 Goalkeeper, 4 Defenders, 3 Midfielders, and 3 Attackers.
Pack Tip: Avoid opening packs before the full TOTY XI is released. Pack contents are determined at the time of opening, so waiting maximizes your chance to pull a blue card.
FC 26 TOTY Player Predictions
While official TOTY selections remain unconfirmed, past performance, trophies, and popularity allow us to predict likely candidates.
Goalkeepers
• Alisson Becker
• Yassine Bounou
• Diogo Costa
• Thibaut Courtois
• Michele Di Gregorio
• Gianluigi Donnarumma
• Emiliano Martínez
• Édouard Mendy
• Alex Meret
• Manuel Neuer
• Jan Oblak
Midfielders
• Jude Bellingham
• Moisés Caicedo
• Frenkie de Jong
• Bruno Fernandes
• Enzo Fernández
• Ryan Gravenberch
• Joshua Kimmich
• Alexis Mac Allister
• Scott McTominay
• Jamal Musiala
Defenders
• Pau Cubarsí
• Marc Cucurella
• Alphonso Davies
• Giovanni Di Lorenzo
• Rúben Dias
• Denzel Dumfries
• Raphaël Guerreiro
• Achraf Hakimi
• Dean Huijsen
• Ibrahima Konaté
• Kalidou Koulibaly
• Jules Koundé
• Gabriel Magalhães
Attackers
• Salem Al-Dawsari
• Bradley Barcola
• Ousmane Dembélé
• Erling Haaland
• Alexander Isak
• Harry Kane
• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
• Robert Lewandowski
• Lautaro Martínez
• Lionel Messi
• Raphinha
• Mateo Retegui
• Cristiano Ronaldo
• Mohamed Salah
• Vinícius Júnior
• Lamine Yamal
Popularity often plays a major role in voting, which adds unpredictability to the final TOTY squads.
How to Prepare Now
The current Time Warp promotion is still active in FC 26. TOTY will begin immediately afterward, making this the ideal time to prepare.
Recommended steps:
• Log in daily during the voting period to cast your TOTY votes
• Complete Time Warp objectives to strengthen your squad depth
• Save packs rather than opening them immediately
• Stockpile low-value cards to use as fodder in high-value TOTY SBCs
Hoarding packs before the promo starts gives you the best chance of landing blue TOTY cards.
Final Thoughts
Team of the Year is the defining event of the FC 26 Ultimate Team cycle, shaping squads for months with elite cards, SBCs, and global engagement.
By participating in voting, managing packs wisely, and preparing your club ahead of time, you can maximize your chances of collecting these game-changing cards. Whether chasing your first blue TOTY card or enjoying the event’s spectacle, FC 26 TOTY is a must-play promotion for every Ultimate Team player.