The FC 26 Team of the Year (TOTY) is finally here—the year's biggest Ultimate Team event! Every January, Ultimate Team comes to a standstill as the community turns its attention to one thing: who deserves a spot in the best squad of the entire calendar year. TOTY isn't just another promo—it's the moment the whole player base votes on, packs for, and builds around, and it typically reshapes the transfer market more than any other single event outside of launch week. Get the full breakdown of the promo, including the full player lists, FC 26 release dates, community FC 26 TOTY voting details, SBCs, Icons, and Honourable Mentions.
Before TOTY drops, many players boost their squads ahead of time, often choosing to buy FIFA 26 Coins from the best FC Coins to get ready for the huge in-game market shift.
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When Will FC 26 TOTY Voting Start?
Based on historical trends, we predict that FC 26 TOTY voting will begin around Monday, 5th January 2026.
This expectation comes from last year’s pattern:
FC 25 TOTY voting opened on Monday, 6th January 2025, which was the first Monday back to work after New Year’s.
Voting typically runs for about one week, so we expect FC 26 TOTY voting to close around Sunday, 12th January 2026.
As usual, the vote should take place via the official EA Sports FC website, where fans can select their choices for both men’s and women’s squads. Nominees are shortlisted by EA based on real-world performance data from the calendar year, and the community then narrows that list down position by position. It's worth voting even if your favorite player seems like a long shot—close races have shifted final squads before, and EA has occasionally added last-minute nominees in response to standout performances late in the year.
When Will FC 26 TOTY Cards Release?
The TOTY event was released for the first time in FIFA 12, If EA follows its usual structure, FC 26 TOTY cards will likely begin dropping on Friday, 16th January 2026.
This mirrors the FC 25 TOTY rollout, where the first wave (typically attackers) arrived two Fridays after the voting began.
We can expect a multi-week rollout similar to recent years:
- Week 1: TOTY Attackers
- Week 2: Full Men’s & Women’s TOTY squads
- Week 4: 12th Man & 12th Woman cards
(Yes — EA skipped Week 3 last year, spacing out some of the hype.)
For UK players, FC promos almost always go live at 6pm GMT on Fridays, and there’s no reason to think EA will deviate from this for such a consistent annual event.
This staggered release is deliberate—it keeps the promo relevant across multiple weeks instead of dumping everything into packs at once, and it also gives the market time to react. Prices on TOTY-caliber gold cards usually start climbing in the days before Week 1, as players anticipate which base cards are about to get replaced by upgraded versions.
Tip: The dates mentioned above are predictions and have not been confirmed by EA Sports.
How to Prepare for FC 26 TOTY
Because TOTY is one of the most volatile weeks of the year for the transfer market, a little preparation goes a long way. Here are the main things worth sorting out before voting even opens:
- Build up your coin balance early. Prices on meta gold cards tend to spike right before TOTY as players scramble to complete SBCs or snipe bargains before the market shifts.
- Save relevant packs. Since most pack contents are only determined when opened, holding onto untradeable and tradeable packs until the full squad is in packs can improve your odds of pulling something valuable.
- Track SBC requirements in advance. TOTY-related SBCs often require specific leagues, nations, or rating thresholds—knowing these ahead of time lets you stock the right fodder before prices rise.
- Watch for pre-promo price drops. Some players sell off aging meta cards right before TOTY, anticipating they'll be replaced by upgraded versions—this can be a good window to buy low if you're patient.
Common Mistakes to Avoid During TOTY
- Buying too early: Jumping on TOTY cards the moment they release often means paying peak price. Prices frequently dip a few days after each wave as initial hype settles.
- Ignoring Honourable Mentions: Players who narrowly miss the main squad often get strong "Honourable Mention" items at a fraction of the price of the headline TOTY cards—don't overlook them if you're on a budget.
- Opening packs too soon: Since pack odds are locked in at the moment of opening, cracking packs before the full squad has dropped means missing out on the strongest possible pool of cards.
- Overspending on SBC fodder: Demand for specific leagues or rating tiers can spike sharply during TOTY SBCs—buying fodder well in advance, rather than during the rush, can save significant coins.
FAQ- EA FC 26 TOTY
What is Team of the Year cards?
FC 26 TOTY cards are premium special items awarded to the best eleven players of the year. These cards temporarily replace each player’s regular item and come with huge boosts to stats and overall ratings, showcasing their elite real-world performances.
How is the FC 26 Team of the Year selected?
The FC 26 TOTY squad is chosen through a combination of community voting and EA Sports input. Fans can vote from a shortlist of 100+ nominated players, all selected based on their standout performances over the past year.
How many players are included in TOTY?
Each FC 26 TOTY squad (men’s and women’s) consists of 11 players:
- 1 Goalkeeper
- 4 Defenders
- 3 Midfielders
- 3 Forwards
There is also a 12th Player, selected exclusively through a community vote.
Do fc 26 TOTY items receive upgrades?
No. TOTY cards come with permanent, fixed stats. Once released, their ratings do not change for the rest of the game cycle.
How can I get a ea fc 26 TOTY card?
TOTY items can be obtained in two main ways:
- Opening packs using FC Coins or FC Points
- Purchasing them on the Transfer Market
These cards appear in various pack types, including some free or reward-based packs, depending on what is available during the promo.
How long are ea 26 TOTY cards in packs?
TOTY items are released in stages, not all at once.
Typically:
- Attackers release first
- Midfielders follow
- Defenders and Goalkeeper come next
- Finally, the full TOTY enters packs together later in the promo
Can I save packs for the ea fc 26 TOTY event?
Yes. With only a few exceptions, pack contents are determined when you open them, not when you earn them. The best time to open saved packs is once the full TOTY squad is in packs.
What’s the difference between fc 26 TOTY and fc 26 TOTS?
- TOTY (Team of the Year): Celebrates the best players from the entire calendar year, chosen through community and EA Sports votes.
- TOTS (Team of the Season): Highlights the top performers from each domestic league based on that football season’s performances (usually August–May).
Will there be TOTY SBCs this year?
Almost certainly. EA has included TOTY-themed Squad Building Challenges every year since the promo's introduction, typically offering a cheaper, untradeable route to specific TOTY or Honourable Mention items. Expect requirements tied to league, nation, or minimum rating, with difficulty and cost scaling alongside the quality of the reward.
Is it worth holding onto meta gold cards before TOTY?
It depends on the player. Cards likely to be replaced by a TOTY or Honourable Mention version often see their value drop once the promo lands, so selling before the event can lock in a better price. Cards unlikely to feature in TOTY are less affected and may be safer to hold through the promo period.
Conclusion
While nothing is officially confirmed yet, fans shouldn’t expect any FC 26 TOTY news until the holiday season is behind us. However, based on EA’s very predictable rollout structure, January is shaping up to be packed with TOTY excitement. Whether you're planning to vote, save coins, or just enjoy watching the squad come together week by week, TOTY remains one of the most anticipated stretches of the entire Ultimate Team calendar.
We’ll update this page as soon as official dates and details are announced — until then, start thinking about which players deserve your vote!
