The FC 26 Winter Wildcards Challenge 1 SBC is one of the easiest and most profitable Squad Building Challenges currently available in Ultimate Team. It’s cheap, quick to complete, and offers a tradable pack during one of the most valuable promos of the year.
In this guide, you’ll find everything you need: SBC requirements, smart strategies, cheap squad ideas, and whether the challenge is actually worth completing.

What is the Winter Wildcards Challenge 1 SBC?

It’s a single-squad, limited-time SBC with easy requirements but a tricky chemistry condition. Complete it, and you earn a tradable Small Prime Gold Players Pack – giving you six Gold players, at least one 80+ rated, all sellable on the transfer market.
Since it’s part of the Winter Wildcards promo, this pack can contain special cards or high-rated fodder. Even if your pull is average, the low cost makes it a must-complete for any FC 26 UT player.
While SBCs like Winter Wildcards Challenge 1 are great for squeezing value out of your club, there are times when you might want to make a bigger jump in squad quality by buying FC 26 Coins in this situation you can check mrgeek.net as a best EA FC 26 Coins shop.

FC 26 Winter Wildcards Challenge 1 SBC Requirements

Here are the exact requirements you must meet to complete the SBC:

• Max. 4 players from the same club
• Min. 3 players from the same nation
• Min. 4 different leagues
• At least 6 Gold players
• Minimum player quality: Silver
• Minimum total chemistry: 22
• No overall rating requirement

The lack of a rating requirement is what keeps this SBC cheap. You can mix Silvers and low-rated Golds freely, as long as you manage chemistry correctly.
The main challenge is reaching 22 chemistries, but with smart links and correct positioning, it’s very manageable.

If you want to know more about Winter wildcards check FC 26 Winter Wildcards Promo: Start Date &Team 1 Players.

Best Strategy to Complete Winter Wildcards Challenge 1 SBC Cheaply

Instead of focusing on player ratings, focus on structure and links. These tips will help you complete the SBC without overspending.

Build Around One Strong Nation Core

Since you need at least 3 players from the same nation, start there. Popular nations have tons of cheap cards available.
Best nations to use are England, Spain, Brazil, Germany, Argentina
Create a small triangle (for example ST–CAM–CM or CB–LB–GK) using the same nation to secure easy chemistry.

Spread Players Across At least Four Leagues

The minimum 4 leagues requirement sounds restrictive, but it’s very easy to manage:

• Start with one main league (Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, etc.)
• Add 1–2 players from smaller leagues (MLS, Eredivisie, Liga Portugal)
• Use random Silvers or cheap Golds to reach four leagues

Just make sure you don’t exceed four players from the same club, which is the most common mistake.

Use Untradeable Silvers and Low-Rated Golds

This SBC is perfect for clearing out unused cards:

• Untradeable Silvers
• Low-rated Golds (75–80 OVR)
• Duplicate untradeables
• Bench players you never use

If you need to buy players, always compare their price to the potential pack value. The SBC stays profitable as long as you don’t overspend on inflated cards.

How to Consistently Hit 22 Chemistry

To reach 22 chemistries without stress:

• Play players in their natural positions
• Use same-club or same-league links where possible
• Stack a few players from the same league + nation
• Avoid unnecessary position changes

You don’t need full chemistry—just enough small links across the squad. Even mixed-league teams can comfortably reach 22 with basic planning.

Cheap, Reliable Squad Solution (Under 2k FC 26 Coins)

You can copy this structure with players from your club. If you need to buy, search for low-rated Golds/Silvers in these leagues/nations.

• ST: Silver ST (English, Premier League)
• ST: Gold ST (English, Championship) 
• LM: Gold LM (French, Ligue 1) 
• CM: Gold CM (English, Premier League) 
• CM: Silver CM (From MLS or Eredivisie) 
• RM: Gold RM (Spanish, La Liga) 
• LB: Gold LB (French, Ligue 1) 
• CB: Gold CB (English, Premier League) 
• CB: Silver CB (From Liga Portugal) 
• RB: Gold RB (Spanish, La Liga) 
• GK: Gold GK (From any league already in squad)

Pro Tip: Always check prices before buying. If a player is expensive due to SBC demand, find a cheaper alternative from the same nation and league.

Winter Wildcards Challenge 1 SBC Rewards

What you get:

• 6 Gold players
• At least 1 player rated 80+
• 3 Rare Gold players
•  All items are tradable

During the Winter Wildcards promo, tradable packs are especially valuable because you can pack:

• Winter Wildcards special cards
• High-rated fodder for future SBCs
• Meta Gold players worth solid FIFA Coins

Considering the very low cost—often free if you use untradeables—this SBC offers excellent value. Even average pulls usually allow you to break even or profit, while also clearing out unused club fodder.

Conclusion

The Winter Wildcards Challenge 1 SBC is a no-brainer. It turns worthless club fodder into a tradable pack with real upside. Spend five minutes building the squad, submit it, and hope your pack luck delivers a Winter Wildcards star.