If you’re playing FC 26’s Ultimate Team mode (or planning to), you’ve probably already encountered the dreaded question: “Which Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) are actually worth doing?” With so many challenges out there—some offering great value, others feeling like FUT Coin drains—it pays to pick wisely. In this blog, we’ll break down how to evaluate SBCs, highlight some that stand out right now, and share tips so you don’t waste FC 26 Coins or fodder.

Why SBCs Matter in FC 26

SBCs are the backbone of progression in Ultimate Team. They give players the chance to earn exclusive rewards, player upgrades, and valuable packs without spending real money. Smartly completing SBCs can help you build a competitive squad faster, while careless submissions can waste your resources.

For casual players, SBCs offer a steady way to improve the team through consistent grinding. For competitive players, they’re a chance to secure early meta cards that can change your weekend league results. Simply put, understanding which SBCs to complete — and when — can make or break your Ultimate Team season.

How to Evaluate an SBC (Criteria)

Before we pick specific examples, let’s agree on criteria you can use to decide whether an SBC is worth your time and resources.

1. Cost vs. Reward

How many EA Coins, players or other items do you need to submit?
What do you get back (pack, player, guaranteed items)?
Does the expected reward exceed your cost (or at least offer value)? For example, one source looked at many SBCs and computed “value for UT Coins” ratios.
Also factor in opportunity cost: using a rare high-value player as fodder might cost you more than just FIFA Coins.
2. Utility of the Reward

Is the reward usable for your team (position, chemistry, playstyle)?
Can the reward be sold/traded (if you play with  FUT 26 Coins/market)?
Is it something that boosts you now, or only later (meaning risk if meta shifts)?
3. Risk

Some SBCs are more “gamble” than guarantee (you might get a low value player or item).
Example: The “Base Hero Upgrade SBC” in FC 26 gives you a hero card but you’re submitting an entire squad, so the risk is you spent high fodder for a mediocre pull.
Are you using untradable fodder (which you might not use anyway) or tradable/fresh Ultimate Team Coins that you could spend elsewhere?
4. Timing and Market Conditions

Early in the game cycle, SBCs may offer better value as there are fewer cards, costs are lower.
Later, when the market floods or high rated cards drop, some SBCs may lose value.
Keep an eye on market price trends and community commentary.
5. Fodder & Untradables

If you have a lot of untradable cards/fodder, using them in SBCs can be smart.
If you only have tradable FC Coins, you may prefer to buy the end‐reward card directly from the market (if possible) or wait.

Tips for Picking SBCs Wisely

Here’s how I'd approach SBCs if I were doing this blog for myself (and you could adapt it):

• Start small: Use cheaper, lower risk SBCs to build up EA Sports FC 26 Coins and squad depth.
• Use untradable fodder first: If you have players/cards you won’t use, feed them into SBCs rather than market.
• Set a budget: For each week maybe allocate X EA FC Coins for SBCs so you don’t overspend chasing one.
• Have a target card in mind: If you really want a specific player, evaluate whether the SBC cost is less than buying the card directly. If yes, do it. If no, skip or wait.
• Follow the market: Keep track of player prices, SBC solutions, community posts. Sometimes a direct market buy becomes cheaper than doing the SBC.
• Be patient: The early weeks may offer higher value as supply is low. Later on, things change.
• Avoid hype traps: Just because an SBC is “new” doesn’t make it valuable. Consider risk vs reward.

Top Picks: SBCs That are Worth Considering (Right Now)

Here are some specific SBCs in FC 26 that stand out (as of now) and the reasoning behind why they’re worth your attention — as well as caveats.

Max. 86 Base Hero Upgrade SBC

This SBC allows you to submit squads to receive a “hero” card up to 86 OVR.
Why it’s good:

If you target the cheapest solutions (lowest cost squads) you can get access to rare/historic player items at premium positions.
Excellent use of untradable fodder if you have it.
Caveats:
The reward card is random from a pool, so you might end up with something lesser than you hoped.
If you could buy a similar card cheaper on the market, the SBC might not be as good a value.

Max. 87 Base Hero Upgrade SBC

An upgraded version of the above: you can get up to 87 OVR hero cards.
Why it’s good:

Raises the ceiling: higher OVR rewards means more potential value.
The article estimates a cost of ~105,000 FC Coins for the cheapest solution, which many consider reasonable given potential rewards.
Caveats:
With higher risk because you invest more.
The requirement of including a Team-of-the-Week (TOTW) card raises cost.
If the hero pool doesn’t contain someone you actually want, the gamble might not pay off.

Best Value “Pack / Upgrade” Type SBCs

According to a breakdown of many SBCs, certain “intro” or “upgrade” SBCs offer strong “value for FIFA Ultimate Team Coins” ratios. For example, the “Intro to SBCs – Break Away” was listed with a value-for-Coins ratio ~12.50.
Why look at these:

If you’re earlier in the club or have fewer high rated players, these lower cost SBCs can still yield decent returns.
They can help build squad depth, which can be useful before going big.
Caveats:
The rewards are typically lower graded items or packs, not guaranteed top players.
Might not move your main team forward dramatically.
To give you a clearer picture, here’s a breakdown of the current Top 10 Best Value SBCs in FC 26, based on live data from Futbin. These challenges deliver the best rewards for the least coin investment — perfect for both beginners and budget grinders.

Top 10 Best SBCs in EA Sports FC 26