Electronic Arts today pulled back the curtain on EA Sports FC 26, announcing Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala will be the game’s cover athletes. Described as generational talents, Jude Bellingham currently plays for Real Madrid and England’s National Team, while Jamal Musiala plays for Bayern Munich and the German National Team.
“It’s really nice to share this moment with Jamal, as a reflection of how far we’ve come. I remember our times rooming together in the England Youth team, we’d play the game all the time,” said Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham in a release to press. “Where I’m from, everyone knows the game, everyone plays it and talks about it so much. I’m grateful to be given the opportunity to be on the cover again.”
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His second cover, Jude Bellingham returns to the cover, while Musiala makes his debut, becoming the first FC Bayern Munich player to ever feature on a global EA Sports FC cover. They join Zlatan Ibrahimović, who was previously announced as the cover star for the Ultimate Edition for this year’s release.
In the same release, Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala said, “When I found out I’d be on the cover of FC, it was such a crazy feeling. I thought, how could I tell my little brother? He’s a big fan of the game, so this will be a nice surprise for him. It’s something I always wanted growing up and it’s such a big part of football culture. Who knows, maybe I can still beat Jude at FC.”
But that’s not all. Following the release of College Football 26, EA Sports is showcasing more football by offering players a first look at the gameplay. More importantly, though, after a “just fine” release for EA Sports FC 25, the team demonstrated how community feedback influenced this year’s iteration of the annual football staple for fans and players alike. I mean, the entire first gameplay trailer was dedicated to showcasing player feedback and highlighting how the developers answered it.
EA Sports Highlights Community Feedback
At the core of the first look is the fact that, like other titles in EA Sports’ catalogue this year, EA Sports FC 26 aims to deliver an overhauled gameplay experience, directly influenced by the FC Community.
“FC 26 reflects our ongoing commitment to building this game with and for our community,” said John Shepherd, VP & GM, EA Sports FC, in a release to media. “We are players too, and that shared passion drives everything we do. This year brings an overhauled gameplay experience, new Tournaments and Live Events in FUT, all-new Archetype customization in Clubs, and a Career Mode that comes alive through evolving Challenges. We can’t wait for players to feel the difference this September and help shape the future of FC.”
Players can expect a variety of game-wide changes and new modes, which you can find summed up below.
- Refined Gameplay Fundamentals: Experience improved dribbling responsiveness and fluidity, re-tuned run curves for more explosive player movement, new reinforcement-learning-driven goalkeeper positioning, close-body volumetric animations, and more versatile Playstyles and Player Roles.
- Authentic & Competitive Gameplay Presets: Choose between a new Competitive Gameplay preset, tailored for Football Ultimate Team and Clubs, and an Authentic Gameplay preset, which offers the most true-to-football experience ever in Career Mode.
- Archetypes: A nice addition clearly inspired by the American football side of the EA Sports house, Archetypes are a brand-new feature for Clubs and Player Career. They introduce new classes inspired by the game’s greats. With them, you’ll be able to develop your abilities by upgrading attributes and unlocking Archetype Perks to give your player a distinct feel on the pitch.
- New Live Events and Tournament Modes: Put your dream squads to the test in Football Ultimate Team with new Live Events and Tournament modes, plus a refreshed Rivals and Champs experience.
- Experience Manager Career Like Never Before: Dive into Manager Live, a new dimension in Manager Career mode. This live hub features ever-changing, variable-length Challenges. Alongside Original Career and Live Start Points, Manager Live will host regularly released scenarios throughout the new season, curated around real-world football events.
FC 26 is Staying Faithful to Authentic Gameplay (If You Want)
Last year, our critic Kyle Foley, who is also a sports reporter covering the Orlando Pride, called EA Sports FC 25 a “realistic upgrade,” explaining that “EA Sports FC 25 looks, feels, and plays like a truly upgraded version of the franchise. It isn’t a perfect sports simulator, but it does a great job of making the game feel alive and takes the franchise another step forward.”
Now, EA Sports FC 26 is doubling down, looking to ensure unrivalled real-game authenticity. In it, leagues will find over 20,000 athletes across more than 750 clubs and national teams, playing in over 120 stadiums and 35 leagues, all powered by the support of more than 300 global football partners.
EA Sports FC Mobile Updates
Finally, EA Sports share specifics behind the EA Sports FC Mobile Update. In it, fans who play EA Sports FC Mobile between July 17-31 will receive a special 102 OVR Jude Bellingham Player Item and 102 OVR Jamal Musiala Player Item+.
Additionally, Zlatan Ibrahimović also returns to FC Mobile as an ICON on July 17, allowing players to recruit him and relive key moments from his legendary career in ICON Chronicles. Recent gameplay improvements to Ground Passing and VS Attack in FC Mobile’s Rivals Update were also driven by user feedback.
