Hi everyone, Franklin here to grace you once again, this time on a pretty chill Monday.
But that does not mean we don’t have things to cover, as while Arsenal fans recover from the loss of their dreamed-of quadruple, a wide array of SBCs and new evolutions arrived in EA FC 26. And well, we cannot forget about the usual TOTW predictions, right?
So, what can I say? Get over the Monday blues, and let’s get to it.
Promo & Event Updates
TOTW 28 Leaks & Predictions
Although no concrete leaks have been released regarding the players chosen to make up March’s final Team of the Week selection, the recent performances of Khadija Shaw, Beto, and Nico O’Reilly make them easy additions. Once again showcasing his clutch factor on club football, Vinicius Jr. is also an obvious choice and has everything to be this week’s top-rated find.
Here are our predictions for the team’s main highlights, their OVRs, and why we believe each player deserves the shout.
Vinicius Jr (91 OVR / LW): The protagonist behind Real Madrid’s win over Atletico Madrid. It’s not hard to imagine Vini getting both Quick Step+ and Finesse Shot+.
Khadija Shaw (91 OVR / ST): Following a record-breaking performance, which saw her score the fastest hat trick in WSL history in City's 5-2 win over Tottenham, it would be a crime for Bunny Shaw to miss this week’s selection.
Nico O’Reilly (88 OVR / LB): Do you remember the last time an LB scored a doublete? Well, Nico O’Reilly did just that, all while guaranteeing a 2025/26 trophy for Manchester City.
Beto (86 OVR / ST): Being the differential in Everton’s surprising win against the now deep in crisis Chelsea, Beto’s two goals might have very well earned him his first TOTW variant in FC 26.
Chloe Kelly (88 OVR / RM): Not feeling the pressure once again, Kelly was the highlight in Arsenal’s 5-0 win over West Ham.
SBC Spotlight
Breaking a recent record, over 10 Players have arrived as SBCs during the last three days in FC 26, with four of them being part of its new FC Pro Leagues - ePremier League Group. As with all FC Pro cards, they will receive upgrades based on set player placements at the end of the league. Here’s an overview of all 10 Player SBCs:
Flashback Callum Wilson (88 OVR / ST / ~30K) — Worth it. Although behind the curve via the insanity of FUT Birthday, Wilson is at best a great gauntlet sub and at worst a good evolution investment.
FOF: Answer the Call Trent Alexander-Arnold (90 OVR / RB /~135K) — Worth it. Even if his price tag might seem high and his place in the national team a coin flip, Trent’s great Chemistry links, PlayStyles, and stat baseline make him a premier choice for most Fullback roles.
FOF: Answer the Call Rasmus Højlund (89 OVR / ST /~55K) — Worth it. No matter if you are assembling a Napoli squad or simply looking for a sub, Højlund’s 90+ stats, Quick Step+, and Finesse Shot+ make him a great choice for the Poacher or Advance Forward roles. Just keep in mind that Denmark has yet to guarantee their World Cup spot.
Showdown Victor Lindelöf (89 OVR / CB /~45K) — Skip. Even if upgraded, it’s hard to imagine Lindelöf catching the meta.
Showdown Viktor Tsygankov (88 OVR / RM /~55K) — Skip. Similarly to Lindelöf, this card can only be minimally worth it if upgraded.
Showdown Conor Bradley (88 OVR / RB / ~60K) — Expensive. Even if capable of making a splash against meta threats, Bradley is not likely to justify his price even if upgraded.
Showdown Davide Frattesi (88 OVR / CM / ~60K) — Skip. Lacking the game’s current meta-defining PlayStyles, Frattesi seems unable to compete even against under 50K picks. His upgrade also depends on Italy actually clutching up, something the national team has failed to do for over 10 years.
As mentioned, all of the below can be acquired by completing individual squad challenges within the FC Pro Leagues - ePremier League Group.
FC Pro Leagues Live Nathan Aké (88 OVR / CB / ~37K) — Fun. Pairing his good pace with two Meta PS+ picks, Aké can be a fun choice for those looking outside of the meta.
FC Pro Leagues Live Chemsdine Talbi (88 OVR / RM / ~42K) — Fun. Given his PS+ selection and Finesse/Incisive pairing, Talbi can be a novel pick for evolutions.
FC Pro Leagues Live Lucas Bergvall (88 OVR / CM / ~42K) — Skip.
Thanks to the high competition in the midfield and the boost offered by recent free evos, Bergvall fails to make an impact.FC Pro Leagues Live Noah Okafor (88 OVR / ST / ~52K) — Skip. The most expensive player within the group, Okafor’s low PAS and PS+ choice make him a gamble at best, no matter the position.
Cheapest Solution For Rasmus Højlund
Task | Requirements | How To Complete |
Serie A | Min. 1 Players from: Serie A Min. 1 Players: Team of the Week Min. Team Rating: 85 | 2x 82’s, 5x 84’s, and 4x 86’s |
Top Form | Min. 1 Players: Team of the Week Min. Team Rating: 86 | 3x 87’s, 3x 86’s, and 5x 84’s |
Cheapest Solution For Trent Alexander-Arnold
Task | Requirements | How To Complete |
Real Madrid | Min. 1 Players from: Real Madrid Min. 1 Players: Team of the Week Min. Team Rating: 85 | 2x 82’s, 5x 84’s, and 4x 86’s |
England | Min. 1 Players: England Min. Team Rating: 87 | 3x 88’s, 4x 87’s, and 4x 84’s |
Top Form | Min. 1 Players: Team of the Week Min. Team Rating: 87 | 3x 88’s, 4x 87’s, and 4x 84’s |
LALIGA | Min. 1 Players from: LA LIGA EA SPORTS Min. Team Rating: 88 | 1x 90, 2x 89’s, 2x 88’s, and 6x 86’s. |
Market Watch
Current Status: CRASH, CRASH, CRASH
The market is down, with indexes 86, 87, and 88 gliding past -2.2%, -11.5%, and -8.1%, respectively.
Action: BUY. Stock up on high-rated fodder while the demand is low. Now might be the best time to start investing in your early TOTS reserves.
Evolutions
The weekend brought to Ultimate Team two new paid evos, with one allowing you to turn any under-89 OVR player into a customizable FUT Birthday pick. You can check out an overview of both below:
O Maestro da Copa (80,000 Coins / 500 FC Points)
Overview: Inspired by Kaka, the evolution offers a +20 OVR, +20 SHO, and +20 PAC boost, as well as two meta PlayStyles in Technical+ and Low Driven Shot+ to 88-OVR or under CAMs.
Verdict: Expensive. With Low Driven+ only being acquirable by a select few, the evo’s upgrades fail to make up for its premium price.
Build your own FUT Birthday (100,000 Coins / 850 FC Points)
Overview: A simple evolution capable of turning any 89-rated or below player into a FUT Birthday pick.
Verdict: Must Do. The ability to get a hand-picked PlayStyle selection at no OVR drawback can help you give birth to monsters via chains. It can also be used to bring once highly regarded base Icons back into the fold.
Quick Hits
TOTW 28: TOTW Vini Jr. might be making a return, now with two PlayStyles+.
SBCs: Trent Alexander-Arnold and Højlund can be sure picks.
Market: The crash continues. Stock up with 88+ cards while you can.
EVOs: Build your own FUT Birthday is a must for long chains, so don’t miss out if you have the coins.
That’s all for today, guys. Good luck with your games, and as always, thank you for the support.
Franklin Borges