Alright, FUTcast crew, let's get straight into it.
It’s Wednesday, and you know what that means: Team of the Week 9 is here. It’s a solid mix, but let’s be honest, the real story is the chaos looming this Friday. The leaks for the new "Captains" promo are massive, and if they're true, the market is about to get a serious shake-up.
We've got the full breakdown on the new TOTW, a clear verdict on the latest SBCs (and which ones are pure coin sinks), plus a new free Evolution you need to be grinding.
Promo & Event Updates
Team Of the Week 9
Vitinha (90 CM)
Klara Bühl (88 LM)
Lionel Messi (87 ST)
Laia Aleixandri (86 CB)
Daniel Ballard (86 CB)
Domenico Berardi (85 RW)
Romee Leuchter (84 ST)
Jérémy Doku (84 LW)
...and the usual 83-rated fillers (Zeballos, Touré, Till, Tierney, Shaw, Sander, Saïd, etc.)
Promo takeaways
Best Cards: Vitinha (90 CM) is the star of the show. With 91 dribbling and a Dribbling PlayStyle+, he’s an incredibly smooth operator for the midfield. Lionel Messi (87 ST) gets another special card, and his dribbling/passing combo remains a nightmare to defend. Jérémy Doku (84 LW) also gets a boost; his base card was already rapid, and this TOTW will be insane.
Average Picks: Domenico Berardi (85 RW) is a decent card, but he faces stiff competition on the right wing. Fine for Serie A links, but don't overspend.
Overrated: Don’t be fooled by the high ratings on Daniel Ballard (86 CB) and Laia Aleixandri (86 CB). At this stage of the game, they lack the crucial PlayStyle+ and agility to make your main squad. Treat them as pure fodder for the next big SBC.
The Big One: "Festival of Football Captains" Leaked
This is the main event. Leaks have all but confirmed that the Festival of Football CAPTAINS promo is dropping this Friday. The predicted stats are wild, and the player list is absolutely stacked:
Kylian Mbappé (93 ST)
Harry Kane (91 ST)
Virgil van Dijk (91 CB)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (90 GK)
Cristiano Ronaldo (89 ST)
Robert Lewandowski (89 ST)
Marquinhos (88 CB)
Dominik Szoboszlai (88 CM)
Martin Ødegaard (88 CAM)
Bernardo Silva (87 CM)
Aurélien Tchouaméni (86 CDM)
SBC Spotlight
Here’s the verdict on what's live right now and whether it's worth your fodder:
UEFA Primetime Duo Pick (Zalazar/Pino, ~72K) — Hard Pass. This is a bad SBC. For 75k, neither of these live cards is worth the fodder at this stage of the game.
Davinson Sánchez (85 CB, ~97K) — Skip. This is way too overpriced. The stats are just okay, but the poor links and 3-star weak foot make this a card to avoid.
3x 83+ Upgrade (~9K) — Cheap Gamble. It's only 9k. Worth a go if you have spare low-rated players or duplicates.
84+ Campaign Mix Upgrade (~21K) — Average. Another cheap lottery ticket, but it's not a must-do and can easily be skipped.
Cheapest Solution For Davinson Sánchez
Task | Requirements | Recommended players (rating) |
Task 1: 84 Rated Squad | Team of the Week Players: Min. 1 Player Team Rating: Min. 84 | England (82) Müller (80) Gréboval (81) Little (85) Pedro Gonçalves (86) - TOTW James (85) Sánchez (82) Upamecano (85) Turner (82) Pavard (84) Botman (82) |
Task 2: 85 Rated Squad | Team Rating: Min. 85 | Alba Redondo (84) Harder (86) James (85) Milinković-Savić (84) Tonali (86) Aleix García (83) Girma (85) Pavard (84) Milenković (83) Ona Batlle (86) Mikel Merino (83) |
Task 3: Top Form | Team of the Week Players: Min. 1 Player Team Rating: Min. 85 | Chawinga (85) Schüller (86) Alba Redondo (84) Park (81) Rabiot (83) James (85) Marc Cucurella (84) Girma (85) Gilles (83) Carpenter (86) - TOTW Ona Batlle (86) |
Market Watch
Market Overview: This is the absolute calm before the storm. The overall market index is down -1.99%, and fodder is tanking. This is not a random crash; it's a direct, predictable result of TOTW 9 packs flooding the market with supply.
Investment Tip: Do not be fooled. This dip is a discount. The Festival of Football Captains promo on Friday is stacked with names like Mbappé, VVD, and Ronaldo. This guarantees that EA will drop monster SBCs that require 87, 88, and 89-rated squads to drain the market. This is your last chance to buy.
Bottom line: Use this midweek lull to stock up. BUY 83-86 rated fodder NOW while it's at the absolute floor. This is the low point of the week. Prices will spike hard by Friday.
Evolutions – Footwork Mastery (Free)
Requirements: Max 84 OVR, Max 10 Playstyles, Position Must Not Be GK.
Rewards: +1 Skills, +3 Ball Control, +3 Dribbling, and the Trickster PlayStyle.
Verdict: This is a fantastic free EVO. The Trickster PlayStyle is a massive win.
Best Picks: This is perfect for players like Salma Paralluelo (making her even more meta), Marcos Llorence, Éder Militão, or Joško Gvardiol. Get it grinding.
Quick Hits
TOTW 9: Live now. Vitinha, Messi, and Doku are the only chase cards.
Big Promo: Festival of Football Captains lands Friday.
Free Evo: Footwork Mastery is FREE and gives the Trickster PlayStyle.
SBCs: Skip the Pino/Zalazar pick and Davinson Sánchez.
Market: Silvers are booming. BUY YOUR FODDER now while it's dipping.
That's a wrap for Wednesday. Get your fodder stacked, sort your club, and get ready for the Captains promo on Friday,
Shahmeer