Welcome back to FUTcast.
We are deep in the trenches of TOTY season. The full team release is looming, and the power curve is about to shift violently. Today is a pivotal day: we have TOTW 19 dropping with some surprisingly usable cards, two massive player SBCs that demand a verdict, and market movements that you need to capitalize on right now.
On top of that, we have confirmed leaks for the TOTY Honorable Mentions coming this Friday, and let me tell you, they are looking terrifying.
We have a lot to unravel, so let’s break it down.
Promo & Event Updates
Team Of the Week 19
TOTW 19 is here, and it’s a mixed bag of elite playmakers and fodder. While most cards won’t displace a TOTY Mbappe, there are some gems here that can do a job in Champs.
Bruno Fernandes (88 CAM): The headliner. Elite passing and shooting stats make him a premier game controller. He’s not the fastest, but his AI positioning and distribution are top-tier.
Kim Min Jae (86 CB): A monster at the back. He’s fast, incredibly strong, and has that "AI defending" glue that makes him intercept everything. A must-have for Bundesliga hybrids.
Crysencio Summerville (86 LM): Explosive pace and lethal on the counter. If you need a super sub to abuse tired fullbacks in the 70th minute, this is your guy.
Quiñones (87 ST): The definition of a Budget Beast. High power and pace make him a cheap meta option who can bully defenders off the ball.
...and the fillers: Athenea, Rabiot (solid box-to-box tank), Kramarić, and Raya.
Promo Takeaways
Best Cards: Bruno Fernandes and Kim Min Jae are the standouts. Bruno runs the midfield, and Kim is a legitimate wall.
Value: Rabiot (86 CM) wins midfield battles for fun and is likely undervalued. Athenea (86 RW) is a very agile dribbler for the price.
Trash: Bednarek (84 CB) and Elba Vergés (84 CB). Pace liabilities. Do not touch them unless you are throwing them straight into an SBC.
Promo Leaks: TOTY Honorable Mentions
The ‘Almost’ Elite Dropping Friday
The leaks are confirmed for the TOTY Honorable Mentions, arriving this Friday. These cards are for the players who had incredible years but just missed the XI. Expect these to be heavily meta-relevant.
Mohamed Salah (94 RW): The crown jewel of the drop. With 92 Pace, 91 Shooting, and 93 Dribbling, he is going to be one of the best finesse-shot wingers in the game.
Lamine Yamal (93 RW): The wonderkid gets a massive card. 94 Dribbling and 91 Pace. He will likely feel incredibly glitchy and responsive on the ball.
Harry Kane (93 ST): 96 Shooting. If he shoots, he scores. His pace is lower (84), but his hold-up play (88 Physical) makes him a lethal target man.
Kadidiatou Diani (92 RW): 96 Pace and 92 Dribbling. She is going to be a nightmare to defend against down the wing.
Other notables: Patri Guijarro (92 CDM), Marquinhos (90 CB), Luis Díaz (89 LM), and David Raya (89 GK).
SBC Spotlight
We have two major player SBCs today. One is a Brazilian wall, and the other is a Real Madrid legend. Here is where you should (or shouldn't) put your fodder:
Emilio Butragueño (91 ST, ~1.2M) — Pass. Incredible stats with 5* Weak Foot and Technical+, but 1.2M coins is way too expensive for a card with 67 Strength that will get bullied by top-tier defenders.
Gabriel (90 CB, ~380K) — Pass. Decent physicals (88) and defending (90), but 380k is tough to justify for a CB with only one PlayStyle+ when tradeable options like VVD exist for much less.
Cheapest Solution For Gabriel
Task | Requirements | Recommended players (rating) |
Task 1: Arsenal | Arsenal players: Minimum 1 Team Overall Rating: Minimum 85 Number of players: 11 | Hakan Çalhanoğlu: 86 Rúben Dias: 86 Ona Batlle: 86 Trent Alexander-Arnold: 86 Ibrahima Konaté: 86 Mikel Merino: 83 Nikola Milenković: 83 Linari: 83 Misa: 82 Alessio Romagnoli: 82 Matthijs de Ligt: 82 |
Task 2: Premier League | Premier League players: Minimum 1 TOTW players: Minimum 1 Team Overall Rating: Minimum 85 Number of players: 11 | Harvey Barnes: 86 Trent Alexander-Arnold: 86 Ona Batlle: 86 Rúben Dias: 86 Hakan Çalhanoğlu: 86 Emily Sonnett: 83 Catarina Macario: 83 Linda Dallmann: 83 Saki Kumagai: 82 Misa: 82 Alessio Romagnoli: 82 |
Task 3: Top Form | TOTW players: Minimum 1 Team Overall Rating: Minimum 86 Number of players: 11 | Rose Lavelle: 87 Mallory Swanson: 87 Julián Álvarez: 87 Sandy Baltimore (IF): 87 Ona Batlle: 86 Hannah Hampton: 84 Marco Carnesecchi: 84 Merle Frohms: 84 Alexander Sørloth: 84 Joško Gvardiol: 84 Fridolina Rolfö: 84 |
Task 4: 88 Rated Squad | Team Overall Rating: Minimum 88 Number of players: 11 | Christiane Endler: 88 Ewa Pajor: 88 Bukayo Saka: 88 Guro Reiten: 88 Irene Paredes: 88 Robert Lewandowski: 88 Gabriel: 88 Jan Oblak: 88 Marie-Antoinette Katoto: 88 Mallory Swanson: 87 Rose Lavelle: 87 |
Task 5: 87 Rated Squad | TOTW players: Minimum 1 Number of players: 11 | Gabriel: 88 Irene Paredes: 88 Sandy Baltimore (IF): 87 Mallory Swanson: 87 Rose Lavelle: 87 Melchie Dumornay: 86 Hakan Çalhanoğlu: 86 Trent Alexander-Arnold: 86 Michael Olise: 86 Ona Batlle: 86 Bruno Guimarães: 86 |
Task 6: 88-Rated Squad | TOTW players: Minimum 1 Number of players: 11 | Christiane Endler: 88 Ewa Pajor: 88 Bukayo Saka: 88 Guro Reiten: 88 Irene Paredes: 88 Robert Lewandowski: 88 Gabriel: 88 Jan Oblak: 88 Marie-Antoinette Katoto: 88 Mallory Swanson: 87 Rose Lavelle: 87 |
Task 7+8: 86 Rated Squad | Team Overall Rating: Minimum 86 Number of players: 11 | Katie McCabe: 87 Mallory Swanson: 87 Rose Lavelle: 87 Sandy Baltimore (IF): 87 Ona Batlle: 86 Fridolina Rolfö: 84 Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir: 84 Moussa Diaby: 84 Hannah Hampton: 84 Alexander Sørloth: 84 Denzel Dumfries: 84 |
Market Watch
Market Summary: The market is reacting violently to the upgrade SBC grind. High-rated fodder is exploding, while low-rated cards are dipping as people open saved packs or panic-sell.
Risers: Index 84 is up 5.00%, Index 85 is up a massive 13.15%, and Index 86 is up 13.05%. The upgrade SBCs (like the 83+ x5 Defenders) are draining supply.
Fallers: Index 81 (-1.21%), Index 82 (-1.39%), and Index 83 (-2.80%). Supply is outweighing demand here.
Strategy
SELL: If you have tradeable 85s and 86s, list them NOW. You are selling into peak hype. 13% profit in a day is not to be ignored.
HOLD: Don't panic sell your 83s yet. Wait for a puzzle SBC that requires lower ratings to spike their price back up.
Evolutions
We have a new free EVO today that helps shore up your defense.
Block Party (Free)
Requirements: Max 85 OVR, Max 10 PlayStyles, Max 1 PlayStyle+, Position: Not GK.
Rewards: +2 Overall, +5 Defending, +10 Strength, +10 Short Passing. PlayStyle+: Block.
Verdict: COMPLETE. It is free and gives a solid defensive boost + the Block PS+. It's great for taking a lower-rated midfielder or fullback and making them usable. There is no reason not to do this.
(Note: Avoid the "Royal Winger" Evo. It costs 20k coins and the boost is not worth the coins).
Quick Hits
TOTW 19: Bruno and Kim Min Jae are the big pulls. The rest are mostly fodder.
TOTY HM: Salah (94) and Yamal (93) coming Friday. Save your packs.
SBCs: Butragueño is too expensive (1.2M). Gabriel is overpriced (380k). Pass on both.
Market: 85s and 86s are flying. Sell them now.
Evo: Do the Block Party (Free). Skip Royal Winger.
Good luck with your reds,
Shahmeer