Happy TOTY Day, legends! The wait is finally over. We’ve been saving packs, grinding upgrades, and sweating in Champs for this exact moment. The Team of the Year is officially live in FC 26, and let me tell you — the power curve hasn't just shifted; it’s been completely rewritten.
This is the Super Bowl of Ultimate Team. Whether you’re sitting on 500 saved packs or just praying for a miracle from a 78+ Player Pick, the energy in the community is unmatched today. We’ve got a men’s team that looks absolutely cracked, a women’s squad that redefines the meta, and a market that is spiraling into chaos (more on that later).
So, grab your water, check your transfer list, and let’s dive into the biggest content drop of the year.
Promo & Event Updates
Men’s Team of the Year
The heavy hitters are here. EA has dropped a squad that is terrifyingly good. We are looking at pace, playstyles, and stats that we usually don't see until May.
Ousmane Dembélé (97 RW) — The new King.
Vitinha (97 CM) — Midfield Maestro.
Kylian Mbappé (96 ST) — The Cover Star.
Pedri (96 CM)
William Saliba (96 CB)
Virgil van Dijk (96 CB)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (96 GK)
Erling Haaland (95 ST)
Declan Rice (95 CDM)
Nuno Mendes (95 RB)
Jules Koundé (94 RB)
Promo Takeaways
God-Tier / Endgame: Mbappé (96) remains an absolute cheat code; his animations win games on their own. Haaland (95) is pure bullying power — lethal in the box and broken on cutbacks. But the real surprise? Dembélé (97). With 5★ skills, insane pace, and silky dribbling, he might just be the most fun winger in the game.
Meta Kings: Vitinha (97) is arguably the best all-round CM; he is everywhere on the pitch. Pedri (96) is a creative god for those who love left-stick dribbling, while Van Dijk (96) returns as the Presence Monster with that undeniable defensive aura.
Speed Merchants: Nuno Mendes (95) offers lightning-fast overlaps, while Koundé (94) locks down the wing against any attacker.
Women’s Team of the Year
If you aren't looking at the women's team, you are missing out on some of the most technical cards in the game. The Barcelona dominance is real, and the stats are frightening.
Aitana Bonmatí (97 CM)
Alessia Russo (97 ST)
Ewa Pajor (96 ST)
Mariona (96 LW)
Alexia Putellas (95 CM)
Clàudia Pina (95 LW)
Lucy Bronze (95 RB)
Leah Williamson (95 CB)
Selma Bacha (94 LB)
Millie Bright (94 CB)
Christiane Endler (94 GK)
Promo Takeaways
The Midfield Queens: Aitana Bonmatí (97) and Alexia Putellas (95) are the ultimate midfield duo. Bonmatí's dribbling is virtually dispossessable, making her the perfect engine for any tiki-taka setup.
Lethal Finishers: Alessia Russo (97) getting a massive boost makes her a top-tier striker option, likely with elite shooting animations. Pajor (96) offers that pure striker instinct.
Defensive Walls: Millie Bright (94) and Leah Williamson (95) provide a rock-solid English wall at the back, while Selma Bacha (94) will continue to be a fan favorite for her ability to whip in deadly crosses.
Pack Value Alerts
It wouldn't be TOTY without store packs tempting us. Here is the verdict on whether you should send it or save your coins.
Step Ahead Pack
Cost: 250,000 Coins / 1,500 FC Points.
Odds: 25 Rare Gold Player Items (Rated 84+). Includes guaranteed stat thresholds (5x 82+ Pace, 5x 82+ Shooting, 5x 82+ Defending). All untradeable.
Verdict: HARD PASS.
Why? You are paying a quarter of a million coins for what is essentially a fodder pack. Yes, the "84+" floor looks nice, but without a guaranteed rating ceiling (like 87+ or 88+), you will likely end up with twenty 84s and a couple of 85s. Do not liquidate your club for this.
Halftime Level Up Pack
Cost: 225,000 Coins / 1,000 FC Points.
Odds: 10 Rare Gold Player Items, all rated 85 or higher. All untradeable.
Verdict: FODDER ONLY.
Why? This is the best option if you are desperate to complete an SBC right now, but purely for value, it’s still a loss. Paying 22.5k per card (untradeable) is steep when the market is crashing. Only open this if you are sitting on FC Points and need to craft Marcelo.
Premium Attackers Pack
Cost: 250,000 Coins / 1,500 FC Points.
Odds: 15 Rare Gold Attackers (Rated 84+), with 5 guaranteed to be 85+. All untradeable.
Verdict: IQ TEST.
Why? Let's do the math. The "Step Ahead" pack costs the exact same price (250k) but gives you 25 players. This pack only gives you 15. You are paying a massive "Attacker Tax" just for a slightly higher chance at Mbappé or Haaland. It’s terrible value compared to the other options on the shelf.
SBC Spotlight
We have a massive drop of content in the SBC tab. Here is what you need to know:
Sophia Wilson Flashback (92 ST, ~883K) — Meta Performer. This card is electric. 94 Pace and 93 Dribbling with 5★ Skills make her incredible in-game. The requirement of 15 squads is grueling, and EA patched the glitch that gave a POTM Yamal reward inside it. Still, for under 900k, she is a cost-effective, top-tier attacker.
Marcelo TOTY Icon (92 LB, ~1.27M) — Club Legend. It’s Marcelo. 5★ Skills, 4★ Weak Foot, and stats that make him the best attacking LB in the game. However, 1.2M is a hefty price tag. If you have the fodder and love his playstyle, he's a "must-do" for the fun factor, but purely for coins, he is overpriced.
Lúcio Base Hero (89 CB, ~285K) — Avoid. A few months ago, this would have been an instant complete. Now? 285k for an 89-rated CB with 82 Pace is behind the power curve. With TOTY defenders like Saliba and VVD available, this is an easy pass.
Calvert-Lewin POTM (87 ST, ~26K) — Fodder / Pass. Cheap? Yes. Good? No. His playstyles are poor, and at this stage of the game, nobody needs an 87-rated striker with 51 defending. Save your fodder.
Cheapest Solution For Marcelo TOTY Icon
Task | Requirements | Recommended players (rating) |
Task 1: On a Loan | Team overall rating: Minimum 84 | Romelu Lukaku: 84 Alexander Sorloth: 84 Greggi: 84 Nusken: 84 Sergej Milinkovic-Savic: 84 Alex Greenwood: 84 Damaris Egurrola: 84 Fox: 84 Hampton: 84 van de Donk: 83 Ilkay Gundogan: 83 |
Task 2: Los Blancos | Real Madrid players: Minimum one TOTW players: Minimum one Team overall rating: Minimum 86 | Marie Katoto: 88 Irene Paredes: 88 Ada Hegerberg: 87 Millie Bright: 87 Ruben Neves: 84 Maanum: 84 Tchuameni: 84 Sergej Milinkovic-Savic: 84 Manuel Locatelli: 84 Pedro Goncalves: 83 Buendia (TOTW): 83 |
Task 3: Top Notch | TOTW players: Minimum one Team overall rating: Minimum 87 | Endler: 88 Irene Paredes: 88 Robert Lewandowski: 88 Marie Katoto: 88 Gabriel: 88 Ella Toone: 85 Giugliano: 85 Girelli: 85 Milinkovic-Savic: 84 Maanum: 84 Tsygankov (TOTW): 84 |
Task 4+5: 87-rated squad | Team overall rating: Minimum 87 | Endler: 88 Irene Paredes: 88 Robert Lewandowski: 88 Marie Katoto: 88 Gabriel: 88 Ella Toone: 85 Giugliano: 85 Girelli: 85 Milinkovic-Savic: 84 Maanum: 84 Ruben Neves: 84 |
Task 6: 88-rated squad | Team overall rating: Minimum 88 | Rodri: 90 Alessia Russo: 89 Khadija Shaw: 89 Mapi Leon: 89 Endler: 88 Marie Katoto: 88 Girelli: 85 Laura Freigang: 85 Svenja Huth: 85 Isco: 84 Viggosdottir: 84 |
Task 7: 88-rated squad | TOTW players: Minimum one Team overall rating: Minimum 88 | Rodri: 90 Alessia Russo: 89 Khadija Shaw: 89 Mapi Leon: 89 Endler: 88 Marie Katoto: 88 Girelli: 85 Laura Freigang: 85 Svenja Huth: 85 Isco: 84 Tsygankov (TOTW): 84 |
Task 8+9: 89-rated squad | Team overall rating: Minimum 89 | Erling Haaland: 90 Rodri: 90 Alessia Russo: 89 Mapi Leon: 89 Mapi Leon: 89 Marie Katoto: 88 Gabriel: 88 Guro Reiten: 88 Endler: 88 Robert Lewandowski: 88 Irene Paredes: 88 |
Task 10+11: 89-rated squad | TOTW players: Minimum one Team overall rating: Minimum 89 | Khadija Shaw (TOTW): 90 Rodri: 90 Alessia Russo: 89 Mapi Leon: 89 Mapi Leon: 89 Marie Katoto: 88 Gabriel: 88 Guro Reiten: 88 Endler: 88 Robert Lewandowski: 88 Irene Paredes: 88 |
Task 12: 90-rated squad | Team overall rating: Minimum 90 | Aitana Bonmati: 91 Alexia Putellas: 91 Rodri: 90 Van Dijk: 90 Jude Bellingham: 90 Harry Kane: 89 Patri Guijarro: 89 Kimmich: 89 Shaw: 89 Mariona: 89 Mapi Leon: 89 |
Market Watch
Market Overview: The crash is here. While the TOTY hype is real, the panic selling is even realer. The Index 100 has plummeted by -6.87%, sitting at a low 52.77 points.
Fodder Freefall (83-84s):
Index 83: DOWN -22.74%.
Index 84: DOWN -17.98%.
Action: BUY. This is a massive overcorrection. People are opening saved packs and flooding the market. Stock up on 83s and 84s now while they are dirt cheap; they will rebound once upgrade SBCs drop.
High-Rated Hold (86s):
Index 86: DOWN -3.74%.
Action: WATCH. These haven't crashed as hard as the low-rated fodder, likely because they are needed for the big SBCs like Marcelo. Keep an eye on them; if they drop further, invest.
Evolutions
EA dropped a perfect Evo for the skillers out there.
The Wizard (75k Coins / 500 FC Points)
The Upgrade: A massive +12 Overall boost (Max 85 -> 87).
The Hook: Grants 5-Star Skill Moves, Trickster & Inventive PlayStyles, and the Quick Step PS+.
Top Picks:
Heung-Min Son (87): The dream pick. 5★ Skills on Son is endgame material.
Marcus Rashford (87): Premier League links + 5★ Skills = sweaty perfection.
Luis Díaz / Barnes: excellent alternatives for pure pace and dribbling.
Verdict: Pricey but Worth It. 75k is steep for an Evo, but the +20 Pace/Dribbling and the skill upgrade transform mid cards into legitimate weekend league threats. If you have an untradeable Son or Rashford, do this.
Quick Hits
Men's TOTY: Dembélé (97) and Vitinha (97) are the surprise stat kings. Mbappé is... well, Mbappé.
Women's TOTY: Bonmatí is the standout CM. A must-try if you pack her.
SBCs: Wilson is the smart craft; Marcelo is the luxury craft; Lucio is the trap.
Market: 83s and 84s are on the floor. Invest now before the upgrade SBCs arrive.
That’s a wrap for the big TOTY edition!
The blue cards are in packs, the grind is officially on, and the market is giving us great buying opportunities. Good luck with your packs — I hope you see that blue flare!
Catch you Monday,
Shahmeer