The launch of FC26 should have been an exciting time for players eager to build their first squads and explore new mechanics. Instead, it has turned into one of the most frustrating openings in recent FIFA history. What used to be a period of discovery and momentum has become a slow grind overshadowed by inflated SBC prices, limited resources, and questionable design choices from EA.
The first week’s Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) were a letdown for many. Cards like Goretzka and Zubimendi were priced far beyond their actual performance value, leaving free-to-play and low-spend players unable — or simply unwilling — to complete them. Goretzka, once expected to anchor defensive midfields, was handicapped by weak defensive stats and uninspired chemistry options. Zubimendi’s cost made little sense when players could get better results from far cheaper gold cards such as Declan Rice. Only a few affordable SBCs — like Thompson or Chelsea’s right-winger Jennifer Hermoso — offered any genuine excitement. The rest felt like filler content for a player base running on fumes.
The Broken Lottery: When “Packs” Lose Their Magic
If the SBCs were disappointing, the Hero “Lottery” system was the real heartbreaker. On paper, it’s one of the most thrilling parts of the game — a chance to test your luck and pull a star player. In reality, EA’s balance decisions made it nearly impossible to justify. The cost remained high, the rewards underwhelming, and the return on investment nonexistent.
Players jokingly call this opening “the season where we can’t even afford to gamble.” But behind the humor lies a serious issue. EA claimed it wanted to slow progression for the sake of long-term balance, yet it failed to reduce the resource costs accordingly. The result is a suffocating economy where every meaningful upgrade feels locked behind an invisible paywall. For non-spenders, even playing optimally isn’t enough to keep up.
The Hero SBC is the perfect example of a broken coin sink. The cost, which often requires a player to liquidate a significant portion of their FC 26 coin balance or use up valuable club assets, is simply not justified by the average return. When players burn 80,000 to 100,000 coins on a single SBC with a low chance of profit, they are essentially taken out of the transfer market for a week or more, further widening the gap between those who can buy and those who must earn. This risk-to-reward ratio has made “saving up” the only viable strategy for non-spenders.
The irony is painful: the Hero Lottery could have been the perfect tension-release valve for FC26’s economy — a system where even bad draws provide satisfaction if prices and drop rates were fair. Instead, it’s become another source of resentment.
Progression Without Purpose: The Evolution Dilemma
The Evolution mechanic was meant to be FC26’s flagship innovation — a personalized way to upgrade and invest in your favorite players. Yet the feature has stumbled right out of the gate. Many players now choose to wait and save resources, fearing that today’s “investment” could become tomorrow’s regret once a stronger evolution drops.
Rather than feeling like a meaningful progression system, it has become a patchwork of disconnected upgrades. Each new evolution feels isolated, and players have little sense of how it fits into the bigger picture. The concept has potential, but without proper pacing and reward alignment, it only amplifies the fatigue players already feel from the slow start.
The Foundation Team 2 Pool: High-End Power, Mid-Tier Fatigue
When Team 2 cards finally arrived, some excitement returned — but it was far from universal. While a few high-tier cards like Pina, Wirtz, and Adeyemi injected energy into the market, their sky-high prices made them unattainable for most players. Adeyemi’s blazing pace and agility made him a standout, while Wirtz offered balanced offensive versatility. Pina, meanwhile, sparked fierce debate — some considered him elite, others claimed he was overhyped and overpriced.
Still, beneath the sticker shock, the card pool revealed serious pacing issues. The top cards received the spotlight, while mid-range and budget options lacked identity. It’s hard to stay engaged when the power curve feels so uneven.
Fortunately, a few low-cost heroes stood out. Players like Hanschke from Ligue 1 and English midfielder Stiller offered genuine value for their price — functional, affordable, and reliable. Stiller, in particular, it became an instant community favorite thanks to his speed boost, passing stats, and balanced build, proving that good design doesn’t always require a premium price tag.
Value Above All: The Rise of the Budget Kings
For most of the community, value has become the only metric that matters. Cards like Thuram, Bright, and Balde represent the kind of balance that EA’s broader system currently lacks.
Thuram’s all-around midfield stats and ideal player roles make him an easy fit for nearly any squad. Bright — a shining example of how women’s cards have come — combines speed, balance, and refined crossing ability, turning her into a surprisingly competitive defender. Meanwhile, Balde’s explosive acceleration and defensive boost transformed him into one of the most efficient early-game full-backs in the game.
Even beyond these names, the lower tiers have hidden gems. Goalkeeper Pickford and midfielder Carlos Gil might not dominate highlight reels, but their solid chemistry links and promising upgrade potential make them smart pickups for resource-conscious players. These cards embody what early FUT content should be: attainable, flexible, and rewarding.
Beyond the Grind: A Trust Issue Between EA and Its Players
FC26’s opening weeks have revealed a deeper problem — not just about card stats or pack odds, but about trust. EA seems determined to slow down progression in the name of balance, but what players actually feel is burnout.
The game’s core loop — earn, upgrade, improve — has been replaced by a sense of scarcity and waiting. Without consistent positive feedback, even the most loyal fans are left questioning why they log in each day.
If EA wants to extend the game’s lifespan, it needs to restore that sense of player agency. True longevity doesn’t come from throttling rewards; it comes from giving players meaningful choices. Let the big spenders chase perfection, but give everyone else a fair path to progress and enjoy the grind. Only then can the community rediscover the excitement that once defined FIFA’s early weeks — when you hope, not exhaustion, fueled the opening rush.
