The cover for the upcomingEA Sports FC 26Ultimate Edition will feature Zlatan Ibrahimovic, marking the return of the popular soccer star sinceFIFA 23. There have been plenty ofEA Sports FC 26leaks revealing some of the features in the new entry—but now, EA has finally shared official details while announcing an upcoming reveal trailer for the game.
TheEA Sports FCfranchise is the rebranded successor to the long-runningFIFAvideo game series, created after EA ended its partnership withFIFAin 2022. The first entry in the new franchise wasEA Sports FC 24in 2023, and while the series retained some of its core gameplay foundation, it also brought innovations in graphics, AI, and game modes. The second entry,EA Sports FC 25, added new features while polishing existing ones. It also introduced the fast-paced Rush mode (5v5 street-style), a revamped Ultimate Team with no contracts, player evolutions, manager cards, and women’s leagues in Career Mode. Despite the name change,EA Sports FCcontinues to dominate the football gaming scene, and now EA is gearing up for the next installment in the franchise.
EA has revealed that the long-awaited return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic is finally happening inthe newEA Sports FC 26, potentially releasing on September 26. The developer confirmed that the Swedish soccer star will be the cover athlete for theFC 26Ultimate Edition, though more information will be unveiled during the game’s official reveal trailer onYouTubeon July 16.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic Will Be the Cover Athlete for EA Sports FC 26 Ultimate Edition
While EA is keeping details under wraps until the trailer drops, players already have an idea of what to expect fromEA Sports FC 26thanks to recent leaks. It’s rumored that the new entry will feature eight new heroes, including Gilberto Silva, Jan Koller, Cesc Fabregas, Esteban Cambiasso, Andrea Barzagli, Mario Mandzukic, Marouane Fellaini, and Michael Carrick—with players able to add them to their squad in Ultimate Team. Moreover, pre-order rewards have also been leaked, including an untradeable base icon, an additional Evolution slot, 4,600 to 6,000 FC Points, and a Season 1 Premium Pass, among other things.
There are also severalimprovements that players are hoping to see inEA Sports FC 26, such as better commentary, more flexible options for formations, and more realistic press conferences with a wider variety of questions. While it’s unclear if the leaks will turn out to be true, players will be able to learn Sports FC 26on July 16.
