The world's biggest sporting spectacle is mere weeks away - and the tie-in event on EA Sports FC 26 promises to be just as big for gamers13:04, 28 May 2026The World Cup is on the horizon, meaning the usual EA FC update offers a fresh way to play during the summer's biggest sporting event.‌While this is the first time that the World Cup is held since EA Sports changed its football franchise from FIFA to FC, the update follows a similar pattern to those in 2018 and 2022. There's plenty for gamers to sink their teeth into before the first-ever 48-team tournament begins in North America.‌However, there is a bit of a catch this time around. With EA Sports dropping the FIFA license a few years ago, the World Cup update won't look or feel quite the same as it has in years gone by.‌Instead, the huge new update is fittingly called The World's Game, and lands with new game modes, major changes in Ultimate Team and significant tweaks under the hood. Here's everything you need to know.EA FC 26 The World's Game update release date and new featuresEA Sports has confirmed that the World's Game update, aimed at "celebrating the summer of international football" launches today (Thursday, May 28) in EA FC 26. As of 11.15am GMT, the update - v1.6.0 - was live for players to enjoy.It includes some major new features, and there's a lot to get to grips with. The main new arrival is the brand-new 48-team international tournament mode. Launching on June 4, it includes 53 fully licensed and playable national teams.‌Of these teams, 41 will be involved during the biggest World Cup ever. The mode follows the same format as the FIFA World Cup taking place this summer in the US, Mexico and Canada and EA Sports has also promised the addition of more National Teams in Kick Off mode and new international tournament objectives.EA FC 26 The World's Game update Ultimate Team contentIn Ultimate Team - the most widely played game mode in the EA Sports FC franchise - there's the very enticing free gift of a 93-rated overall Pelé card. Anyone who logs in during the Festival of Football event that launches on Thursday, June 4 will be granted this special FoF Icon.‌A dedicated Event Hub will be featured, as well as weekly themed campaigns, player items and evolutions. Three new 'Choose Your Journey' evolutions will also be given to players when they first log on.These evoultions give players a unique path to upgrade their free Pelé item, choosing either a ST with Low Driven+ PlayStyle, CAM or CM with Incisive Pass+ or a Winger with Finesse Shot+. Pelé's iconic 1970 World Cup performances will be celebrated with evolutions "inspired by key matches and tournament stages".Other Ultimate Team changes include a first ever Evolution Undo option. This new feature allows players to totally reset their evolved players to their original state, which will return them to tradeable items if they were in the first place.‌A new PlayStyles Lab is also coming to the Evolutions tab, which will replace Birthday Bakery options - and therefore make FUT Birthday items eligbilbe for upgrads. Evolution Repetables are also being introduced to allow players a chance to earn extra Evolution entries.A brand new reward type, Tokens, is coming on June 4 which will be "the primary way to earn rewards in FUT each week". EA Sports explained: "We’re excited about the impact Tokens will have on FUT & your rewards. No matter how or where you play FUT, from Season 8 onwards the aim is that you will feel better rewarded for the time you spend playing in game.‌"By unifying mode rewards into Tokens you’ll be able to progress towards the same rewards no matter your mode, giving you greater choice in where you play. Like you see currently in FUT, higher rank finishes will reward you with both Tokens & Additional Rewards for competing at the highest level."As we balance FUT for the entire community, we’re introducing a cap on how many Tokens you can earn each week, placing greater emphasis on the rewards you choose to pursue. Throughout Festival of Football, you’ll be able to earn up to 1,000 Tokens each week (5,000 Tokens in total)."Tokens offer a more flexible and reliable way to earn rewards across modes. We expect that skilled players may be able to earn 1,000 Tokens through playing Squad Battles, Rivals or Live Events and completing special Objectives and SBCs each week.‌"We’ll review this and listen to feedback to understand if this is an area we want to make changes to in the future."Tokens will have a dedicated store with players, packs, Evolutions and more content.‌The Festival of Football event will run throughout the summer, starting with the Journey of Nations campaign. Each week, players will need to create themed squads to tackle more than 250 challenges.It kicks off in the home of the 2026 World Cup, North America, on June 4, before traversing to Asia and Oceania the following week on Friday, June 12. Next up is Africa on June 19, before South America on June 26 and finishing in Europe on Friday, July 3.As well as Journey of Nations, five other campaigns will run alongside it. They are:‌Path to Glory (June 5 to June 19) - includes live player items that upgrade in line with their country's performancesGreats of the Game (June 19 to Jun 26) - celebrates Icons and Heroes, and includes the introduction of two new Icons in Mario Kempes and RivellinoGlory Hunters (June 26 to July 10) - includes PlayStyle customisation to selected player itemsPhenoms (July 10 to July 17) - highlights young players and international debutantsSummer Stars (July 17 to July 24) - celebrating the biggest moments and top performers throughout the World Cup and summer of football.EA FC 26 The World's Game update - full patch notesPlayStylesAs we continue to monitor and respond to community feedback, we’re making the following PlayStyles changes to improve gameplay balance.‌BruiserFollowing feedback surrounding shoulder challenge outcomes feeling too impactful, especially when using the Bruiser PlayStyle, we have updated both Bruiser and Bruiser+ to better balance between PlayStyles and Attributes.Slightly reduced the boost to shoulder challenges from Bruiser and Bruiser+Added a slight boost to the receiver of the shoulder challenge if they have Enforcer or Enforcer+This boost matches the one made to Bruiser/Bruiser+Improved Shoulder Challenge Outcomes so stumble direction and force now better reflect the difference in Strength and PlayStyles between players. Note that players with a clear Strength and PlayStyle advantage while defending are able to push the dribbler off the ball like beforeIf the advantage lies more with the dribbler they are not pushed away as easily and have a chance to recover the ballThis effect scales with the difference in Strength and PS boost between the players resulting in more authentic outcomes overallImproved Detection of Challenges from Behind. Added logic to predict when a shoulder challenge may hit the back of the opponent, and cancel the challenge if soOther Changes‌Addressed a visual bug where the Bruiser+ icon displays when the PlayStyle wasn’t in effectInterceptWe’ve also made the following change to the Intercept PlayStyle to make Attributes more impactful while preserving the PlayStyle benefit:‌Added the ability for players without the Intercept PlayStyle but with a 90+ Interceptions attribute rating to have access to the same animations as those with the PlayStyle.Team PressReduced pressure on the ball carrier when Team Press is activated in the defensive halfIf the user controls a defender in position to mark the ball carrier, AI defenders will not double up on the ball carrierIf the user controls a defender further away from the ball defender, an AI controlled defender will try to contain the ball carrier but not aggressively pressure themReduced marking tightness of all AI opponents when Team Press is activated in the defensive halfMarking becomes looser as the opponent advances closer to goalWhen Team Press is activated in the attacking half, these changes do not apply. AI defenders will behave as before, aggressively pressuring the ball carrier and contextually doubling up‌CareerAdded End of Season Live Starting Points, allowing you to jump into a save just before The International Men’s Tournament beginsFollowing a server release after The World’s Game Update, players will also be able to select a national team at the start of a new Live Starting PointAdded Festival of Football themed ICONs and HeroesWeekly releases of Festival of Football themed Manager Live Challenges starting 5 JuneNew Season objectives for playing with national teamsComplete X amount of Y Category Name ChallengesPlay X amount of full matches with national teams in Career ModePenalty Shootouts EventTo mark the beginning of knockout football, we’re introducing Penalty Shootouts, a new limited-time event available from 28 June in Football Ultimate Team™ and Kick-Off.‌ClubsIncreased Archetypes level capIncreased level from 90 to 95Increased Archetype customisable PlayStyle slotsIncreased from 8 to 9, unlocked at level 95Increased Signature PlayStyles from 3 to 4Fourth Signature PlayStyles:Shot StopperDeflectorSweeper KeeperFar ThrowProgressorInterceptBossAnticipateEngineRapidMarauderTricksterRecyclerTiki TakaMaestroIncisiveCreatorQuick StepSparkTechnicalMagicianInventiveFinisherAcrobaticTargetPress ProvenFourth Signature PlayStyle can be upgraded to PS+ at Level 95.‌Increased the maximum range of Archetype-specific AttributesShot StopperVision MAX: 99‌Sweeper KeeperShort Passing MAX: 99Progressor‌Ball Control MAX: 99BossStanding Tackle MAX: 99‌EngineDefensive Awareness MAX: 99Marauder‌Dribbling MAX: 99RecyclerAggression MAX: 99‌MaestroShort Pass MAX: 99Creator‌Cross MAX: 99SparkCurve MAX: 99‌MagicianBall Control MAX: 99Finisher‌Balance MAX: 99TargetBalance MAX: 99Article continues below