FUTTIES is the closing promo of every EA FC cycle, and FC 26's version is expected to launch on Friday, July 24, 2026 at 6 PM BST / 10 AM PT. EA hasn't officially confirmed the date, but the entire promo calendar between now and FC 27's late-September release lines up around it. FUTTIES will bring pink-tinted 99 OVR cards for current stars like Kylian Mbappé, Aitana Bonmati, Jude Bellingham, and Lamine Yamal, plus legends including R9 and Diego Maradona. A "Best Of" batch will re-release the strongest cards from earlier promos this cycle, and the SBC and Objective grind will run heavier than any prior promo. Here's when FUTTIES is expected to release in FC 26 and everything to know before the final month of the cycle.
When is FUTTIES expected to release in FC 26?
The expected release slot is Friday, July 24, 2026 at 6 PM BST / 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET. That date isn't confirmed by EA, but it lines up with three separate constraints on the promo calendar:
The Phenoms → Summer Stars handover. Phenoms is running now through July 17, and Summer Stars is confirmed for July 17 as the Festival of Football finale. Summer Stars runs one week, which leaves July 24 as the natural next slot.
The FIFA / EA FC precedent. FIFA 22, 23, 24, and 25 all launched FUTTIES within the July 22–29 window. FC 26 sitting on July 24 keeps that pattern intact.
The Pre-Season buffer. Pre-Season needs three to four weeks to run before FC 27's September launch. A July 24 FUTTIES start allows a full five-week FUTTIES run followed by two to three weeks of Pre-Season, which matches the EA calendar template.
The FC 26 promo schedule before FC 27 previewed the July 24 date back in June, and nothing on EA's confirmed side has shifted since. The date could still move by a week if the Festival of Football timeline extends, but the current signal is high-confidence.
What is FUTTIES in FC 26?
FUTTIES is the closing celebration of every EA FC cycle. The promo brings pink-coloured versions of the year's most popular cards, plus special versions of legends. The design philosophy is straightforward: at the end of the cycle, EA wants to give players the strongest possible cards to close out with, because most of them will be replaced within eight weeks anyway when FC 27 launches.
The core promo elements:
99 OVR cards. Many FUTTIES releases will land at a flat 99 rating on multiple attributes. This is the only promo in the FC 26 cycle that reliably ships 99-rated pace, dribbling, and shooting on the same card.
Current stars. Kylian Mbappé, Aitana Bonmati, Jude Bellingham, Lamine Yamal, and Alexia Putellas are all locked-in inclusions. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi should get one final FC 26 card each.
Legend re-releases. Ronaldo Nazário (R9), Diego Maradona, and other pantheon-tier ICONs return with FUTTIES-tinted versions. Prior-cycle FUTTIES pushed these cards to 96+ OVR base with fully customisable PS+ profiles.
Batch release format. Cards drop in weekly squads across the month, not all at once. Team 1 launches on the promo start date, with Team 2 through Team 4 following weekly.
Best Of batch. Late in the promo run, EA releases a "Best Of" pool that re-issues the highest-performing cards from earlier FC 26 promos. This is the slot where lifecycle-old TOTS, Path to Glory, Glory Hunters, and Greats of the Game cards return in FUTTIES form.
Cards distribute through pack pulls, SBCs, Objectives, Season Pass rewards, UT Champions rewards, and (new for FC 26) the Token Store. The Token Store pipeline established through Glory Hunters and Phenoms will continue running FUTTIES-tier cards, giving grinders a non-RNG path to specific pinks. For context on how the Token Store mechanic works, our Glory Hunters Team 1 breakdown covers the customisable-PS Token Store model that Phenoms and FUTTIES both inherit.
The pack economy going into FUTTIES
The uncomfortable truth about every FUTTIES cycle: 99 OVR cards are extremely rare to pack. Prior-cycle odds sat at roughly 1 in 400 for a named FUTTIES pull from a Premium Gold Player Pack, and the ratio typically gets worse in the closing two weeks as EA layers more players into the pool. That's why SBC and Token Store paths matter disproportionately — most players will land their FUTTIES cards through completion routes, not pack RNG.
The SBC menu grind will run heaviest of any promo. Expect two or three named SBCs per week across the run, an Upgrade Pack ladder that eats fodder consistently, and Repeatable SBCs that trade 87+ and 88+ fodder for cheaper FUTTIES-tier pulls. Objectives will layer on top, with Weekly and Season-tied Objectives paying out either specific FUTTIES cards or player picks from the FUTTIES pool.
How FUTTIES fits into the FC 26 → FC 27 transition
FUTTIES is the last major promo, but Pre-Season follows it for the final two to three weeks of the cycle. Pre-Season is where cards get thin and the focus shifts to FC 27 pre-loading through carry-over packs. The Season 9 Level 30 Premium Pack (an 82+ x5 Untradeable pack for FC 27, claimable in early October) is the first of many carry-over items Pre-Season will layer on top.
FC 27 itself launches in late September with a slate that already includes leaked additions like the new Hall of Fame rarity. If you want context on what the next cycle brings, the FC 27 Hall of Fame leaks cover the new legendary tier that sits below Heroes and includes cult-favourite players like Pato, Balotelli, and Fellaini.
The strategic call for FC 26 players: spend on FUTTIES SBCs that will actually see game time, save any Token Store or Season Pass Token balance for FUTTIES rewards rather than earlier promos, and start building the fodder reserve for Pre-Season carry-over packs starting mid-August. If you're stocking the coin balance for the FUTTIES SBC pool before the promo launches on July 24, you can top up your PS5 clubto keep the 88+ and 89+ fodder ready for what will be the heaviest submission window of the cycle.
FAQ
When does FUTTIES release in FC 26?
Friday, July 24, 2026 at 6 PM BST / 10 AM PT is the expected release, based on the confirmed promo calendar and prior-cycle patterns. EA has not officially confirmed the date.
What is FUTTIES in FC 26?
The closing promo of every EA FC cycle. FUTTIES brings pink-tinted 99 OVR cards, legend re-releases, and a "Best Of" batch that re-issues the strongest cards from earlier promos.
Which players will be in FC 26 FUTTIES?
Locked-in inclusions are Kylian Mbappé, Aitana Bonmati, Jude Bellingham, Lamine Yamal, Alexia Putellas, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and legends like R9 and Diego Maradona. The full squad list drops in weekly batches from the promo start.
How long does FUTTIES last in FC 26?
Roughly four to five weeks, with a new squad releasing each week. Pre-Season follows FUTTIES for the final two to three weeks before FC 27 launches in late September.
What is the Best Of batch in FUTTIES?
A dedicated FUTTIES sub-batch that re-releases the highest-performing cards from earlier FC 26 promos. Cards from TOTS, Path to Glory, Glory Hunters, and Greats of the Game typically return in FUTTIES-tinted form as part of this drop.
Final word
FUTTIES is the last major spend window of FC 26, and the expected July 24 start puts about four weeks between now and when the 99 OVR pinks land. Plan the coin balance now: SBC-based paths will land more FUTTIES cards than pack RNG for most squads, and the Token Store pipeline continues through the promo as a non-RNG completion route.
If you're building the war chest for the FUTTIES SBC menu grind before the promo starts, visit FUTCOIN to grab FC 26 coins and have the 88+ and 89+ fodder sorted before Team 1 goes live on July 24.
