FC 26 EARLY ACCESS
FC 26 early access lets you play the game before the official release date.
Early Access
EA Sports Football Club 26 officially launches worldwide on Friday, September 26, across PlayStation 5, Xbox Serie X|S, PC Origin, Steam, Epic Games, and Nintendo Switch.
If you want to get your hands on it early, there are a few methods to play it before the official release date. Discover how you can access FC 26 early using one of the methods outlined on this page:
| Estimated Dates | |
| Playtests | June 2025 |
| Closed Beta | 05/08/2025 18:00 Tue |
| Web App | 17/09/2025 19:00 Wed |
| Companion App | 18/09/2025 19:00 Thu |
| Ultimate Edition | 19/09/2025 00:00 Fri |
| EA Play Trial | 19/09/2025 00:00 Fri |
Playtests
For those eager to get an early taste of Football Club 26, considering becoming a Playtester is a wise choice. It’s a straightforward process with quick results. If chosen, Playtesters are among the first outside of EA to experience the upcoming title. They get to do so while the game is still in the
On-site and remote playtests generally take place in June and July. The Alpha version is available exclusively to selected participants who have signed up for the program. If you’re ready for the challenge, please keep in mind that you cannot be a Game Changer, and signing a Non-Disclosure Agreement is mandatory. As a reward, you’ll have the option to choose from three EA games.
How To Become a EA Playtester
- Go to the Playtesting Website;
- Sign up and accept the term agreements;
- Update your profile;
- Check the schedule and sign up for available playtests. If there isn’t any, you will then receive emails for upcoming opportunities;
- Fill the specific survey;
- If selected, you will receive an invitation in your email. If you miss it, you won’t be invited anymore.
Closed Beta
For many players, the FC 26 Closed Beta offers their first opportunity to experience the inaugural Football Club. The main goal of the Beta is to enable players to test the game and give valuable feedback to the developers, helping to pinpoint potential issues and allowing players to suggest improvements for the game.
However, getting selected for the Beta is quite difficult. Due to limited availability, only a small number of players who have subscribed to EA emails will receive a PlayStation or Xbox code linked to their EA account. Accepting the invitation requires agreeing to the Closed Beta’s terms and conditions, which include a confidentiality clause that prohibits participants from sharing any details about the Beta.
How To Get the FC 26 Beta
- Login into your EA account;
- Sign up and accept the term agreements;
- Go to [Email Preferences], check the box ‘Yes, email me about products(…)’ and click on the update button;
- Click on the [Community Playtesting] button and follow the instructions to sign up;
- Check the email linked to your EA account to see if you were invited.
Web & Companion App
For most players, the new season kicks off with the Web and Companion App launch. However, early access is a privilege reserved for certain individuals. Specifically, it is available to returning FC 25 players whose accounts are in good standing and who established their UT clubs before August 1, 2025. Players who have switched platforms, received bans, or faced other account actions in FC 25 are not eligible for early access.
This early access is exclusive to the Ultimate Team mode. It’s important to note that access is quite limited, as it only permits players to perform actions on the Web & Companion App. In other words, they can engage in trading, complete initial SBCs and objectives, but they cannot play matches with their squads.
How To Get the FC 26 Web App
- Go to the Web App page;
- Login using your EA credentials, answer the security question and accept the user agreement.
- Go to your mobile store and search by ‘Football Club 26 Companion’;
- Install it. If you already had the previous version, it will be updated automatically.
EA Play Trial
By subscribing to the EA Play program (formerly known as EA Access and Origin Access), players can download Football Club 26 seven days prior to its official release, gaining early access ahead of those who purchase the Standard Edition. They have the option to subscribe for just one month, which allows for early access, and can cancel the subscription afterward if desired.
With FC 26 early access, subscribers can enjoy the full game before its retail launch, including online play and access to Ultimate Team features, such as purchasing FC Points. However, it’s crucial to note that the trial is limited to 10 hours per console generation.
The timer continues to run, even when the game is running in the background. Therefore, players should ensure that they exit the trial entirely when they’re not actively playing.
How To Play the FC 26 Trial
- Go to the EA Play page;
- Follow the on-screen instructions to subscribe to one of the plans;
- Go to your console’s store;
- Search by ‘Football Club 26’;
- Select one of the editions;
- Select [Trial].
Ultimate Edition
Football Club 26 is available in two editions, each offering different pre-order packages at various prices: the Standard Edition and the Ultimate Edition. The pricier Ultimate Edition includes numerous benefits, such as seven days of early access. If you choose the Ultimate Edition, subscribing to EA Play may not be necessary. It’s essential to carefully consider the pros and cons of each edition.
For players who have already pre-downloaded the game, accessing the full game is straightforward. At midnight on the release date, they can navigate to their console’s store and start playing. When they launch the game for the first time, players will be able to enjoy the full game.
How To Get the FC 26 Ultimate Edition
- Go to your console’s store before the launch date;
- Search by ‘Football Club 26’;
- Choose the Ultimate Edition;
- Proceed with the payment;
- Wait until the pre-download becomes available;
- Download the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ultimate Edition is available from September 19 at midnight. If you want to buy it, you will need to pre-order it and do it before the official release date.
Those who pre-ordered FC 26 can go at any time to the console’s library to see when the pre-download becomes available. Usually, the Xbox download is made available several weeks before, while PlayStation users have to wait almost until the early access date.
Those who pre-ordered FC 26 can go at any time to the console’s library to see when the pre-download becomes available. Usually, the Xbox download is made available several weeks before, while PlayStation users have to wait almost until the early access date.
Those who pre-ordered FC 26, can go to the console’s library and start the download when it becomes available.
The Ultimate Edition, which is digital-only, includes seven days of early access, and other offers.
£99.99/€99.99/$109.99 for consoles and £89.99/€99.99/$99.99 for PC Origin/Steam. It represents 25% more than the standard edition. However, EA Play members and returning users can save 10% when pre-ordering this edition.
If you’re a dedicated Ultimate Team enthusiast and don’t mind investing a bit more, the Ultimate Edition might pique your interest. It provides early access to the entire game, along with additional perks such as FC Points. However, it’s essential to note that the Standard Edition also includes access to the Ultimate Team mode
Most of the content, including FC Points, is available to download on the early access release date.
The Webstart is scheduled to nine days before the official launch. However, only returning users have access to this early access. The other ones have to wait until the game release date.
As long as you meet the requirements, all you have to do is to access the Web App website or update the app you have installed on your mobile device. Note that you’ll need to start on the web app before you can use the mobile app.
No. If you played Ultimate Team in FC 25, the Web App early access will be unlocked to you. However, you will need to log in on your console or PC at least once before December 31 to continue using both apps.
There are several ways to add FC Points to your Web App wallet during the early access: clicking on the top right green icon; adding them using the console/PC, or claiming a console code.
Login Verification is a mandatory step before you can access the FC 26 Web/Companion App. If you never activated it, just go to your Origin account and enable it. Then, just confirm that was sent to you. As simple as that.
You need to subscribe to one of the EA Play plans and download the trial from the console’s store.
A yearly subscription costs £19.99/€24.99/$29.99, while the price of a monthly subscription is £3.99/€3.99/$4.99. However, if you only want a subscription for the month in which the FC 26 trial is active, the price will be as low as one dollar. Payment will be automatically renewed every month or year depending on what membership duration you choose.
EA Play subscribers enjoy free and immediate access to ‘The Play List,’ with the condition that they maintain their subscription. They can also download and play a variety of EA games, including FC 26, before the official release. The program offers additional benefits like discounts and in-game rewards.
FC 26 EA Play early access will be unlocked on September 19, 2025, at around midnight UK time. The windows pre-load time depends on the platform. To play the early access, subscribers just need to go to the store, search by ‘Football Club 26’, select your edition and press ‘Trial’. PC, Steam, and Epic Games players can also do it through the EA Play Hub App.
When using EA Play trials, players get a taste of the full game for a limited time before its official release. If they decide to buy FC 25 upon its release, they can seamlessly continue from where they left off – their progress and statistics will transfer. Any saved games and earned achievements/trophies during the Early Access period will become available as soon as they purchase and log into the EA Servers with the final version of the game.
If you seek unrestricted early access to the game, the Pro Plan subscription is the optimal choice. This plan grants you access to the full game as long as your subscription remains active, even if you haven’t purchased it separately. However, it’s important to highlight that this option is available exclusively on the PC-Windows platform.
For users with two consoles from different generations, a single EA Play subscription allows for up to 20 hours of gameplay. You can easily download the trial for both consoles using the same account.
For users with two consoles from different generations, a single EA Play subscription allows for up to 20 hours of gameplay. You can easily download the trial for both consoles using the same account.
Participation in the closed beta is by invitation only. While we can’t promise you an invitation, you can enhance your chances of being selected by ensuring your contact preferences and game tester program information are up to date.
FC 26 Beta is expected in mid-August and will last for around 3 weeks. Usually, EA sends two batches of codes: the first on the second week of August and the other one two weeks later.
Each invitation includes access to the Kick-Off mode and Clubs, Manager/Player Career, and Ultimate Team. All these game modes are unlocked in the last few days.
To be eligible for selection, players must be at least 18 years old and have a console account registered in the UK or North America. They should own a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S console, maintain an internet connection, and have an active subscription to either Xbox Live or PS Plus, depending on their chosen platform. Additionally, players are more likely to be selected if they have a consistent history of regular play in FC 25
When players accept the invitation, they are required to comply with the terms of the closed beta agreement, which includes a confidentiality clause. This clause prohibits participants from sharing any information about the game outside of the dedicated forum. Live streaming and capturing images of closed beta gameplay are strictly prohibited.
Assuming you have received an invitation with a code, all you need to do is to go to your console’s store and use that code to start the download: ‘redeem codes’ for PlayStation; or ‘use code’ for Xbox.
To become a playtester, you should register for the EA playtesting program, apply for a particular session, and await an invitation. You can find comprehensive instructions in our step-by-step guide provided above
Yes, it is. Always double-check if the site you are accessing starts with www.ea.com before inserting any credentials.
Selected players will receive an email one week before the session. In the case of FC 26, playtests occur from May to July.
Enhance your likelihood by enrolling for as many Playtest sessions as your schedule permits. Maintain honesty in your responses and stay vigilant with your email notifications. EA is seeking players of diverse skill levels, genders, experiences, and backgrounds. You don’t need to be a pro or even a frequent gamer; they value input from all.
Yes. Remote playtests are also available, so you can participate from the comfort of your own home.
If you are selected for a Playtest but can no longer attend, simply reply to the selection email with the date and time of your Playtest.
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