FC 26 FRIENDLIES

Friendlies in Football Club 26 Ultimate Team is a game mode that lets you play matches with your friends online or on the same console/computer, offering various modes and match options.

If you want to play a Friendlies match, follow these steps:

1. From the main Ultimate Team screen, press R1/RB once to select the [Play] tab;
2. Select [Friendlies];
3. Choose one of the three ways to play: Couch Play, Play Online, or Play a Friend;
4. Choose one of the match types available.

In Friendlies, you can decide both how you want to play and who your opponents will be. There are three main ways to enjoy this mode:

• Couch Play
  Team up with up to four friends locally to face off against squads from your friends, the Team of the Week, real-world clubs, community-selected teams, and more.


• Play Online
  Compete against a random player from the Ultimate Team community. Choose a specific House Rule or select from a list of Favorites to quickly find a match.


• Play a Friend
  Go head-to-head online with a friend’s Ultimate Team, using either standard rules or fun House Rules.

After you choose the way you want to play, you can decide the match type. In Friendlies, there are ten match types available:

• Classic Match;
• Headers & Volley;
• King of the Hill;
• Live FUT Friendlies;
• Long Range;
• Max Chemistry;
• Mystery Ball;
• No Rules;
• Survival;
• Swaps.

A Classic Match follows standard 11v11 rules with traditional gameplay, mirroring the experience of Kick-Off mode. It’s the default match type and a long-standing favorite among players who prefer a conventional style.

In this match type, only goals scored from headers or volleys count – including those from free kicks and penalties. Any goal scored with a regular shot using your feet will be disallowed.

In King of the Hill mode, players compete to control the ball within marked zones on the pitch, which increases the value of their next goal. Unlike standard gameplay, this mode focuses on precise dribbling and tactical positioning to maximize scoring potential.

Control zones appear in the attacking third. To earn a boosted goal value, players must dribble into the zone and maintain possession as the zone shrinks and the goal value meter rises. If possession is lost, the boost begins to decrease.

Only goals scored with an active boost count toward the score, with a maximum value of 3 goals. There are no fouls in this mode, encouraging aggressive and strategic play.

Live Friendlies combine Squad Rules with various House Rules, offering unique team-building requirements and match conditions. Squad Rules dictate the composition of your team, prompting strategic decisions when assembling your squad. Additionally, Live Friendlies are occasionally linked to Objectives, limiting the total number of games available for completion.

In Long Range mode, goals scored from inside the box count as one, while goals scored from outside the box count as two.

Every player on your squad will have a maximum chemistry boost! In Max Chemistry, team-building restrictions were taken away and added a full boost to players’ Chemistry, regardless of their position in the squad or their links.

It boosts chemistry, allowing you to build squads without any negative effects and experiment with new squad combinations with the full power of chemistry styles.

In Mystery Ball matches, every time the ball goes out of play, it returns as a new “Mystery Ball,” granting a powerful advantage to the attacking side. This dynamic adds unpredictability, as each ball introduces unique gameplay effects.

Each Mystery Ball carries a custom goal value—ranging from 1 to 3 goals—directly impacting the score when a goal is scored. In addition, ball possession activates boosts to attributes like Shooting, Dribbling, Passing, Sprint Speed, or a mix of these, creating fast-paced and unpredictable action. The random nature of ball types keeps each match fresh and engaging.

No Rules is a classic match with no offsides, fouls, or bookings. It take the classic 11 v 11 game and remove offsides, fouls, and bookings.

In Survival mode, each time a team scores, one random outfield player from that team is automatically removed from the match. The goalkeeper is never affected.

In Swaps matches, three players from each team are randomly traded at kickoff, introducing a fun and unpredictable twist to gameplay.

Swapped players wear visible bibs to distinguish them from the rest of the team. This adds strategic depth—will you gain an edge by inheriting your opponent’s star players, or adapt quickly to unfamiliar faces on your squad? Scoring with a swapped player earns 2 goals instead of one, creating high-stakes scoring opportunities.

Unlike standard modes, substitutions are disabled in Swaps, reinforcing the challenge and rewarding adaptability throughout the match.

In Friendlies, you can build your own playlist by selecting a range of House Rules for your own custom playlist or select the exact type of match you want to play.

Not all the match types are available in Kick-Off and Pro.

	FUT	Kick-Off	Pro
Classic Match	x	x	x
Headers & Volley	x	x	x
King of the Hill	x	x	x
Live FUT Friendlies	x
Long Range	x	x	x
Max Chemistry	x
Mystery Ball	x	x	x
No Rules	x	x	x
Survival	x	x	x
Swaps	x

In Football Club 26,crossplay is available for online friendlies and Play a Friend modes.

You need to have him on your friend’s list and use the EA Social widget to send him an invitation.

Yes. You can use the EA Social widget to invite your friend. These matches are against random online opponents. The lobby Captain can choose which type of Friendly is to be played.

Live Friendlies matchmaking is based on two factors:

1. Your location.
   It determines which FC game data center location will give you the best connection for your match.


2. Your current form in Friendlies.
   Contrary to previous years, the Rivals progress won’t have any effect in Friendlies. Instead, you will now be matched against opponents who have won or lost as many games as you have in Friendlies.

Yes. Maintain ultimate bragging rights with a comprehensive stats tracking system that captures a wide range of data from your head-to-head matches. Use these insights to fine-tune your strategy, adjust pre-match tactics, and prepare more effectively for each game.

FC 26 offers detailed, immersive statistics that let you approach every match with a tactical mindset—just like in real football. Analyze performance metrics to shape your gameplay and gain an edge over your opponents.

Tracked stats include wins, losses, draws, win percentage, goals scored and conceded, goal differential, goal types (inside box, outside box, penalties, free kicks), goal heatmaps, shot accuracy, total shots, average possession percentage, possession breakdown by field zones, and passing accuracy.

Beyond scorekeeping, new opposition scouting reports provide insights into your friend’s play style, helping you spot weaknesses and plan your attack accordingly.

Your Friendlies matches are a little different. For example, matches you play don’t count towards your Club record.

No. In Friendlies matches, injuries and red cards don’t carry over.

Yes, loan items won’t be consumed. So, for example, you can use a Loan Item with 1 match remaining in a Friendlies match, and it would not use their final match.

No. However, you still get basic match coin rewards for all Friendlies matches that you play.