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0EA SPORTS FC 26 FUT Live Events – Full Guide, Features, and Rewards
Logan Rogers
EA SPORTS FC 26 is making major changes to Football Ultimate Team (FUT), and one of the biggest additions is Live Events. These events are here to give players more ways to compete, more variety in squad building, and better rewards throughout the season. Whether you’re chasing coins, packs, or exclusive player items, Live Events offer new challenges that keep FUT exciting from week to week.
This is more than just a small update – Live Events are built to be a core part of FUT’s competitive structure in EA SPORTS FC 26. With custom rules, themed competitions, and a fresh Event Hub, you’ll spend more time on the pitch and less time in menus. Below, we’ll break down every major detail, so you know exactly what to expect when FC 26 launches.
What Are Live Events in EA SPORTS FC 26 FUT?
Live Events are special limited-time competitions in FUT that challenge you to build squads based on unique rules and themes. One week might require a full Premier League team, while another could force you to play with silver players or only use players from one nation. This means you can’t just rely on one “meta” squad you’ll need to adapt and experiment if you want to win.
You’ll enter these events through the Event Hub, a brand-new feature that makes it easy to see available events, squad requirements, and rewards at a glance. Everything is organised in one place, so you can quickly decide which events to join and track your progress without having to navigate through multiple menus.
Entry Requirements for FUT Live Events
Not every Live Event is open to everyone some will have specific entry rules. These requirements could include reaching a certain Rivals Division, completing a set of Objectives, or meeting strict squad restrictions like minimum chemistry, player quality, nationality, or league count. This adds a competitive progression layer that makes entry feel like an achievement.
Special locked Live Events can also appear, offering bigger rewards but requiring you to complete extra steps before joining. This might mean spending days preparing your squad for one event, but if the prize is a rare pack or exclusive FUT card, the grind could be worth it.
Custom Rules and Match Settings
Live Events in FC 26 aren’t just about squad building they also mix up the gameplay itself. Some events will feature House Rules, like Max Chemistry, Mystery Ball, First to X Goals, No Rules, Long Range, Swaps, or Survival. These modes can completely change how you approach a match and keep FUT gameplay feeling fresh.
There may also be match limits, solo-only or co-op-only restrictions, and other settings that make every Live Event feel different. These changes push you to think strategically, adjust your tactics, and find new ways to win.
Linked Objectives – No More Menu Hopping
One of the biggest frustrations in past FUT Friendlies was constantly switching menus to check event objectives. In FC 26, objectives are linked directly to the Live Event menu. You can view them, track progress, and claim rewards without leaving the event screen.
Each event will have its own themed objectives, so you’ll always know exactly what to focus on. This streamlining means less time scrolling through menus and more time scoring goals.
Matchmaking in Live Events
Matchmaking in Live Events has been given more flexibility. Some events will use Per Event winform, which matches you based only on your record in that specific event. Others will use Global winform, which takes into account your results across all global winform events.
This prevents bad runs in one event from hurting your matchmaking in others, keeping things fair and balanced. It also makes each Live Event feel like its own competitive challenge.
The New FUT Play Menu in EA SPORTS FC 26
The FUT Play Menu has been rebuilt from the ground up. The new For You tab acts as your personal hub, showing competitions relevant to your activity. This includes:
New – freshly launched events updated in real time.
Continue Playing – the modes you last played.
Upcoming – future events with entry and squad requirements shown in advance.
You’ll also find dedicated tabs for Online, Play vs CPU, Play vs Friend, FC Pro, and up to six Live Events visible at once. This layout makes it easy to discover and join events without digging through complicated menus.
Tournaments Are Back in FUT 26
Tournaments return in FC 26 with a knockout format. Unlike Rivals or Champs, they won’t run every week; instead, they’ll appear at key points in the season to keep them feeling special.
Each tournament will have its own entry requirements, rewards, and squad restrictions, so you’ll need to adapt to each one. This format brings back the excitement of knockout competition, where every match counts.
Gauntlet Mode – A True Squad Building Challenge
Gauntlet is a new mode that tests your squad depth like never before. Instead of using one team for the whole run, you’ll need a different squad for each match. At launch, the Ultimate Gauntlet will require three unique squads and will run every two weeks.
There’s no elimination if you lose, but the more matches you win, the better the rewards. This puts equal focus on your ability to build strong teams and perform well on the pitch.
FC Pro Live Events – Competitive FUT at the Top Level
For elite players, FC Pro Live Events are now integrated into FUT. If you’re in a high Rivals Division on PS5 or Xbox Series X|S, you can register for FC Pro competitions directly in-game.
From there, you can climb regional leaderboards, earn prizes, and even qualify for bigger events like the FC Pro Open. It’s the clearest path yet from competitive FUT to the esports stage.
Rivals Revamp – Bounties, Duels, and Checkpoints
Rivals in FC 26 gets a big shake-up. Bounties are special challenges that reward you instantly with coins, packs, Champions points, or stage skips. Many can be completed even if you lose, so there’s always something to fight for.
Duels take this further by pairing you with an opponent on the same bounty, but only one player can claim the reward. Limited Checkpoints also return to prevent players from getting stuck in the wrong division for too long.
Champions & Challengers – Easier Access to Big Matches
Playoffs have been removed in FC 26, making it easier to reach FUT Champions. Now, you qualify by reaching a set Rivals Division and earning Champions Points.
For players not in the top divisions, Challengers is a new tier of weekend competition with its own format and prizes. This opens up high-level play to more FUT fans.
Competitive Gameplay – Tuned for FUT
Competitive FUT matches now have gameplay tuning designed for responsiveness, player control, and reduced randomness. Passing, shooting, and defending feel sharper, while stamina tweaks keep players fresh longer.
These changes apply only to FUT, meaning competitive modes get the most consistent and skill-focused experience possible.
Match Outcome Improvements
In FC 26, if your opponent quits or disconnects when the score is level, you can still earn the win in Live Events, Rivals, and Champions (under certain conditions). This helps reduce frustration and rewards players who stay in the match.
In FUT RUSH, players who quit early may face matchmaking delays to discourage leaving before the final whistle.
GK Evolutions, Repeatables, and Cosmetic Stacking
Goalkeeper Evolutions arrive in FUT for the first time, along with Repeatable Evolutions that let you upgrade multiple players or reapply upgrades to the same player.
Cosmetic upgrades now stack, so your evolved players can keep their unique look. You’ll also see a preview of upgrades before applying them, making it easier to plan your squad.
Graduated Transfer Market Access
To protect FUT’s economy, new accounts in FC 26 will have limited Transfer Market access at launch. Returning players in good standing get full access right away, while new players must complete Foundation Objectives to unlock it.
This helps keep the market fair, while still allowing genuine players to trade once they’ve learned the basics of FUT.
Objectives – Easier to Access and Complete
In FC 26, objectives are displayed directly in the Play Menu for each game mode. For Live Events, you’ll also see squad requirements before joining.
This means less menu navigation, faster team setup, and more time playing matches.
We will share more updates on FC 26 in separate articles. If you found this information helpful or would like to learn more, please be sure to explore the other articles on our site.
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