July 16, 2025: EA Sports has officially unveiled Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala as the cover athletes for the Standard Edition of EA FC 26, marking another major step in the game’s highly anticipated promotional campaign. Real Madrid’s Bellingham returns for his second consecutive cover appearance, while Bayern Munich’s Musiala makes his debut.
The announcement follows the earlier reveal of Zlatan Ibrahimović as the face of the Ultimate Edition, kicking off EA’s marketing cycle ahead of the game’s expected release this fall.
While no official release date has been announced yet, EA FC 26 is expected to launch on September 26, 2025, in line with the series’ usual schedule. A reveal trailer is set for July 17, which is likely to confirm the official launch date and showcase early gameplay features.
EA Sports has also teased significant Ultimate Team updates, including the rumored addition of 12 new Icons. These legendary players will be available across men’s and women’s teams, with highlights including:
- Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden)
- Andrés Iniesta (Spain)
- Toni Kroos (Germany)
- Alex Morgan (USA)
- Francesco Totti (Italy)
- Marcelo (Brazil)
- Giorgio Chiellini (Italy)
- Oliver Kahn (Germany)
- Sara Thunebro (Sweden)
- Steffi Jones (Germany)
- Sissi (Brazil)
- Cha Bum-kun (South Korea)
Fans can choose between the Standard and Ultimate Editions, with the latter offering early access and exclusive content for Ultimate Team.