GENERATIONAL TALENT
Future Stars is back with a bang, as wonderkids, Désiré Doué, Estêvão, and Alyssa Thompson, are joined by a selection of standout youngsters dominating conversations across The World’s Game alongside Heroes and ICONs for players who exceeded expectations from day one.
Build the future of your Football Ultimate Team™ by competing in new Live Events, taking on fresh Squad Building Challenges, creating your own Future Stars Academy Player, and more.
BURSTING ONTO THE SCENE
For the first time ever, Future Stars welcomes Heroes into the celebration of young excellence, shining a light on footballers who lit up the pitch early in their careers and quickly became household figures. Leading the charge, Micah Richards and Cesc Fàbregas join EA SPORTS FC™ 26 as brand-new Future Stars Heroes, with Richards available as an SBC reward from the opening day of Future Stars.
Micah Richards
Making his international debut as the youngest ever defender to receive an England callup, Micah Richards immediately made headlines during his first senior season for Manchester City. Racking up over 200 appearances for the Sky Blues, Richards lifted a Premier League and FA Cup trophy alongside featuring in the 2012 Olympic team. Following a brief stint in Italy, Richards returned to England, pulling on the captain’s armband for Aston Villa.
Cesc Fàbregas
Legendary midfielder turned manager, Cesc Fàbregas rose through the ranks at La Masia before boldly leaving Spanish shores at the age of 17 to join Arsenal and quickly break into the first team and lifting the FA Cup. Returning to his boyhood club, Fàbregas collected scores of trophies before continuing his run of league titles and European silverware at Chelsea as well as lifting three international trophies as part of the Spanish golden generation.
CREATE YOUR FUTURE STARS ACADEMY PLAYER
Future Stars Academy returns in EA SPORTS FC™ 26. Follow the steps below to turn a present-day prodigy into a ready-made superstar with the Future Stars Academy Evolution chain.
Choose your Player
Pick any eligible player born on or after 30 January, 2004 (21 or under) to become your academy prospect.
Optional: Use one of the 11 Starter Players from the Future Stars Academy Pack to get started quickly.
Sign your Player to the Academy
Evolution: Future Stars Academy Contract (available from 30 January)
- Grants the Future Stars Academy rarity
- Provides full Chemistry in position
- All future Academy Evolutions require this rarity
- Do not change the player’s rarity or you may lock yourself out of later steps
- A second Future Stars Academy Contract Evolution will be obtainable through the Future Stars Youth Cup Objective starting 6 February, 2026
Make your Debut
Evolution: Future Stars Academy Debut (available from 30 January)
Choose one position-based path to upgrade your player to 86 OVR:
- Future Stars Academy Debut – DEF
- Future Stars Academy Debut – MID
- Future Stars Academy Debut – ATK
Each path provides upgrades aligned to that position group.
Unlock Future Stars Academy Roles
- Grants Role++ in all applicable outfield positions:
- LB, RB, CB, CDM, CM, LM, LW, RM, RW, CAM, ST
- Available Available from 30 January, once your player is signed to the Academy
- Helps define how your Academy player performs across different roles on the pitch
First XI Upgrade
Evolution: Future Stars Academy First XI
- Position-specific Evolutions unlocked after Debut
- Takes your player from 86 OVR → 88 OVR
Become a Club Legend
Finish your Academy journey with one of the following Evolutions:
- Future Stars Club Legend – DEF
- Future Stars Club Legend – MID
- Future Stars Club Legend – ATK
These final Evolutions upgrade your player from 88 OVR → 90 OVR, completing their transformation into a true club legend.
Plus, complete the Standard Scouting Report (live from 30 January) and Advanced Scouting Report (live from 1 February) Objectives to earn Evolution Consumables that let you uniquely customise your Academy player with Weak Foot, Skill Move, PlayStyle, and PlayStyle+ upgrades.
FUTURE STARS YOUTH LEAGUE
Compete in the Future Stars Youth League throughout the campaign and the Future Stars Youth Cup, kicking off in Week 2, and complete play and win Objectives to earn Pack and Evolution rewards. Completing the Youth Cup Objective group unlocks the Future Stars Academy Contract Evolution that allows for a second Academy player to be created.
Ultimate Gauntlet also returns for its tenth iteration during Future Stars and Flash Rush events brings the Future Stars Academy Evolution and Future Stars focus.
NEW SQUAD BUILDING CHALLENGES
A host of SBCs deliver a variety of rewards throughout the campaign including Future Stars Player Items. Future Stars will feature themed Challenge SBCs, ICON and Hero SBCs, Flashback SBCs and much more.
FUTURE STARS ACADEMY EVOLUTION FAQ
Q: How many players can I take through the Future Stars Academy in FC 26?
For the first time ever, you can complete the Future Stars Academy path twice.The second opportunity to take someone through the Academy Path releases in Week 2, with the extra Future Stars Academy Contract Evolution available as a reward for the Youth Cup Objectives. All Academy Evolutions and Scouting Report rewards are repeatable once, allowing you to fully evolve two different players from start to finish.
Q: Which players are eligible for the Future Stars Academy?
For the first time ever, you can complete the Future Stars Academy path twice.The second opportunity to take someone through the Academy Path releases in Week 2, with the extra Future Stars Academy Contract Evolution available as a reward for the Youth Cup Objectives. All Academy Evolutions and Scouting Report rewards are repeatable once, allowing you to fully evolve two different players from start to finish.
Q: Do I need to complete the Evolutions in order?
You can use any player aged 21 or under, including players born on or after 30 January, 2004. You may also choose to start with one of the 11 starter players provided via the optional Future Stars Academy pack.
Q: Which Silver PlayStyles can I earn from the Standard Scouting Report?
The Silver PlayStyle Pack contains the following 17 PlayStyles:
- Tiki Taka
- Trickster
- Gamechanger
- Bruiser
- Low Driven
- Aerial Fortress
- Whipped Pass
- Slide Tackle
- Dead Ball
- Relentless
- Precision Header
- Chip Shot
- Acrobatic
- Power Shot
- Inventive
- Long Throw
- Block
You can apply these PlayStyles to your active Future Stars Academy player via Evo consumables.
Q: Which PlayStyle+ upgrades are available in the Academy?
From Academy PlayStyle+ Pack #1, you can choose one of:
- Incisive Pass
- Rapid
- Quick Step
- Intercept
- Finesse Shot
- Anticipate
From Academy PlayStyle+ Pack #2, you can choose one of:
- Pinged Pass
- Technical
- First Touch
- Jockey
- Press Proven
- Long Ball Pass
Each PlayStyle+ pack is repeatable once, allowing both Academy players to receive two PlayStyle+ upgrades.
Q: Do I need to complete Scouting Report objectives before finishing the Academy path?
Yes. To progress through the full Academy journey and reach the Club Legend stage, your player must have:
- All required Scouting Report upgrades applied
- The Future Stars Academy rarity active
If these conditions aren’t met, your player will not be eligible for the final Academy Evolutions.
Important note: When completing the Academy path on a second player, you do not need to complete the Scouting Report objectives again. The Evolutions earned directly from those objectives are repeatable and can be completed twice, allowing you to apply them to another eligible player without redoing the objectives.
Community Manager