It's simply not possible to play football in EA FC 26, which kills the game. But that's just part of the fundamental problems EA has with the game.
It is not possible to establish a game of football. A match is about chasing the ball and passing as quickly as possible so as not to lose the ball, and yet we lose the ball. It is not possible to play nicely, tactically or based on a your experience, team or skill-levels as the variation will be levelled out by AI.
These are the fundamental problems with EA FC:
Nr 1: All players are stripped down - I doesn't matter what player I buy or build; all players are stripped of their real attributes which makes all players more or less feel the same with small differences and no character.
Nr 2: All games even despite level - All matches, including Squad Battles are close matches regardless of difficulty and regardless of which players we have. A strong sign that AI now controls matchmaking and gameplay in real time. Thus, it doesn't matter who and what team you play against.
They have even made it so bad, that your expensive team averaging 88 or similar gets beaten by a bronze / silver-team in Squad Battles. You would have made the same result with a Bronze team, as AI adapt to your team to start with in game.
Nr 3: The game is not built for you to enjoy - Its built to strip you of your money.
EA is starting at the wrong end - For a whole year you chase to improve players, when everything is about you buying more. That means you will never reach the goal, because that would mean you are satisfied and not buying more.
This is also the fundamental issue to the entire game as they only (exchange) users instead of keeping existing ones, because sooner or later people understand that this fundamental problem with EA FC means that you will never be satisfied, only poorer.
Nr 4: Its an online game using online casino tactics
EA uses much of the exact same strategy that online / offline casinos use. This is no coincidence as they have literally had an exchange in this area. This means that everything is designed for you to turn over as much money as possible per card.
They pay nothing for the card themselves, i.e. the card itself has no raw material cost, in addition to the total labour cost. You also cannot "keep" or transfer the card / value which they ensure by releasing a "new version" every year so you have to start over.
But its not a new version. Its a game that is constantly worked with, and the release is designed for you to believe its a new version so they can reset your game.
Nr 5: Stop playing - spend time with someone you care about
Do something useful instead of spending your hard earned money at Black Rock and Vanguard.