With EA Sports FC 26 about to drop, the excitement around Ultimate Team is building. But things have changed compared to last year, and if you want to stay ahead of the curve from day one, you'll need a smarter strategy. Here's a breakdown of what you should do immediately when FC 26 launches, how to use your FC Points wisely, and the best early coin-making methods.

1. Buy FC25 Points Before Launch

This might sound strange, but it's one of the best tricks to save money. Instead of waiting until FC 26 officially launches, buy FC 25 Points now from a third-party retailer. Many sites offer discounts that EA never does, especially for Xbox users (12,000 points for around £50).

Thanks to the one-time FC Points transfer, you can carry those over to FC 26 and start with a bargain. It's a rare chance to get more points for your money.

2. Take Advantage of the Ultimate Edition Bonuses

If you pre-ordered the Ultimate Edition of FC 26, you'll get the Season 1 Premium Ladder Pass for free. Normally, this costs 1,000 FC Points, but now you don't need to spend your own. That means your pre-order FC Points can be used elsewhere—most importantly in Draft Mode.

3. Don't Rely on Early SBCs Alone

In past years, the Web App launch meant rushing to complete advanced SBCs for huge tradable rewards. But EA is slowing down the economy in FC 26, with more untradeable packs and weaker rewards. While SBCs are still worth doing, you shouldn't expect them to carry your entire start.

Instead, look to other reliable pack sources like:

· Milestones – Play on Professional difficulty or higher to grind rewards at your own pace.

· Draft – With better rewards this year, Draft is now one of the best ways to convert FC Points into tradable packs.

· Squad Battles – Expanded to 18 matches per week, these still provide free packs and coins. Grind them early with whatever team you have.

4. Don't Overcommit to the Gauntlet Day One

The new Gauntlet mode is fresh and exciting, requiring squad changes every round. But it's not available in full until the worldwide release. During early access, it only functions as a daily knockout tournament, which means you'll only need one decent team. Focus on building a strong starter squad and don't waste resources hoarding players for the Gauntlet too early.

5. Focus on Premier League Players Early

With many Season 1 pass rewards tied to Premier League players like Rogers (Aston Villa) and Mayu (Manchester United), demand for EPL cards will skyrocket.

This makes Premier League gold cards some of the safest early investments, as players rush to build chemistry. Serie A options like Tomori are also worth watching, but the Premier League will be the most profitable focus.

6. Silver Icons & Objectives

A brand-new feature in FC 26 is Silver Icons. These bring back the fun of building silver squads and create unique challenges. One objective setup requires:

· A full English team

· Three silver players

· One Portuguese and one Brazilian player on the bench

Because of this, expect English gold and silver cards to rise in price as more players complete these objectives. Buying them early on the Web App could give you a strong trading advantage.

7. Be Smart With Your Welcome Back Packs

EA seems determined to slow down power creep this year, which likely means more untradeable rewards. That makes your nation and kit choices during setup more important than ever. Pick a popular nation (like England, France, or Brazil) and a well-liked kit (Barcelona, Real Madrid, etc.) to maximize FC 26 coins injection from tradable items.

8. Invest in Team of the Week Early

If you're not confident in trading, a simple and safe method is investing in In-Forms from TOTW 1. Their scarcity and utility will almost guarantee a rise in value before Black Friday. Hold onto them until promos like Team of the Year or Team of the Season, where the real market crashes happen.

9. Prepare Your Web App Login Early

The Web App drops on September 17th, and traffic will be high. To avoid being locked out, set up your backup 2FA codes now via your EA account security settings. This way, you can log in instantly and start trading without delays.

Final Thoughts

The start of a new Ultimate Team season is always thrilling, and FC 26 brings both opportunities and challenges. By transferring discounted FC Points, grinding Drafts and Squad Battles, investing in Premier League and English players, and preparing for Silver Icons, you'll position yourself for success right from day one.

Build smart, trade early, and most importantly—enjoy the grind. FC 26 is here, and the race to the top starts now.