FC26 Daily News: Winter Wildcards Preview

Greetings, FC26 fans! This guide breaks down the core updates and previews the highly anticipated Winter Wildcards event. Consider this your one-stop resource for optimizing resources and boosting squad strength. Let's dive straight in.

December 14 Patch: Key Additions and Must-Grab Deals

Three new Hero Cards have landed in the pack: Quaresma, Aimar, and a women's football exclusive. The market has seen fierce demand; Quaresma (500k FUT coins) and Aimar (250k FUT coins) sold out instantly, while the women's Hero Card remains a budget-friendly option at just a few thousand coins.

Active SBCs (Squad Building Challenges)

Two major SBCs are live now:

• Hero Card Pool: Choose 1 of 3 from 86+ rated Heroes (including Aimar) or 1 of 3 Scream Heroes. This is ideal for players targeting Aimar specifically.
• Legendary Dual Choice SBC (540k FUT coins): Pick between Dalglish or Garrincha's base version. Note that these base Legends are mid-tier in strength; hold off if you don't urgently need chemistry boosts. This SBC runs for 21 days, and Winter Wildcards is sure to bring stronger Legendary options.

The Zinchenko Bargain

The Oleksandr Zinchenko SBC is a steal for free-to-play players, priced at just 10k to 18k FUT coins. Boasting a Gold "Through Ball" PlayStyle, he excels at CM (despite only having a CDM position tag). He is perfect for:

1. Secondary squad duty: Avoiding starter fatigue in objectives.
2. Temporary midfield reinforcement: Great for low-to-mid intensity matches.

Pro tip: His short stature makes him unsuitable for a starting full-back; stick to the midfield to maximize his value.

Unmissable Free CB Evolution: Kompany Tribute

The free "Keep Good Company" Center-Back (CB) Evolution (a nod to Vincent Kompany) is a must-complete.

Eligibility: CBs with 84 OVR or lower and 87 Pace or lower. Evolving a player grants +15 Pace (capped at 82), massive defensive stat boosts, a Gold "Block" PlayStyle, and Silver PlayStyles like "Physical Power" and "Slide Tackle."

Top Recommendations (Ranked by Priority)

• Gold Eder Militao: Strong chemistry and solid base stats. He becomes a staple in theme squads post-evolution.
• Aurelien Tchouameni: A versatile CB/CDM option with great size. His Pace hits a viable mark after evolution.
• Bashir Humphreys: A promising young talent from Chelsea with balanced stats.
• Classic "Tank" CBs: Koulibaly, Toure, Akanji, and Gvardiol. Most are easy to fit into chemistry systems.

Event and Objective Updates

• Tournament News: The Danish prodigy's team won the EU tournament, but note this is unrelated to FC Pro. There will be no impact on in-game card ratings.
• The Grind: Daily and weekly objectives remain unchanged. Continue to grind as usual to stockpile coins and materials.

Winter Wildcards Preview: The Holiday Mega-Event

As FC26's second-biggest event, Winter Wildcards (launching in approximately 5 days) promises massive rewards. Here is what we know about the core mechanics:

• Three Promo Teams: Covering Legends, active players, and Heroes.
• Legend Variants: Baby (budget/chemistry focused) and Prime (meta-defining).
• Dual-Position Players: For example, a Winger/Striker choice where the Striker version has boosted Shooting and the Winger version has boosted Pace.
• PlayStyle Rules: 1 Gold PlayStyle Plus per card (Dual Gold is expected to arrive later with TOTY).
• Flash SBCs: Daily 24-hour SBCs accessible via mobile or web.

Leaked Player Highlights

• Legends: Zidane (95 OVR, Midfield GOAT), Ronaldinho (94 Prime/90 Baby), Ibrahimovic (93 Prime/89 Ajax-era Baby), and Fabregas (92 Prime).
• Active Players: Dembele (91 OVR, RW/ST), Valverde (potential CAM/RB/RW), and Leao (88 OVR ST).
• Heroes: Koller (CB variant), Cordoba (CB/RB), and Piazon (88 OVR).

Preparation Tips for Winter Wildcards

1. Hoard Resources: Skip the underwhelming "Unbreakable" event. Save your coins, player cards, and SBC materials for high-value packs.
2. Map Squad Gaps: Identify exactly what you need (e.g., Dembele for winger depth or Zidane for midfield control) so you don't overspend on impulse.
3. Set Reminders: Don't miss the 24-hour Flash SBCs, as these often provide the best value-for-money returns of the season.

Final Takeaway

The latest patch's free CB Evolution and Zinchenko SBC are non-negotiable for low-budget players. Winter Wildcards is shaping up to be a meta-defining event. Start prepping now to pounce on top-tier players when the holiday event goes live!