The Festival of Football Captains promo is set to return in EA Sports FC 26 Ultimate Team, marking the comeback of one of the most popular themed events in the series’ history. While EA has yet to make an official announcement, multiple leaks and early reports have already provided a solid picture of what players can expect — from elite captain cards to special event mechanics.
The Festival of Football Captains last appeared several years ago, focusing on standout leaders who wear the captain’s armband for their clubs or countries. It celebrates leadership and national pride, blending real-world football influence with Ultimate Team gameplay.
In FC 26, the promo is expected to replace the ongoing UEFA Primetime event, with a confirmed launch window of Friday, November 14, 2025, according to early insider leaks.
Confirmed and Leaked Captains
Though EA Sports remains quiet on the final roster, reliable community leakers have shared an early lineup of players likely to feature in packs and objectives:
- Kylian Mbappé (France)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
- Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands)
- Harry Kane (England)
- Robert Lewandowski (Poland)
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)
- Marquinhos (Brazil)
- Martin Ødegaard (Norway)
- Dominik Szoboszlai (Hungary)
Other possible inclusions mentioned across community forums include Mohamed Salah, Lionel Messi, and Joshua Kimmich, all of whom are established leaders for their national teams.
Each of these players will likely receive boosted captain-themed cards, featuring enhanced attributes, extra PlayStyles, and new Player Roles, making them valuable upgrades over their base versions.
Promo Features and Mechanics
The Festival of Football Captains promo traditionally introduces new collectible items across various Ultimate Team activities, including:
- Packs: Most of the featured Captains will appear in regular and special packs throughout the event.
- SBCs (Squad Building Challenges): Expect exclusive player challenges granting untradeable versions of select Captains.
- Objectives: Time-limited tasks offering themed rewards tied to the promo.
- Evolutions: Some Captains could receive evolution paths where players can complete gameplay objectives to upgrade card tiers.
Rumors suggest that around 60 special cards could be available across packs, objectives, and tournaments during the event, creating a massive pool of collectible content.
Release Countdown
The Festival of Football Captains event is scheduled to go live on Friday, November 14, 2025, following the end of the Primetime promo. Based on current countdowns, that’s only a few days away.
Once the promo drops, players should:
- Save packs from current objectives or SBCs to open during launch.
- Track SBCs daily for limited-time Captain upgrades.
- Watch tournaments for additional card drops linked to international performances.
As always, pack luck will play a big role in acquiring top-tier cards like Mbappé or Van Dijk, but completing objectives and SBCs can improve your odds significantly.
Read More:
