This year, the Team of the Year of FC 26 establishes itself as the most anticipated FIFA event on the calendar. After two weeks of intense voting, the TOTY opens a sequence of special cards and rewards that reshape the market and FUT lineups. The release happens by positions, starting with the forwards, then the midfielders, before the arrival of defenders and goalkeepers. Finally, the entire men’s and women’s teams are grouped in packs for a final blazing week.
Beyond the drops, a complete program drives the promotion: precise release dates, TOTY Icons in two teams, and Honourable Mentions with dedicated objectives. Between pack strategies, SBC, Rivals, and Champions, every decision counts. Thus, a well-prepared manager can capitalize on key windows, optimize their liquidity, and aim for top-tier TOTY Players. Here is the most concrete guide to plan down to the day… and turn every calendar period into a competitive advantage.
- TOTY Start: Friday January 16 (forwards)
- Full Release: Thursday January 22 at 7:00 PM (FR)
- TOTY Packs End: January 30
- 12th Man & 12th Woman: Friday January 23
- TOTY Icons: two teams throughout the promo
FC 26 TOTY Release Date and Essential Timeframes
The kickoff of the TOTY for FC 26 was given on Friday, January 16 following a massive community vote. In keeping with traditions inherited from FIFA, the promo unfolds in waves to maintain a strong market dynamic and constant pack tension.
The peak arrives on Thursday, January 22 at 7:00 PM (French time) with the full Team of the Year packed. Then, the window closes on January 30, imposing real discipline on opening and reselling. Finally, the 12th Man and 12th Woman cards are expected on Friday, January 23, often accompanied by challenges and additional content.
Concretely, the objective is twofold: capture the best drops while benefiting from price fluctuations at each phase. This timing reading remains decisive for all clubs.
Complete Team of the Year Program: Phases and Drops
The complete program follows the classic pace, with segmentation by positions to maximize pack interest. This structure offers clear windows to invest, sell, or keep pack tokens.
- Friday, January 16: TOTY Forwards
- Sunday, January 18: TOTY Midfielders
- Tuesday, January 20: TOTY Defenders + Goalkeepers
- Thursday, January 22 (7 PM FR): Full team in packs
- Friday, January 23: 12th Man and 12th Woman
Note: simultaneously, the FC Pro Live Tracker remains active, featuring players like Darwin Núñez and Alejandro Garnacho, adding trading opportunities. Keeping an eye on these evolving cards can secure profits.
Then, watch daily challenges and positional SBCs, often correlated with drops. This synergy between schedules and content maximizes resource yield.
Men’s and Women’s TOTY Players: Complete List and Ratings
Three cards reach a stratospheric 97 overall: Ousmane Dembélé (ST, Paris SG), Aitana Bonmatí (CM, Barcelona) and Alessia Russo (ST, Arsenal). Moreover, the men’s and women’s teams balance speed, physicality, and passing quality, ideal for elite gameplay.
Men’s team — key strengths by position:
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (GK, Manchester City) — 95
- Jules Koundé (RB, Barcelona) — 94
- William Saliba (CB, Arsenal) — 94
- Virgil van Dijk (CB, Liverpool) — 95
- Nuno Mendes (LB, Paris SG) — 97
- Pedri (CM, Barcelona) — 95
- Declan Rice (CDM, Arsenal) — 94
- Vitinha (CM, Paris SG) — 95
- Ousmane Dembélé (ST, Paris SG) — 97
- Erling Haaland (ST, Manchester City) — 96
- Kylian Mbappé (ST, Paris SG) — 96
Women’s team — creators and finishers:
- Christiane Endler (GK, Lyon) — 94
- Lucy Bronze (RB, Chelsea) — 95
- Millie Bright (CB, Chelsea) — 94
- Leah Williamson (CB, Arsenal) — 95
- Selma Bacha (LB, Lyon) — 94
- Aitana Bonmatí (CM, Barcelona) — 97
- Alexia Putellas (CM, Barcelona) — 95
- Mariona (CM, Arsenal) — 96
- Clàudia Pina (LW, Barcelona) — 95
- Ewa Pajor (ST, Barcelona) — 96
- Alessia Russo (ST, Arsenal) — 97
Meta tip: Nuno Mendes 97 and Vitinha 95 form perfect chemistry with Dembélé 97 at Paris SG, facilitating hybrids. Strong link, maximum efficiency.
TOTY Icons Team 1 & Team 2: Legends and Key Links
The TOTY Icons offer universal links and a high performance ceiling. They serve as the backbone for hybrid squads, especially when the TOTY disrupts league/nationality balances.
- Zlatan Ibrahimović (ST, Sweden) — 95
- Jairzinho (RW, Brazil) — 94
- Paolo Maldini (CB, Italy) — 94
- Lilian Thuram (RB, France) — 93
- Ruud Gullit (CAM, Netherlands) — 93
- Alex Morgan (ST, USA) — 93
- Lev Yashin (GK, Russia) — 93
- Marcelo (LB, Brazil) — 92
- Wayne Rooney (ST, England) — 92
- Carlos Alberto (RB, Brazil) — 92
- Caroline Seger (CM, Sweden) — 91
- Emilio Butragueño (ST, Spain) — 91
For example, a trio Maldini 94 – Thuram 93 – Yashin 93 stabilizes the axis and frees offensive choices. This flexibility weighs in competitive play.
Then, compare buying/selling animations during the icon waves: price gaps between Team 1 and Team 2 create real opportunities.
TOTY Honourable Mentions and Objectives: Special Cards and Rewards
Honourable Mentions highlight players close to the final team. From January 16, Marc Cucurella 88 (LB, Chelsea) can be obtained through a series of objectives. Then, other elements arrive progressively, with useful profiles for major leagues and squad rotation.
Cucurella Objectives (deadline: Friday, January 23):
- Play 5 matches with at least 4 Spaniards starting
- Assist 6 goals (Squad Battles Semi-Pro+, Rivals, Live Events, Rush) with a player having 80+ Passing
- Score 12 goals (same modes) with a Premier League player
- Win 8 matches (Squad Battles Semi-Pro+, Rush, Champions, Live Events, Rivals)
Other notable HMs recorded as of January 22: Michael Olise 90 (RM, FC Bayern), Sakina Karchaoui 90 (CM, Paris SG), Gabriel 90 (CB, Arsenal), Scott McTominay 90 (CM, Napoli), Elena Julve 88 (RW, Levante LP). These cards strengthen league/nation links while offering rewards through menus and challenges.
Tips to Optimize Packs, SBC, and Competitions During TOTY
To illustrate, “Lina,” a FUT manager, spread her pack openings in three phases. She took advantage of daily SBCs, then sold her duplicates during the January 22 rush. Afterwards, she reinvested at the 12th Man moment when demand exploded.
- Keep non-tradeable packs for the full team (January 22, 7 PM FR)
- Resell 84–88 fodders just after premium TOTY SBCs
- Play Rivals/Champions early in the week to secure rewards before the final wave
- Arbitrate between FC Pro Live Tracker and TOTY for short-term flips
- Use strong club/league links (e.g., Paris SG) to maximize chemistry
Finally, keep 10–15% of the liquid budget to seize flash drops during lightning packs. This reserve often turns a good deal into a winning transfer.
When is the full FC 26 TOTY team released?
Thursday, January 22 at 7:00 PM (French time). The cards remain in packs until January 30, with a market activity peak around this slot.
What are the phases of the full TOTY program?
Forwards (January 16), Midfielders (January 18), Defenders + Goalkeepers (January 20), Full team (January 22, 7 PM FR), then 12th Man & 12th Woman (January 23).
Which cards reach 97 overall rating?
Ousmane Dembélé (ST, Paris SG), Aitana Bonmatí (CM, Barcelona), and Alessia Russo (ST, Arsenal) peak at 97.
How to obtain Marc Cucurella HM 88?
Complete 4 objectives (play 5, assist 6, score 12, win 8) before Friday, January 23. Eligible modes include Squad Battles Semi-Pro+, Rivals, Live Events, and Rush.
Do TOTY Icons come in a single wave?
No. Two TOTY Icon teams follow each other during the event, creating distinct trading windows and powerful hybrid links.