One of the most anticipated Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) in FC 25 during the Team of the Season event is set to return today. The premium Ligue 1 and D1 Arkema upgrade packs are expected to drop and could offer players the best unlimited pack grind yet to chase rare blue cards from the French leagues. With so many packs already live and heavy player engagement, this new upgrade SBC could completely shift the grind strategy for TOTS in FC 25.

Unlike during Team of the Year, where the league-specific upgrade packs performed poorly, this time the situation looks a lot more promising. Thanks to the number of Team of the Season items currently in packs, the odds of packing a TOTS card are significantly better, making this upgrade one of the most important parts of the grind this week.

Why these packs will be the main focus

The upcoming premium Ligue 1 and D1 Arkema upgrade pack will require 11 rare gold players and reward you with 11 Ligue 1 and D1 Arkema players, three of which are guaranteed rare. This setup allows players to endlessly recycle cards, improving the chances of packing TOTS players like Ousmane Dembélé, Marquinhos, or Grace Geyoro, who are part of this year’s French league TOTS teams.

During Team of the Year, the poor return rates made these packs unpopular, but this time the TOTS weight and the sheer number of players in packs give these premium upgrades much higher value. Players looking to maximize their fodder and stack their clubs for upcoming SBCs should prioritize this method.

For a deeper dive into the upcoming pack strategy and latest market news, you can watch the full video by TheFutAccountant here.

Investments to consider for this grind

Players planning to grind the upgrades heavily should consider investing now in gold rare players, preferably bidding at around 600 coins. With the addition of these premium upgrades, demand for rare golds will spike, and while provision packs are available, bidding remains the cheapest method.

It’s also a strong moment to consider investing in cheaper Team of the Season cards around the 16-17K mark. These could be useful if EA decides to launch SBCs requiring TOTS submissions later in the week. Stocking a few high-rated TOTS players could bring tidy profits in the near future.

Impact of the evolution system on today’s grind

Yesterday’s new Evolution (EVO) update also introduced a fresh layer of excitement to FC 25. The latest EVO allows players to boost cards with excellent new playstyle plus upgrades such as 99 free kick accuracy and 99 curve. Combining that with the current TOTS events gives players creative freedom to build their dream squads in ways that feel genuinely rewarding.

Notable cards like Ousmane Dembélé and Jude Bellingham can be significantly upgraded through this EVO, making them even more dominant. These EVOs are currently available for only 25,000 coins, making them an affordable enhancement option alongside today’s expected SBC grind.

Current SBCs and daily content update

Apart from the premium Ligue 1 upgrades, yesterday’s content included the Selma Bacha SBC from FC legend fame. Although her stats are strong, at 258K she feels slightly overpriced compared to cards like Karchaoui, who is on the market for around 93K. Still, for those chasing memories or needing D1 Arkema links, the Bacha SBC offers decent playstyles like Quickstep+ and Winger+.

The daily login upgrade also continues with today’s reward being an 85×2 and an 87×2 pack. Keeping up with the daily login remains essential to building strong pack opportunities across the week.

The market reaction and trading advice

Team of the Week (TOTW) cards have seen a steady rise and are currently insta-selling at 21K. If you have TOTW cards stashed away, lazy listing them between 25K and 30K could land you easy profits. Investing in cheap TOTS cards also seems like a good long-term play, especially if EA introduces a guaranteed TOTS SBC later.

Additionally, cards from recent promotions such as Immortals and Fantasy FC are moving a lot. Zico, Zola, and others show frequent price fluctuations, creating excellent flipping opportunities for those active on the transfer market.