If you’re still loading up FC 25 at the end of August, chances are it’s not because you’re loving Weekend League. The real reason many FUT fans are still playing is simple: packs and rewards for FC 26.
EA Sports has built the season pass around the preseason grind, tying big FC 26 packs to slow progression systems. That design is making players feel like they have to log in every day, even with FC 26 just weeks away.
Season pass SP system feels designed to keep you stuck
Yesterday’s preseason update dropped a new transfer challenge, handing out a 98-rated Ansu Fati and, even more importantly, 1,500 SP.
That SP is what matters. At level 40 of the FC 25 season pass, players unlock an 84×5 pack for FC 26. The catch? Most people aren’t close to level 40.
The progression feels intentional. Early rewards are light, while the biggest FC 26 packs sit locked at the end. Sure, EA might release catch-up boosts later, but right now players who don’t keep up risk missing out. That’s where the pressure kicks in.
You don’t want to be grinding FUT Champs in late August? Too bad. Those three daily play matches give essential SP. And if you don’t do them, someone else will climb the ladder faster than you.
It’s hard to ignore how effective this tactic is. Many of us would rather take a break before FC 26, but the dangling reward pack is keeping us tied to daily check-ins.
97+ FUTTIES pick refresh is the best SBC right now
While the objectives are draining, EA is at least delivering some high-end SBC content. The 97+ FUTTIES pick returned this week, and it’s easily the best shot at a 99-rated card. You can complete it two more times before it rotates.
Players have already been hitting major wins from these and from the 95+ campaign picks. Over the past few days, big pulls like Messi, Mbappé, and Raphinha have been coming out of these packs. If you’ve got fodder stacked in your club, this is where to spend it.
The other headline SBC was Hugo Ekitike, who just got a 98-rated card after his club’s big result. With 5 playstyle+ boosts, he looks like a star on paper, though in-game he’s a bit clunky. Think Alexander Isak team of the season. Quick and tall, but not the smoothest dribbler. Still, with so much extra fodder lying around, it’s a free shot at a strong striker.
Store packs are dragging Team of the Season prices down
Another key development is the return of the 86×11 tradable pack in the store. Because these include “best of” cards, the transfer market has been flooded with team of the season players.
That extra supply has made TOTs and informs drop in price. Cards sitting at 24K are now hovering around 22K. Traders banking on them rising again may be dissapointed, at least until new SBC demand picks back up.
The smart play right now is lazy listing and waiting for midweek refreshes. Wednesday is usually when EA drops a repeatable SBC that eats up more TOTs and informs, which could bump prices slightly. But overall, this isn’t a week to be panic buying.
Objectives are EA’s real weapon to keep us grinding
The biggest complaint across the FUT community is not the SBC content, it’s the objectives.
The season pass grind locks major SP behind daily and weekly tasks, including modes like FUT Champs and Rush. Players aren’t logging in out of love for the content. They’re logging in because they don’t want to lose progress toward FC 26 packs.
It’s classic EA design: give the community something they desperately want, then trickle it out slowly so nobody quits early. Even if you don’t care about the Ansu Fati card, the 1,500 SP attached to him is too valuable to skip.
Sure, later in the cycle we may get catch-up boosts, but if you’re only at level 10 when others are pushing 30, it might be too late. The safe option is just to grind now, even if that means forcing yourself through August Weekend League games you don’t actually want to play.
Final hours to pre-order FC 26 with icon bonus
Today also marks a huge milestone: the final day to pre-order FC 26 if you want the exclusive ICON bonus.
According to EA’s website, the cut-off is August 26 at 9 PM Pacific or August 27 at midnight Eastern. After that, the ICON reward disappears.
Other Ultimate Edition perks like early season pass access and FC Points will still be available. But if the ICON matters to you, today is your last chance to lock it in.
More SBCs expected as preseason continues
Looking ahead, expect more player SBCs over the coming days. EA has been favoring re-releases rather than putting every card back into packs.
Names like Heung-Min Son Road to the Final, Nuno Mendes, or Graham Hansen are all strong candidates to show up as SBCs. EA seems to prefer dropping these as challenges instead of flooding the transfer market.
We may also see another free Evolution after a string of pricey paid ones, some costing up to 200K coins. No confirmed leaks yet, but a free EVO would balance things out for players burned by the heavy grind.
By Friday, we’ll be in preseason week 3, and leaks suggest FUTTIES cards could return to packs. Whether the batch changes or not, the market and content cycle will shift again heading into the weekend.
FAQ about FC 25 preseason grind and FC 26 packs
What do you get at level 40 in the FC 25 season pass?
An 84×5 pack to redeem in FC 26.
Is grinding SP in August worth it?
Yes, if you want FC 26 packs at launch.
How can I get more SP quickly?
Complete daily play, preseason transfers, and weekly objectives.
When does the FC 26 pre-order ICON bonus end?
August 26 at 9 PM PT or August 27 at 12 AM ET.
