The biggest event in the Ultimate Team calendar is finally on the horizon. After months of speculation, performance tracking, and saving packs, the Team of the Year (TOTY) is about to take over FC 26.
At FUTFC.gg, we know you need to plan your grind perfectly. Whether you are holding hundreds of packs for the full team or just want to snipe your favorite attacker the moment they drop, knowing the schedule is half the battle.
Below is the expected schedule for the FC 26 Team of the Year.
⚠️ Important Note: While this calendar is widely circulating as the “Official TOTY Calendar,” these specific dates and times have not yet been officially confirmed by EA Sports. Treat this as a highly probable leak and plan accordingly!
🗳️ Voting Schedule: Main Squad & 12th Player
Before the blue cards hit the packs, the community has to have its say.
Main TOTY Voting
- Status: Closed (Began January 7th)
12th Player Voting (Men’s & Women’s)
Just because the main XI is decided doesn’t mean the voting is over. The battle for the final spot in the squad is about to begin.
- Voting Opens: January 17 at 6:00 PM (GMT)
- Voting Closes: January 20 at 5:59 PM (GMT)
Make sure to cast your ballot during this tight window to ensure the 12th player spot goes to the most deserving candidate.
📅 TOTY 2026 Release Schedule
Once the votes are tallied, the release begins. As per tradition, EA is staggering the release by position, with Icons dropping alongside them, leading up to the massive “Full Team” release.
Here is the content calendar you need to lock in:
| Content Drop | Start Date | End Date |
| TOTY Attackers | January 16 | January 18 |
| TOTY ICONS (Team 1) | January 16 | January 20 |
| TOTY Midfielders | January 18 | January 20 |
| TOTY Defenders & GK | January 20 | January 22 |
| TOTY ICONS (Team 2) | January 20 | January 23 |
| Full Team of the Year XI | January 22 | January 30 |
| Honourable Mentions & 12th Players | January 23 | January 30 |
🔎 The Schedule Breakdown
Phase 1: The Attackers & Icons 1 (Jan 16 – 18)
The promo kicks off with a bang on Friday, January 16. The heavy hitters, the Attackers, will be the first main squad items in packs. If you are desperate for that Mbappe or Haaland card, this is your first window.
- Note: Team of the Year ICONS 1 will also be in packs during this time, staying until the 20th.
Phase 2: The Midfielders (Jan 18 – 20)
On Sunday, January 18, the Attackers rotate out and the Midfielders rotate in. This is usually where we see the creative maestros and box-to-box powerhouses.
Phase 3: The Backline & Icons 2 (Jan 20 – 22)
On Tuesday, January 20, the Defenders and Goalkeeper take the stage. This is often the easiest time to pack a blue card due to the generally lower weightings of defenders compared to forwards.
- Note: This date also marks the switch for Icons. TOTY ICONS Team 2 replaces Team 1 in packs on the 20th.
Phase 4: The Full Team (Jan 22 – 30)
This is the date everyone waits for. On Thursday, January 22, the Full Team of the Year will be in packs. If you have been saving packs for months, DO NOT open them until this date. This gives you the chance to pack any player from the entire starting XI.
Phase 5: Honourable Mentions & 12th Players (Jan 23 – 30)
Just one day after the full team release, on Friday, January 23, the content ramps up even further.
- Honourable Mentions: The TOTY campaign sees the return of Honourable Mention items, recognizing 2025’s elite who narrowly missed out on featuring in the Final XI.
- 12th Player: The winners of the vote held between Jan 17-20 will enter packs alongside the Mentions.
Phase 6: The Ultimate Grind (Jan 25 – 30)
While not explicitly detailed in the latest leak, we expect the pattern to hold: From Sunday, January 25, the Full Team of TOTY ICONS is expected to join the Full TOTY squad, Honorable Mentions, and 12th Players in packs. This 5-day window is effectively the “best of” period where pack weight is at its absolute peak in terms of high-end available cards.
💡 FUTFC Tips for Success
- Save Your Packs: Unless you specifically only want an Attacker, patience pays off. Waiting until January 22nd (Full Team) or January 25th (Full Team + All Icons) maximizes your chances of seeing blue.
- Watch the 12th Man Vote: The vote opening on Jan 17th is a great indicator of who will be in packs on the 23rd. If a meta player is winning the vote, save fodder for them!
- Complete Upgrades: During the “Attacker/Midfielder/Defender” specific days, recycle your common golds into position-specific upgrade SBCs if they become available.
- Watch the Market: Panic selling usually happens right before the Full Team release on the 22nd. Keep some coins liquid to snap up meta players at a discount.
Good luck with your votes, and may your packs be heavy this TOTY season!
