EA has shipped the first major FC 26 update of the season, version 1.1.0, across PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC today. The patch leans into manual defending, reins in through-pass assistance, and adds several Ultimate Team conveniences, with dozens of bug fixes across Career, Clubs, and more.
The quick hits
- Jockeying is quicker and more responsive for users, so manual defenders recover and engage better.
- AI teammates mark more aggressively around kick-offs, reducing free goals straight from center.
- Through Passes are less assisted and more faithful to your left-stick aim, on the ground and lofted.
- New FUT tools: sort SBCs by Newest or Expiry, preview EVO requirements, and favorite Objectives for in-match tracking.
- Manager Market emails are toned down in Career, with smarter job logic and many stability fixes.
Gameplay, defending and passing
Defending
- Sprint Jockey and standard Jockey both feel snappier for human defenders.
- Around kick-off, only the defensive side’s AI players step up man marking to close lanes.
- Standing tackle animations are picked more cleanly, with fixes for behind-tackle steals and double tackle triggers.
- More players stay back on your corners to stop counters.
Passing
- Ground and Lofted Through Passes respect aim input more and receive less invisible help.
- Ground TPs are better at leading the runner and target the intended receiver more often.
- Headed lobs and crosses are a touch less accurate, first-time pass responsiveness is up, and touchline pass outs are reduced.
Movement and positioning
- Controlled Sprint Dribble is a bit slower, but you can now trigger directed runs while using it.
- AI attacking runs are less likely to run offside or collide with teammates, corner-post positioning is fixed, and odd run cancellations are reduced.
Goalkeepers
- Stronger far-post corner defense, sharper near-post reactions, better punch power and trajectories, and fewer self-own deflections.
Fouls, stamina, and switching
- Stamina effects bite harder in Authentic gameplay, CPU commits more fouls, and referee logic on tackle fouls is improved.
- Various player switch quirks on air balls and headers are addressed.
Ultimate Team: new tools, fewer headaches
New features
- Sort SBC lists by Newest or Expiry Date.
- Preview an Evolution’s requirements and player eligibility before you own it.
- Favorite Objectives and Objective Groups, then track them in-match from the Pause Menu, alongside Evolutions and Rivals Bounties.
- Note: these toggles roll in via a short-window server release after the title update.
Fixes
- Visual and UI cleanups for Rivals streak points, first-owner indicators, formations, overlays, and reward previews.
- Transfer Market bid price sticking at 99 coins is fixed, squad tactic assignments now save, and several Co-Op, Champions, and lobby issues are resolved.
Career Mode
- Fewer “check the Manager Market” emails, better manager job security logic, and fewer mismatched mid-season moves.
- Fixes for caretaker manager ratings, Live Starting Point team lists, repeated homesick events, inaccurate season summaries after transfers, and stability in avatar customization.
Clubs
- In Drop-Ins that go to penalties, user-controlled players take pens before AI.
- UI cleanup for Objectives, bundles, celebrations, My Pro customization and camera focus, plus Switch-specific controller fixes.
General, audio, visual, and PC
- Updated portraits, kits, audio lines, stadium bits, badges, star heads, cinematics, and more presentation items.
- PC gets aspect ratio menu updates, shader-caching improvements at match start, Intel GPU texture fixes, and better haptics.
- A long list of stability, camera, lighting, trainer, replay, and ball visibility fixes round things out.
What to test first
- Manual defending: try Sprint Jockey in 1v1s and cutbacks, you should win body positioning more often.
- Kick-off defense: watch how your AI compresses space right after the whistle, then adjust your press.
- Through balls: aim discipline matters more, especially on diagonals. Practice manual leads into space.
- Set pieces: with more players staying back on your corners and stronger GK punches, tweak your routines.
- FUT workflow: favorite your active Objectives and open an EVO preview to plan upgrades before spending.
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