Ultimate Team fans have their calendar marked because EA Sports FC 26’s Team of the Year (TOTY) event is officially slated to go live in January 2026, and EA has now laid out the full schedule for when the most elite cards will hit packs.
This year’s TOTY celebrates both the Men’s and Women’s Team of the Year, and it’s shaping up to be one of the biggest moments in the FC Ultimate Team cycle. There are multiple release windows, Icons, honourable mentions, and more rolling out over nearly two weeks.
TOTY is EA SPORTS FC’s annual opportunity to honor the players who defined the previous season, as voted by the community. Fans not only get to see who makes the final XI, but they also get to chase some of the highest-rated cards of the year.
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How The FC 26 TOTY Schedule Works
The TOTY event in FC 26 is being rolled out in stages throughout late-January, giving players multiple opportunities to open packs, compete in objectives, and hunt for specific position groups. Here’s the official timeline as confirmed by EA:
- January 16–18: TOTY Attackers become available in packs.
- January 18–20: TOTY Midfielders are released next.
- January 20–22: TOTY Defenders and Goalkeepers hit packs, completing the final group before the full team.
Alongside the positional waves, EA is also including additional special releases:
- TOTY Icons Team 1 (January 16–20): Legendary players joining the celebration.
- TOTY Icons Team 2 (January 20–23): Another set of legendary cards for packs.
- Full TOTY XI (January 22–30): Once all positions are released, the full Team of the Year can be packed.
- TOTY Honourable Mentions & 12th Players (January 23–30): Elite performers who just missed the final XI also get special cards.
TOTY content includes both Men’s and Women’s Final XI. It also includes team Captains, 12th Players, honourable Mentions, and special TOTY Icons, giving players a wide range of elite players to chase.
This structured release means that FC 26 players who save packs or complete objectives in advance can plan their opening strategy. Whether they’re chasing a specific position or waiting for the full TOTY XI, it also extends the hype throughout the entire month.
