EA FC 26: How to get early access before official launch date

Kieran Lynch, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 16/09/2025

The release of EA FC 26 is rapidly approaching and here we explain how players can get early access and not have to wait until the official launch date at the end of the month.

When does EA FC 26 early access start?

The official launch date for this year’s edition of football’s elite video game is out on Friday, September 26th.

However, those with early access can play EA FC 26 a week early.

Those who get the Ultimate Edition of the game on console, can get into the thick of the action at midnight on Friday, September 19th.

However, PC players will get EA FC 26 a day earlier than console.

According to an EA Sports community manager on EA’s forums, the PC version of EA FC 26 will release worldwide at the time of the New Zealand release.

Ultimate Edition owners on PC will be able to play the new game on Thursday, September 18th at 1pm BST.

EA Play Pro members on PC will also get unlimited access to EA FC 26 in the week before the official launch date.

Can you play a trial of EA FC early?

EA FC 26 don’t have to opt for the game’s most expensive edition to play early.

EA Play members on console can access a 10 hour early-access trial from Friday, September 19th.

Those who get the trial will be able to start their new saves, but won’t be able to play the game longer than 10 hours before the launch date.

That means players might want to spread out their EA FC 26 playing time over the week leading up to September 26th.

The more expensive tier of EA Play, EA Play Pro, offers unlimited access from the moment the Ultimate Edition unlocks.

EA Play costs £5.99 a month or £35.99 a year. EA Pro Play costs £16.99 a month or £109.99 a year.

EA FC 26 early access content

EA FC 26 early access will include the following content from the first release date this week;

• Chances to earn Season points
• Evolutions
• Flashback SBC
• Showdown SBCs
• Team of the Week 1 and 2
• World Tour and Squad Foundations releases

EA FC 26 Standard Edition unlock times

Those wishing to buy the cheaper Standard Edition version of EA FC 26 will have to wait until next week to get their hands on the game for the first time.

PlayStation and Xbox players will be able to unlock the game at midnight on Friday, September 26th.

PC users will again benefit from the game being launched at the same time as in New Zealand, which will be 1pm (BST) on Thursday, September 25th.

Other key dates

Player ratings for EA FC 26 have already been released, with Rodri still getting a score of 90 despite missing the majority of the last year with injury.

The Web App goes live on Wednesday, September 17th, with the Companion App going up a day later.

On Monday, the soundtrack for EA FC 26 was released featuring the likes of Ed Sheeran and Moise Kean.

Kieran Lynch, Senior Editor

Kieran Lynch is an esports journalist who writes about several games including EA Sports FC 25, Call of Duty, Rainbox Six Siege, and more. He previously worked as a sports journalist for MailOnline.

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