The best EA Sports FC 26 Ultimate Team formations and tactics

Jack Stewart, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 22/09/2025

EA Sports FC 26 is out, and it’s the best time of year for Ultimate Team with only gold players.

To get the competitive edge for FUT Champs, getting the right formation and tactics for your playstyle is crucial.

Early signs are showing that three-at-the-back formations are going to be weak again this year.

With difficult defending and very smooth passing, a clear meta is unveiling in EA FC 26 Ultimate Team.

What is the best formation in EA FC 26?

With how fluid dribbling and passing is in Ultimate Team this year, it’s no surpirse to see the 4-2-3-1 is the best formation in EA FC 26

RBZL Gaming’s British esports pro player Alfie ‘RedLac’ Calder has revealed his recommended tactics for starting Ultimate Team.

RedLac recently got an elite teammate too Tekkz, as one of EA FC’s best players in the world, joined RBZL for EA FC 26.

To make the most of EA FC 26’s fast passing, RedLac recommends having both CDMs on Deep-Lying Playmaker with a focus on build-up.

The key to the formation though is the one central CAM who will make or break your attacks, this is the position to invest in.

RedLac recommends putting the CAM on Shadow-Striker instead of Playmaker to help give the solo striker more support.

And because of how tricky defending is on EA FC 26, it’s recommended to keep your fullbacks on defend rather than balanced.

This is mostly to keep them closer to your centre-backs and block your opponent from playing their wingers through.

If you’re still struggling to defend, switching to a 4-3-1-3 with both CDMs on Ball Winning instructions may do the trick.

4-2-3-1 Tactics

• Tactical Preset: Custom
• Formation: 4-2-3-1 Wide
• Build Up Style: Balanced
• Defensive Approach: Balanced
• Line Height: 60

4-2-3-1 Player Roles

• ST: Advanced Forward/Attack
• LM: Inside-Forward/Balanced
• CAM: Shadow-Striker/Attack
• RM: Inside-Forward/Balanced
• CDM: Deep-Lying Playmaker/Build-Up
• CDM: Deep-Lying Playmaker/Build-Up
• LB: Fullback/Defend
• CB: Defender/Defend
• CB: Defender/Defend
• RB: Fullback/Defend
• GK: Goalkeeper/Defender

EA FC 26 Ulitmate Team 4-2-3-1 code: zYLd6D$59vf&

What is the most fun formation in EA FC 26 Ultimate Team?

Because of the challenge of defending this year, the best form of defence is offence.

You don’t need players from the EA FC 26 FUT Team of the Week 1 to play good football.

To make the most of the FC 26’s passing-focussed, attacking gameplay, the 4-1-2-1-2 (2) formation is extremely fun.

If more players start keeping their fullbacks on Defend instructions, the lack of width in this formation won’t matter.

Just make sure all of your players are in their right roles and get 33/33 chemistry to ensure your players can still defend properly.

This formation is all about fast-paced, tiki-taka gameplay. Yet, you want a Balanced build-up style, not short-passing, so players still make runs.

You want your fullbacks on versatile so one can still attack and give a wide option, while the other will tuck in and help your sole CDM.

Then, it’s best to have one central midfielder also focused on ball-winning and defending and the other involved in build-up play and playmaking.

As this formation has two forwards, it’s best to keep the CAM on Playmaker so that drop in to link up with your midfielder and pass to the strikers.

4-1-2-1-2 (2) Tactics

• Tactical Preset: Custom
• Formation: 4-2-3-1 Wide
• Build Up Style: Balanced
• Defensive Approach: Balanced
• Line Height: 50

4-1-2-1-2 (2) Player Roles

• ST: Advanced Forward/Attack
• ST: Advanced Forward/Attack
• CAM: Playmaker/Balanced
• CM: Deep-Lying Playmaker/Build-Up
• CM: Holding/Ball-Winning
• CDM: Holding/Ball-Winning
• LB: Fullback/Versatile
• CB: Defender/Defend
• CB: Defender/Defend
• RB: Fullback/Versatile
• GK: Goalkeeper/Defender

Jack Stewart, Senior Editor

In my seven years of esports writing, I've introuduced esports coverage to newspapers, interviewed some of the biggest names in the industry, and driven viewers mad with the puns in my YouTube scripts. I'm most proud of the latter.

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