FC 26 Path to Glory Team 1: Predicted Players, Release Date & Live Upgrade Guide (June 5, 2026)

By Chloe Madsen

Updated: June 05,2026 | Game: FC 26

🎁 Path to Glory card pool goes live June 5 — grab your free packs on ItemD2R now Open Free Packs →

Path to Glory Team 1 drops June 5 — who to expect, who to target, and the one trap to avoid

Path to Glory lands tomorrow, June 5 at 6 PM BST, and it's the live-upgrade WM promo everyone's been waiting for since TOTS ended. Cards get better as national teams win. Get it right — meaning you back a nation that goes deep into the FIFA World Cup 2026 (starts June 11) — and you could end up with an elite card for a fraction of what it'd cost at peak.

The trap: buying on day one before you know anything about how the World Cup groups shake out. Hold coins, check the draw, then move. Below are the most credible Team 1 candidates based on EA's track record with this promo plus community leaks confirmed across multiple sources.

How Path to Glory Upgrades Work

Team Result	Card Upgrade	When
Group Stage exit	No upgrade — base promo version only	Confirmed after group stage
Round of 16	+1 upgrade applied	Shortly after match result
Quarter-Final	+2 upgrades applied	Shortly after match result
Semi-Final	+3 upgrades applied	Shortly after match result
Final (win or lose)	+4 upgrades — full max version	Shortly after final

Note: Upgrade tiers are based on EA's historical Path to Glory format. Exact thresholds and stat boosts will be confirmed once the promo goes live.

Most Credible Team 1 Candidates (Community + Source Leaks)

EA has not officially revealed the Team 1 player list. The names below are circulating across multiple community sources and are considered high-probability picks based on EA's past selection patterns for this promo. Treat these as predictions, not confirmed announces.

Player	Nation	Position	Why They're Here	Upgrade Confidence
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia	Georgia	LW	Dark horse nation pick + huge player profile	⚠️ Medium (Group exit risk)
Trent Alexander-Arnold	England	CM / RB	National Pride leak confirmed, strong England squad	✅ High (England typically QF+)
Rasmus Højlund	Denmark	ST	National Pride leak confirmed, meta ST position	⚠️ Medium (Denmark group draw dependent)
Rayan Cherki	France	CAM	National Pride leak confirmed, France = tournament favourite	✅ High (France consistently SF+)
Lamine Yamal	Spain	RW	Headline star + Spain title contender	✅ High (Spain typically Final)
Pedri	Spain	CM	Spain engine, EA loves CM slots in this promo	✅ High (same as Yamal)

Exact ratings and stats not yet confirmed by EA. Will be updated when Team 1 officially releases on June 5.

The Smart Money Strategy

Three rules for Path to Glory investing:

1. Back nations, not players. A 90-rated Path to Glory card with 0 upgrades is worth less than an 87-rated card from a nation that reaches the Final. Always check the bracket before buying.
2. Wait 24 hours after the pack drop. Prices on day-one packs are always inflated. The market typically drops 15–25% in the first day as more supply hits the transfer market.
3. Target SBC fodder too. Path to Glory national team cards will feed upcoming SBCs. Low-rated untradeable fodder from the new national pool could be useful — but check the SBC requirements before hoarding.

⚡ Want Path to Glory SBCs done without the grind?

When Team 1 SBCs go live, ItemD2R can complete them for you. No account access needed.

SBC Service → FC 26 Coins

What Time Does Path to Glory Team 1 Release?

June 5, 2026 at 6:00 PM BST (7:00 PM CET / 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT). EA typically releases promo content on the dot, but allow 15–30 minutes buffer for server congestion on a big drop like this. Check EA's official social channels for any last-minute delay notices.

🎁 Path to Glory pack pool live June 5 — open your free packs on ItemD2R

Free Packs → FC 26 Coins SBC Service