FC 26 Ultimate Gauntlet 9 Rewards, Tasks & Tips Guide

• What is Ultimate Gauntlet 9 in FC 26?
• How Ultimate Gauntlet 9 works
• All Ultimate Gauntlet 9 tasks and rewards
• Best rewards and why they matter
• Tips to complete Ultimate Gauntlet 9 fast
• Using ItemD2R to speed up your FC 26 progress
• Ultimate Gauntlet 9 FAQ
• Is Ultimate Gauntlet 9 worth your time?

What is Ultimate Gauntlet 9 in FC 26?

Ultimate Gauntlet 9 is a limited-time objective path in FC 26 Ultimate Team that lets you earn high-value packs, evolution items, and a special Scott McTominay TOTY Honorable Mentions card simply by playing and scoring in matches. If you’re building a competitive squad early in the FC 26 cycle, this is one of the best free grinds you can’t afford to skip.

Just like previous Gauntlets, you don’t need to win every match to progress. Instead, the objective focuses on two things:

• Playing a certain number of matches
• Scoring at least one goal in separate matches

By completing all nine tasks, you unlock a huge bundle of packs, multiple evolution rewards, and a guaranteed walkout haul that can dramatically improve your club without spending real money.

How Ultimate Gauntlet 9 works

From a structural point of view, Ultimate Gauntlet 9 sticks closely to earlier editions in FC 26. Each round in the mode consists of three matches. You play all three games regardless of whether you win, lose, or draw.

There are two layers of rewards involved:

• Match-round bonuses – extra rewards if you win two or three games in a round.
• Objective path rewards – the nine main tasks listed in the Gauntlet 9 objective group.

This guide focuses on the objective path, because that’s where you’ll unlock the biggest prizes, including Scott McTominay TOTY HM and high-rated Rare Gold packs.

The key point: you aren’t forced to maintain a perfect record. As long as you keep queuing up and score regularly, you’ll steadily work through every task.

All Ultimate Gauntlet 9 tasks and rewards

Ultimate Gauntlet 9 has nine core tasks. Some are based on simply playing matches, while the rest focus on scoring in a given number of separate matches. Here is a complete breakdown, rewritten for clarity.

Play-based tasks

These objectives will complete automatically as you enter matches in Ultimate Gauntlet 9:

• Play 1
  Requirement: Play 1 match in Ultimate Gauntlet 9
  Reward: 3 x 82+ Rare Gold Players Pack
• Play 2
  Requirement: Play 2 matches in Ultimate Gauntlet 9
  Reward: 4 x 82+ Rare Gold Players Pack
• Play 3
  Requirement: Play 3 matches in Ultimate Gauntlet 9
  Reward: 4 x 83+ Rare Gold Players Pack

These early rewards are perfect for building club depth and stocking up on fodder for SBCs or evolutions.

Score-based tasks

The rest of Ultimate Gauntlet 9 revolves around scoring at least one goal in a specific number of different matches. You can lose the game and still progress, as long as you score.

• Score in 3
  Requirement: Score at least 1 goal in 3 separate matches in Ultimate Gauntlet 9
  Reward: Evolution item
• Score in 5
  Requirement: Score at least 1 goal in 5 separate matches in Ultimate Gauntlet 9
  Reward: 10 x 82+ Rare Gold Players Pack (listed as 182+ in the source, but effectively an 82+ multi-pack)
• Score in 6
  Requirement: Score at least 1 goal in 6 separate matches in Ultimate Gauntlet 9
  Reward: Evo Unlock (additional evolution slot)
• Score in 7
  Requirement: Score at least 1 goal in 7 separate matches in Ultimate Gauntlet 9
  Reward: 4 x 85+ Rare Gold Players Pack
• Score in 9
  Requirement: Score at least 1 goal in 9 separate matches in Ultimate Gauntlet 9
  Reward: Scott McTominay TOTY Honorable Mentions item
• Score in 12
  Requirement: Score at least 1 goal in 12 separate matches in Ultimate Gauntlet 9
  Reward: 3 x 87+ Rare Gold Players Pack

Group completion reward

Once you complete the full Ultimate Gauntlet 9 objective set, you also receive:

• An additional Evolution
• 1 x 7-player 86+ Rare Gold Players Pack

Across all rewards, completing the entire run guarantees a large number of walkouts. In practice, you’re looking at at least ten walkouts, with a realistic chance at TOTY, TOTY Icon, or TOTY Honorable Mentions cards, depending on what’s in packs at the time.

Best Ultimate Gauntlet 9 rewards and why they matter

Not all rewards in Ultimate Gauntlet 9 are equal. Some are especially important for club progression and competitive play.

Scott McTominay TOTY HM

The standout single reward is the Scott McTominay TOTY Honorable Mentions item for scoring in nine separate matches. This card offers:

• Strong physical presence and defensive stats for a box-to-box or defensive midfield role
• Boosted passing and shooting, making him dangerous arriving late in the box
• Premier League links, improving squad-building flexibility

For many players, this will be a starter-level midfielder or, at worst, an excellent super-sub early in the FC 26 cycle.

Evolution items and Evo Unlocks

Ultimate Gauntlet 9 is also generous with evolution-related rewards:

• Evolution item for scoring in 3 matches
• Evo Unlock for scoring in 6 matches
• Another Evolution for completing the entire objective group

These allow you to power up favorite players without relying solely on market trading or pack luck. Used correctly, evolution slots can turn a cheap, meta-friendly card into a long-term club hero.

High-rated Rare Gold packs

The 82+, 83+, 85+, 86+ and 87+ Rare Gold packs provide a huge injection of cards into your club. Whether you’re chasing meta starters or just looking for SBC fodder, these packs have serious value:

• 82+ and 83+ packs bulk out your club and feed lower-rated SBCs.
• 85+ and 87+ packs are prime fodder sources for major Squad Building Challenges.
• The 7 x 86+ pack from completing the group is a massive spike in club value.

When combined, these rewards represent one of the most generous free objective paths available in FC 26.

Tips to complete Ultimate Gauntlet 9 fast

While the objectives themselves are straightforward, a few smart changes to your playstyle can help you clear Ultimate Gauntlet 9 quickly and with less frustration.

Focus on scoring, not perfection

Remember, for the scoring-based tasks, you only need one goal per match. It doesn’t matter if you win 1–0 or lose 2–5 – progress is the same.

• Go all-in for an early goal. If you score, you can relax and treat the rest of the game as practice.
• If you’re leading comfortably, consider giving weaker opponents a break to keep the community experience positive.
• Don’t dashboard when conceding early; you still have plenty of time to grab a consolation goal.

Use aggressive attacking setups

To maximize your scoring chances:

• Try a formation like 4-3-2-1 or 4-2-3-1 with instructions focusing on forward runs.
• Use wingers or wide forwards with strong pace and dribbling to stretch defenses.
• Apply balanced or slightly attacking custom tactics, but avoid full-on constant press so you don’t burn stamina too early.

Even if you’re not the strongest player, having fast attackers and clear passing lanes dramatically increases your chance of getting that key goal each match.

Rotate your squad and manage fitness

Because each round has three games, fatigue can become an issue, especially in intense matches. To keep performance high:

• Build a bench with impact subs in attacking positions.
• Rotate your forwards and wingers if they feel sluggish in the second half.
• Use the Gauntlet as a testing ground for new attackers and evolutions.

Think of Ultimate Gauntlet 9 as both a grind and a live lab for your tactics and player selection.

Using ItemD2R to speed up your FC 26 progress

Ultimate Gauntlet 9 offers a generous set of free rewards, but not every player has the time to grind dozens of matches or work the transfer market for hours every day. If your goal is to compete in Rivals, Champs or weekend tournaments with a top-tier squad as early as possible, combining in-game objectives with smart external support can make a big difference.

This is where specialist platforms like ItemD2R come in. Instead of relying purely on pack luck, you can strategically inject coins into your club to bridge the gap between a decent squad and a truly meta lineup. For example, after completing Gauntlet 9 you might be just a few key signings away from an elite Premier League or La Liga setup. Rather than waiting weeks to accumulate the necessary coins, you can look at options such as Buying Coins FIFA from a trusted third-party seller with a strong track record in the community.

ItemD2R focuses on secure delivery, competitive pricing and fast customer support, which is particularly important in the early stages of an FC cycle when the meta changes quickly, and card prices are volatile. If you decide to buy fc 26 coins cheap, you can use them to pick up the perfect link players for Scott McTominay TOTY HM, fund high-value SBCs, or invest in rising stars that fit current gameplay trends.

Of course, every player should make their own decision about third-party services and stay informed about EA’s policies. The most effective approach for many dedicated players is a hybrid one: complete high-value free grinds like Ultimate Gauntlet 9, use those packs and evolutions to strengthen your base squad, and then selectively supplement with external coins when you want to accelerate progress or lock in a dream team while the card prices are still manageable.

Ultimate Gauntlet 9 FAQ

Is Ultimate Gauntlet 9 hard to complete?

The objective is more about time than raw skill. Since you only need to score one goal in each match, even average players can complete it by playing enough games, especially if they use fast attackers and simple, effective tactics.

Do I need to win matches for the objectives to count?

No. For the scoring tasks, any match where you score at least one goal will count, regardless of the final result. For Play 1, 2 and 3, simply finishing the match is enough.

How long does it take to finish all 12 scoring matches?

That depends on your schedule and consistency, but many players can clear the entire objective line in one or two focused sessions. If you aim for three to five matches per sitting and maintain an attacking mindset, you’ll reach 12 scoring games surprisingly quickly.

What should I use the evolution rewards on?

Prioritize players who are:

• In meta leagues and nations (Premier League, La Liga, etc.)
• Already strong in key stats like pace or shooting
• Likely to stay in your club long-term, either as starters or super-subs

Don’t waste evolution slots on cards you’re planning to quick sell next week.

Is Ultimate Gauntlet 9 worth your time?

From an efficiency standpoint, yes, Ultimate Gauntlet 9 is absolutely worth doing. For a manageable number of matches, you walk away with:

• Multiple high-rated Rare Gold packs
• Several evolution-related rewards
• A strong special midfielder in Scott McTominay TOTY HM
• A guaranteed cluster of walkouts that turbocharge SBC and squad-building potential

If you combine these free rewards with smart trading or carefully chosen external support from services like ItemD2R, you’ll put yourself in an excellent position to compete in the toughest FC 26 modes without feeling constantly behind the curve. Jump into Ultimate Gauntlet 9 as early as you can, focus on scoring in every match, and let the objective path do the heavy lifting for your club.