FC 26 87+ Base or Thunderstruck Icon Upgrade SBC Rewards Guide

• What is the 87+ Base or Thunderstruck Icon Upgrade SBC?
• How the SBC works and key changes in FC 26
• Complete list of Base Icon rewards (87+)
• Complete list of Thunderstruck Icon rewards
• Best Icons you can pack from this SBC
• Is the 87+ Base or Thunderstruck Icon Upgrade worth it?
• Fodder & coin management tips for FC 26
• How ItemD2R.com helps you with coins & club progression
• FAQ: Common questions about the Icon Upgrade SBC

What is the 87+ Base or Thunderstruck Icon Upgrade SBC?

The 87+ Base or Thunderstruck Icon Upgrade SBC in EA Sports FC 26 Ultimate Team is a limited-time Squad Building Challenge that guarantees you an Icon rated 87 or higher. When you complete the challenge, you receive one untradeable pack that contains either:

• A standard Base Icon rated 87+; or
• A special Thunderstruck Icon from the promo team.

This SBC is aimed at players who want to inject a big-name legend into their club without relying purely on regular packs. However, like all gambling-style content in Ultimate Team, the value you get will depend heavily on your luck and how strong your club already is.

How the SBC works and key changes in FC 26

Compared to earlier icon upgrade SBCs, this FC 26 version makes a few notable changes that are important for your decision-making:

• Minimum rating of 87+: Low-rated Icons (especially 86 overall) have been removed from the reward pool. That cuts out some of the worst outcomes that used to make these SBCs feel terrible.
• Thunderstruck Icons included: You now have a chance to pack upgraded Thunderstruck versions of certain Icons, which are generally stronger than their Base items.
• Untradeable reward: As usual, the Icon you pack cannot be sold. You need to think about your long-term club plans, not quick coin profit.

The exact squad requirements can vary over time, but generally you’ll be asked for one or more high-rated squads, sometimes including an Inform or other promo card. That means you’ll be sinking a lot of your high-rated “fodder” into this SBC, which is why it’s crucial to understand the full reward pool.

Complete list of Base Icon rewards (87+)

Below is the complete list of Base Icons you can pull from the 87+ Base or Thunderstruck Icon Upgrade SBC in FC 26. Every player on this list has an overall rating of 87 or higher.

Base Icons rated 87

• Nemanja Vidic – CB 87
• Davor Suker – ST 87
• Frank Lampard – CM 87
• Claude Makelele – CDM 87
• Iain Wright – ST 87
• Fernando Torres – ST 87
• Emmanuel Petit – CDM 87
• Patrick Kluivert – ST 87
• Robert Pires – LM 87
• John Barnes – LW 87
• Ian Rush – ST 87
• Frank Rijkaard – CDM 87
• Xabi Alonso – CDM 87

Base Icons rated 88

• Ronald Koeman – CB 88
• Paul Scholes – CM 88
• David Beckham – RM 88
• Gheorghe Hagi – CAM 88
• Juan Riquelme – CAM 88
• Pavel Nedved – LM 88
• Andriy Shevchenko – ST 88
• Michael Laudrup – CAM 88
• Fernando Hierro – CB 88
• Robin van Persie – ST 88
• Michael Owen – ST 88
• Steven Gerrard – CM 88
• Miroslav Klose – ST 88
• Wayne Rooney – ST 88
• Bastian Schweinsteiger – CM 88
• Marcel Desailly – CB 88
• Pichon – ST 88
• Franck Ribéry – LM 88
• Laurent Blanc – CB 88
• Edwin van der Sar – GK 88
• Petr Cech – GK 88
• Gareth Bale – RW 88
• Giorgio Chiellini – CB 88
• Patrick Vieira – CM 88
• Lilian Thuram – RB 88
• Rio Ferdinand – CB 88

Base Icons rated 89

• Marcelo – LB 89
• Francesco Totti – ST 89
• Hristo Stoichkov – ST 89
• Alessandro Nesta – CB 89
• Jairzinho – RW 89
• Peter Schmeichel – GK 89
• Smith – ST 89
• Eric Cantona – ST 89
• Jones – CB 89
• Fabio Cannavaro – CB 89
• Luis Figo – RW 89
• Javier Zanetti – RB 89
• Kenny Dalglish – ST 89
• Hugo Sánchez – ST 89
• Kaká – CAM 89
• Didier Drogba – ST 89
• Ruud van Nistelrooy – ST 89
• Philipp Lahm – RB 89
• Carles Puyol – CB 89
• Sócrates – CAM 89
• Alan Shearer – ST 89
• Samuel Eto’o – ST 89
• Gary Lineker – ST 89

Base Icons rated 90

• Lothar Matthäus – CM 90
• Miyama – LM 90
• Raúl – ST 90
• Seger – CM 90
• Iker Casillas – GK 90
• Bobby Moore – CB 90
• Alessandro Del Piero – CAM 90
• Dennis Bergkamp – ST 90
• Abily – CM 90
• Foudy – CM 90
• Schelin – ST 90
• Andrea Pirlo – CM 90
• George Best – RW 90
• Rivaldo – LW 90
• Roberto Carlos – LB 90
• Toni Kroos – CM 90
• Ruud Gullit – CAM 90

Base Icons rated 91

• Sawa – CM 91
• Gianluigi Buffon – GK 91
• Morgan – ST 91
• Franco Baresi – CB 91
• Eusébio – ST 91
• Cafu – RB 91
• Roberto Baggio – CAM 91
• Xavi – CM 91
• Zlatan Ibrahimović – ST 91
• Carlos Alberto – RB 91
• Oliver Kahn – GK 91
• Marco van Basten – ST 91
• Thierry Henry – ST 91

Base Icons rated 92 and higher

• Garrincha – RW 92
• Prinz – ST 92
• Ferenc Puskás – ST 92
• Paolo Maldini – CB 92
• Franz Beckenbauer – CB 92
• Angerer – GK 92
• Lev Yashin – GK 92
• Andrés Iniesta – CM 92
• Sir Bobby Charlton – CAM 92
• Gerd Müller – ST 92
• Ronaldinho – LW 93
• Johan Cruyff – CAM 93
• Mia Hamm – ST 93
• Ronaldo – ST 94
• Zinedine Zidane – CAM 94
• Diego Maradona – CAM 95
• Pelé – CAM 95

Complete list of Thunderstruck Icon rewards

The Thunderstruck promo brings boosted versions of some of the best Icons in the game. These upgraded items are also available in the 87+ Icon Upgrade SBC reward pool:

• Gareth Bale – RW 89
• Franck Ribéry – LM 89
• Ronald Koeman – CB 89
• Bastian Schweinsteiger – CM 89
• David Beckham – RM 89
• Samuel Eto’o – ST 90
• Dennis Bergkamp – ST 91
• Abily – CM 91
• Roberto Carlos – LB 91
• Schelin – ST 91
• Rivaldo – LW 91
• Xavi – CM 92
• Eusébio – ST 92
• Franz Beckenbauer – CB 93
• Paolo Maldini – CB 93
• Prinz – ST 93
• Diego Maradona – CAM 96

Thunderstruck Icons are generally among the best outcomes in this SBC. Cards like Thunderstruck Maradona, Beckenbauer, and Maldini can stay in your squad for months.

Best Icons you can pack from this SBC

Although every card listed above is technically a win in terms of rating, some Icons will have a much bigger impact on your squad and Weekend League results. Below are some of the standout pulls:

• Ronaldo (94 ST) – Elite-level striker with top-tier pace, dribbling, and finishing. One of the most sought-after Icons every cycle.
• Pelé (95 CAM) – Ultra-creative attacker with lethal finishing and incredible agility. Works as CAM, CF, or even ST.
• Diego Maradona (95 CAM / 96 Thunderstruck) – High dribbling, close control, and chance creation. The Thunderstruck version is a true endgame card.
• Zinedine Zidane (94 CAM) – Perfect for players who prefer a tall, technical playmaker with great passing and strength.
• Johan Cruyff (93 CAM) – Five-star skill moves and brilliant shooting make him one of the most dangerous attackers in the game.
• Ronaldinho (93 LW) – A dribbling monster at LW or CAM, ideal for skill-heavy, flair-oriented playstyles.
• Paolo Maldini (92 / 93 Thunderstruck CB) – One of the most reliable centre-backs; Thunderstruck Maldini can anchor any backline.
• Franz Beckenbauer (92 / 93 Thunderstruck CB) – Elite defender who is also exceptional on the ball, perfect for building from the back.
• Eusébio (91 / 92 Thunderstruck ST) – Versatile forward with deadly shooting and great dribbling.
• Ruud Gullit (90 CAM) – Still one of the most powerful box-to-box threats thanks to his physicality and all-round stats.

If your club is relatively stacked already, you’ll mainly be chasing these top-end pulls. For newer accounts, though, even mid-tier Icons like Vieira, Vieira, or Desailly can completely transform your defence or midfield.

Is the 87+ Base or Thunderstruck Icon Upgrade worth it?

In terms of raw coin value, most Icon upgrade SBCs are not consistently profitable. EA designs them as high-variance content: some players hit Maradona or Maldini, others end up with a duplicate low-meta striker they never wanted.

You should consider completing this SBC if:

• You have surplus high-rated fodder from rivals, champs, or packs.
• Your squad still lacks top-tier, untradeable core players, especially in key positions like CB, ST, or CAM.
• You enjoy the excitement and are comfortable with the risk of a bad pull.

You should probably skip or delay it if:

• You’re low on coins and fodder, and still need to build a solid starting XI.
• You’re actively saving resources for future promos or more “predictable” SBCs (for example, specific player SBCs where you know exactly what you get).
• Most of the Icons in the pool don’t fit your favourite formation or playstyle.

Ultimately, this SBC is heavily luck-based. Think of it as a high-stakes lottery: the ceiling is incredible, but the floor is still a mid-tier Icon that may only be SBC fodder in a few weeks.

Fodder & coin management tips for FC 26

Because the 87+ Icon Upgrade is expensive, smart club management is crucial. Here are some practical tips for building towards it without destroying your balance:

• Grind upgrade SBCs: Use low-rated untradeables (75–82) in upgrade SBCs to generate higher-rated fodder. Over time, this lets you complete premium SBCs much cheaper.
• Don’t submit a full starting XI: Avoid sacrificing multiple key, usable players just to chase one Icon. Your first team performance matters more than a gamble.
• Time your completions: If you plan to do several big SBCs during a promo, wait for pack rewards (Weekend League, Division Rivals, objectives) so you can refill your club first.
• Track SBC cost vs. pack value: Community trackers and FUT databases can give you a rough market value of SBC requirements. If the SBC price is significantly higher than most outcomes, treat it as entertainment, not an investment.

If you prefer to play games rather than grind menus all day, you can ease the pressure on your coin balance by picking up additional coins safely from trusted marketplaces. That gives you the freedom to experiment with squads and still have resources for SBCs like this Icon Upgrade.

How ItemD2R.com helps you with coins & club progression

Building a competitive squad in FC 26 is a long-term project. Between promo squads, player SBCs, and high-demand Icons, your coins disappear fast. That’s where ItemD2R.com becomes useful for players who want to speed things up without spending endless hours trading.

On ItemD2R, you can easily find cheap ea fc 26 coins to support your Ultimate Team journey. Instead of burning every high-rated card into SBCs and being left with nothing, a healthier approach is to keep your core squad strong and use purchased coins to plug gaps and try new formations. That way, big SBCs like the 87+ Base or Thunderstruck Icon Upgrade remain a fun bonus rather than a drain on your entire club.

If you’re planning to complete several expensive SBCs during a promo cycle, picking the right moment to buy fc26 coins can help you stay flexible. When new meta cards drop, you’ll have the budget to react quickly on the market, buy key players for Weekend League, and still keep fodder ready for Icon-related SBC content. That combination of squad depth and financial stability is exactly what separates casual squads from competitive ones over the course of a season.

ItemD2R focuses on fast delivery and a straightforward buying process, so you can spend more time actually playing matches instead of constantly flipping cards on the transfer market. Used wisely, external coin support lets you enjoy promos like Thunderstruck and Icon upgrades to the fullest, without the frustration of feeling permanently broke after every big SBC.

FAQ: Common questions about the Icon Upgrade SBC

Does the SBC guarantee a Thunderstruck Icon?

No. The 87+ Base or Thunderstruck Icon Upgrade gives you one Icon from the combined pool. That means you can get either a Base Icon or a Thunderstruck Icon; there is no guarantee of the promo version.

Can I pack duplicate Icons?

Yes. If you already own an untradeable version of an Icon from the pool, you can still pack the same card again. In that case, you’ll usually have to quick sell or use it as SBC fodder. Always double-check your club before deciding to risk duplicates.

When is the best time to do the SBC?

Ideally, complete it when:

• Your club has been refreshed by Weekend League and Division Rivals rewards.
• You have recently opened saved packs during a promo and gained new high-rated cards.
• You feel comfortable sacrificing fodder without ruining your ability to complete other SBCs you care about.

Is this SBC better for casual or hardcore players?

It can work for both, but for different reasons. Hardcore players see it as a high-risk way to chase endgame Icons for top-tier competition. Casual players might see it as a fun way to add a legend to their favourite club-themed or nation-themed squads. In both cases, you should only commit if losing the fodder won’t ruin your overall squad-building plans.

In summary, the FC 26 87+ Base or Thunderstruck Icon Upgrade SBC is one of the most exciting – and risky – ways to chase legendary players for your Ultimate Team. If you manage your fodder carefully, keep your coin supply healthy, and set realistic expectations, it can be a thrilling addition to your FC 26 grind.