The second day of Team of the Year defenders in FC 26 sets up the most intense part of the promotion. Defenders are still in packs, but we’re in the final 24 hours before the full Team of the Year squad hits the game. On top of that, honourable mentions and the highly anticipated TOTY 12th Man & Woman are confirmed to arrive on Friday, giving players a packed schedule of content and decisions.
That means your choices over the next couple of days will heavily influence your club for weeks, or even months. Do you save packs for the full team? Do you go all-in on defenders now? Do you grind SBCs and season objectives instead of relying on luck? This guide walks through the current content, what’s actually worth your time, and how to maximise your progression without burning all your resources.
Many players are worried they’re too far behind on the season pass. A common question right now: “I’m only on about 12,000 SP. Can I still finish the pass?” Based on the current structure and available modes, the answer is yes.
Right now there is well over 40,000 Season Progress (SP) available across multiple modes. If you’re willing to spread your playtime a bit, you can still complete the track:
The key is to avoid tunnel vision on Ultimate Team alone. Rotate through modes that offer SP and combine daily/weekly objectives with longer-term missions. Even if you’re sitting at 10–12k SP right now, using all available sources can push you comfortably to the end of the pass before it expires.
Alongside the pack content, FC 26 is running several TOTY live events. One of them has a group reward of an 86x3 pack. Some players are calling one of these events a “nightmare” grind, so you’ll want to decide whether the reward matches the time investment.
On the positive side, the creator mentioned finishing the gauntlet with a perfect run: 12 goals in 11 matches thanks to a disconnect that counted as a win. That kind of performance shows the events are doable with the right squad and a bit of luck.
A notable addition today is a co-op live event called “Classic Match”. This tournament-style event allows you to team up with a friend and relive the feel of old-school matches but with modern squads and playstyles. For players who enjoyed previous co-op live events, Classic Match is a fun way to grind objectives and stay engaged in TOTY without just repeating Division Rivals or Champs games.
The headline evolution available today is “Block Party”, which targets defensive players. This evolution doesn’t turn a low-rated card into an end-game beast, but it does offer a strong, focused upgrade for specific defenders.
Here’s what the evolution roughly provides:
The general verdict: it’s a solid mid-tier evolution. It’s not at the level where you transform your defender into a TOTY-level monster, but if you have a club favourite lower-rated CB or FB that just needs defending and composure upgrades, this evo can make them feel significantly smoother on the ball and more reliable in duels.
Block Party works best on defenders who already have good base speed and body type but are lacking in high-end defensive awareness, reactions, or strength. For example:
If your club is already stacked with maxed-out evolved defenders, Block Party won’t change your starting XI. But for RTG squads or second accounts, it adds valuable depth and keeps favourite cards relevant.
The standout player item in today’s content is a new Gabriel SBC. For anyone running a Premier League or Arsenal backline, this is a major talking point.
The Gabriel card comes with a very attractive stat spread for a centre-back:
On top of that, his playstyles are extremely meta-friendly:
The only real disappointment is that the card comes with just one Playstyle+. Given the card’s tier and timing in the TOTY promo, many players feel it should have had two. The upside is that if EA releases more evolutions that support special items or add Playstyle+, Gabriel could still be upgraded further down the line.
The SBC requires multiple high-rated squads with in-forms. The overall price is slightly on the expensive side, especially if you don’t have club fodder. For Arsenal fans, it’s easier to justify; for purely meta-focused players, you’ll want to compare him to tradable alternatives.
Compared to another existing Gabriel special card on the market, the upgrade isn’t enormous in terms of face stats, but the combination of improved playstyles and TOTY-era power curve makes this SBC version the superior choice. Ideally, the SBC price would have been a bit closer to the market value of that previous special card, but it’s not outrageous – just a bit tight for low-budget squads.
TOTY always brings a flood of upgrade content, and this day is no exception. The key pieces are:
A 5x83+ Defenders pack is available via SBC, requiring an 84-rated squad. It’s a good way to chase TOTY defenders or fill your club with 83–86 fodder. Just keep in mind:
The TOTY Challenge III SBC offers an untradeable Prime Gold Players Pack as a reward. The requirements involve specific chemistry and rating constraints, but nothing too extreme. It’s a good daily-style SBC to clear unneeded cards from your club and slowly build a stockpile of packs for TOTY or honourable mentions.
In the store, the creator opened a 10-coin pack (which didn’t deliver anything notable) and then a defenders pack where he managed to hit a blue TOTY card. Results will vary, of course, but defenders-only packs during a defenders phase can be decent value if they’re priced reasonably and you’re comfortable with the gamble.
Another major SBC on the menu is a 1 of 4, 87+ Campaign Player Pick including cards from several promos. On paper it looks exciting, but the value is questionable.
The SBC costs roughly 54k coins, requiring:
The problem is the huge pool of mediocre cards included in the selection. While you can theoretically hit a top-tier promo star, the odds of landing a card that genuinely makes your team are relatively low. The creator chose not to complete this SBC, calling it a resource drain.
Unless you’re stacked with untradeable fodder or enjoy pure gambling, you’re usually better off focusing your SBC investments on guaranteed value, like the Gabriel TOTY SBC or repeatable upgrade packs aligned with TOTY cards currently in packs.
Beyond the current TOTY content, there are interesting leaks about the next season’s special items, including silver icons. Reported names include:
These are expected to appear as World Tour silver icon items. On the surface, that sounds fantastic – having low-rated but iconic versions of these legends to play with early in the cycle is incredibly fun for theme squads and RTG challenges.
The big concern is whether icon evolutions will remain available. Last time EA allowed certain icons to be evolved, players loved the feeling of gradually turning a modest icon into a high-level club legend. If EA removes this avenue and keeps silver icons locked as low-power collectibles, interest could drop quickly.
A healthy compromise would be:
Handled correctly, silver icons could become one of the most popular long-term progression systems in FC 26, especially if combined with future evolutions similar to Block Party but tailored to icons.
Team of the Year is one of the most demanding times of the year for every FC 26 player: SBCs are expensive, upgrade packs eat through your club, and staying competitive in Rivals or Champs requires a strong squad. If you’re playing completely unassisted, you’ll often hit a wall where you can’t realistically craft every SBC or chase every promo card.
This is where specialised third-party services come into play. Platforms like ItemD2R have become well-known in the wider FUT community for providing reliable in-game currency solutions. When you’re short on coins but want to complete a key SBC like Gabriel, or you’re planning a large pack-opening session during the full TOTY release, having extra resources can be the difference between a mid-tier squad and a truly competitive lineup.
If you play on Microsoft’s console ecosystem, you can buy fc26 coins xbox through ItemD2R to speed up your club’s progression. For players who focus on overall value and low prices, you can also buy fifa coins cheapest via the same page, allowing you to stretch your budget further during expensive promos like TOTY.
Used sensibly, this kind of support can help you:
For players who don’t have hours every day to grind menus and gameplay, leveraging a trustworthy coin provider is a practical way to keep pace with the evolving meta during TOTY and beyond. Just make sure you always follow safe trading habits and stay informed about EA’s policies while managing your club.
With TOTY defenders active now and the 12th Man & Woman plus honourable mentions around the corner, your strategy over the next few days matters.
Leaked honourable mentions don’t look overwhelmingly strong so far, leading some players to consider opening packs earlier. A sensible approach is:
Many players are frustrated that most evolutions target low-rated cards, while their already-evolved favourites are stuck. Until EA offers evolutions that extend those high-end cards, you’ll need to balance:
To stay efficient:
Ultimately, TOTY is a marathon, not a sprint. With a smart mix of gameplay grinding, careful SBC choices, and, if you wish, external coin support, you can come out of the promo with a much stronger club ready for the rest of the FC 26 cycle.
As the 12th Man & Woman and honourable mentions go live, revisit your plans, check updated leaks and stats, and adjust your strategy. The more deliberate you are about when and where you spend your coins and fodder, the better your chances of building a truly elite squad.