FC 26 Festival of Football: Greats of the Game is now live

Jun-22-2026 PST

EA Sports has officially launched the highly anticipated Festival of Football: Greats of the Game promo for FC 26, marking one of the most exciting updates of the summer gaming season. This limited-time campaign brings iconic football legends, exclusive in-game challenges, and rare player cards to Ultimate Team, refreshing the gameplay experience for casual fans and competitive players alike. To fully unlock all premium event content, upgrade your squad rapidly, and collect limited legendary items, sufficient FC 26 Coins are essential for every FC 26 player looking to dominate the current meta.

 

Running from June 19 to June 26, 2026, the Greats of the Game segment serves as the core highlight of the broader FC 26 Festival of Football event. Spanning from early June to late July, the overall festival series features multiple themed campaigns, and this latest drop focuses entirely on honoring football's most influential legends who shaped international football history. It builds on the successful Path to Glory campaign, offering a brand-new gameplay dimension centered on iconic player content.

 

New Legendary ICONs Join the FC 26 Roster

 

The biggest highlight of the Greats of the Game update is the introduction of two brand-new exclusive ICON players: Mario Kempes and Rivellino. Both football legends have earned specially upgraded Greats of the Game variant cards, available in limited-time packs throughout the campaign period. These unique cards boast boosted stats, exclusive playstyles, and custom in-game animations that distinguish them from standard ICON versions.

 

Mario Kempes, the legendary Argentine striker famous for winning the 1978 World Cup Golden Boot, arrives with a high-rated attacking card tailored for clinical finishing and tactical flexibility. His card perfectly captures his peak career form, ideal for players who rely on sharp attacking plays and clutch goal-scoring moments in high-stakes matches.

 

Alongside Kempes, Brazilian midfield maestro Rivellino makes his official FC 26 debut. Renowned for his exquisite dribbling, precise passing, and iconic free-kick skills, Rivellino's Greats of the Game card elevates midfield creativity for any Ultimate Team squad. His unique playstyle traits add rare tactical diversity, filling a key gap in many players' midfield lineups.

 

For players who miss the limited-time special packs, EA has confirmed that base versions of these two new ICONs will enter the general pack pool starting June 26. This staggered release ensures all fans have a chance to add these legendary players to their collections, even if they cannot access the initial event packs.

 

Rich Event Rewards and Gameplay Challenges

 

Beyond the new ICON arrivals, the Greats of the Game update brings a wealth of accessible rewards and engaging in-game challenges. As part of the massive Festival of Football event, this campaign includes dozens of themed objectives, squad-building challenges, and token-based reward systems. Completing these tasks grants players rare pack items, player evolution tokens, and exclusive club customization items.

 

One of the most attractive perks of the ongoing Festival of Football is the free 93-rated Pelé ICON login reward. All players who log into FC 26 between June 5 and July 24, 2026, can claim this top-tier legendary card without additional in-game purchases. This generous reward allows new and returning players to instantly strengthen their squads and experience the power of elite ICON players.

 

Additionally, the update introduces three exclusive Choose Your Journey Evolutions, enabling players to upgrade their existing low-to-mid-tier players into competitive meta options. This evolution system adds long-term gameplay value, letting fans refine their squads according to their personal tactical preferences and match styles.

 

Updated Event Hub and Optimized Gaming Experience

 

The Greats of the Game launch also integrates with FC 26's revamped World's Game update, which rolled out earlier in June. The dedicated Festival of Football Event Hub centralizes all campaign content, making it easier for players to track ongoing challenges, upcoming reward unlocks, and event deadlines. The streamlined interface eliminates messy menu navigation and improves overall gameplay efficiency.

 

EA Sports has also implemented community-driven gameplay tuning for this update. Minor adjustments to player movement, pass accuracy, and in-game physics ensure the new ICON cards feel balanced and fair in online matches. This optimization prevents overpowered meta dominance while preserving the unique strengths of Kempes and Rivellino's legendary playstyles.

The Festival of Football event structure covers over 250 unique challenges across its full runtime. These challenges require players to build squads representing different continental nations, promoting diverse team building and moving away from the repetitive meta squads that dominated earlier FC 26 seasons.

 

Why Greats of the Game Stands Out in FC 26

 

Previous FC promo events often focused on active professional players and real-match performance upgrades. In contrast, Greats of the Game shifts the focus to football's historical legends, celebrating the sport's rich heritage. This thematic shift resonates deeply with long-term football fans, blending nostalgic football memories with modern competitive gameplay.

The limited-time nature of the campaign also creates a vibrant in-game economy. The new ICON cards are highly sought-after in the transfer market, driving active player trading and making squad customization more dynamic than ever. Players who participate early can secure rare cards and gain a competitive edge before the event concludes.

 

As the second major phase of the Festival of Football series, Greats of the Game perfectly bridges the gap between the earlier Path to Glory event and the upcoming Glory Hunters campaign. It maintains continuous fresh content for players throughout the summer, ensuring FC 26 Ultimate Team remains engaging and dynamic.

 

Final Thoughts on the New Live Campaign

 

The launch of Festival of Football: Greats of the Game injects new vitality into FC 26's Ultimate Team mode, offering legendary player content, abundant free rewards, and refined gameplay mechanics. Whether you are a collector aiming to complete your ICON collection, a competitive player chasing meta squad upgrades, or a casual fan enjoying themed challenges, this event delivers outstanding content for every type of FC 26 gamer. To seize all limited-time legendary cards, finish time-sensitive challenges, and build a top-tier squad before the event ends, remember to buy FC 26 Coins to maximize your event gains and enjoy the full glory of this iconic football festival.