Last updated: 7 August 2026

EA FC 26 Ultimate Team Guide Chemistry, SBCs & squad building for beginners

Ultimate Team is the mode most new FC 26 players get lost in first — packs, chemistry, SBCs, and a transfer market all competing for attention before you've even played a match. FC 26 also changed how chemistry works under the hood, so advice from older FIFA and FC games doesn't fully carry over. This guide covers what actually matters in your first week: how chemistry is calculated now, how to build a squad you can afford, and which recurring tasks (SBCs, Evolutions, Squad Battles) are worth your time from day one.

01How Chemistry Works in FC 26 (What Changed)

Chemistry still caps at 33 points for a full starting XI, and each individual player can still earn up to 3 chemistry points (shown as diamonds on their card), based on shared club, league, or nation links with their teammates.

The link thresholds for FC 26 are:

• 1 chemistry point: 2 players from the same club, 2 from the same nation, or 3 from the same league.
• 2 chemistry points: 4 players from the same club, 5 from the same nation, or 5 from the same league.
• 3 chemistry points: 7 players from the same club, 8 from the same nation, or 8 from the same league.

The important change for FC 26 specifically: chemistry stat boosts are 25% weaker than in prior years. Where full chemistry used to add bonuses on a 4/8/12 scale to a player's stats, FC 26 uses a reduced 3/6/9 scale instead. Chemistry links still matter, but a slightly mismatched squad punishes you less than it used to — which makes FC 26 a somewhat more forgiving game to start building a team in.

Managers also count toward chemistry: assigning one from a league or nation you're leaning into gives you an extra, free connection without spending a roster slot.

02Building Your First Squad

The fastest route to a workable, high-chemistry squad as a new player is picking one league — the Premier League and LaLiga both have deep enough player pools to fill all 11 starting positions without stretching your budget — and building around it rather than chasing individually high-rated cards from different leagues.

• Chemistry before rating. A lower-rated card that links cleanly into your squad usually outperforms a higher-rated card that breaks your chemistry, especially early on when you can't afford to fix links with expensive alternatives.
• Replace one position at a time. Start with the free players already in your club from campaign rewards and objectives, then swap in one upgrade at a time and play a match or two before replacing the next player. This keeps your chemistry and your budget under control simultaneously.
• Check position, not just card. A card played out of its natural position weakens both its own contribution and the chemistry links around it — always check the position indicator on the squad screen before locking in a starter.
• Apply chemistry styles once your XI is settled. Chemistry styles redistribute stat bonuses across pace, shooting, passing, dribbling, defending, and physicality — worth doing once your lineup has stopped changing week to week, not while you're still swapping players in and out.

03SBCs: The Beginner-Friendly Way to Build Without Spending

Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) ask you to hand in a specific combination of players in exchange for a pack, a player, or other rewards. For new players, they're the best use of the bronze and silver cards you'll never actually play, since fodder that's otherwise worthless in your club can be exchanged for real value.

The Foundations SBC chain is specifically built for players starting out — it's structured to be completed largely from a starter club without buying anything from the transfer market, and it feeds into further SBC unlocks as you progress. Working through it in your first sessions is a reliable way to build squad depth for free.

Practical habit: don't sell every duplicate or bronze/silver card the moment you get it. Hold onto them until you check whether an active SBC needs that exact rating, league, or nation combination first.

04Evolutions: Free Upgrades Worth Doing Early

Evolutions let you permanently upgrade a specific player's card by completing a set of tasks — usually things like scoring a number of goals or getting a certain number of assists with that player in Squad Battles or Rivals matches. Unlike packs, Evolutions guarantee the outcome: no randomness, just playing time invested into a card you choose.

As a beginner, look for the introductory Evolution paths aimed at a starting striker or midfielder who needs a specific stat boost — pace or shooting are common early targets. Completing one gives you a genuinely improved card for free and teaches you the Evolutions system before the more demanding, higher-rated Evolution paths appear later in the season.

05Squad Battles Before Rivals

New players are often tempted straight into Rivals (the main online competitive mode) because that's where rewards and rank feel most visible. A better early sequence is to spend your first sessions in Squad Battles against AI opponents instead.

• Squad Battles lets you test your squad's chemistry, formation, and individual player performance without the pressure — or the skill gap — of playing against other online players immediately.
• It's also where most Evolution objectives (goals, assists, clean sheets with a specific player) are easiest to complete, since you control the difficulty level.
• Once your squad feels settled and you're comfortable with your chosen formation and tactics, move into Rivals for the better long-term rewards it offers over Squad Battles.