COMPLETE GUIDE TO EA FC 26 CORNERSTONES

EA Sports FC 26 Cornerstones arrives as EA's first major promo following the worldwide launch of the game. This exciting new addition shines a spotlight on the players who truly form the backbone of their clubs.

When building your fc 26 ultimate team, you'll find these Cornerstones cards particularly valuable. They represent trusted leaders, impactful long-term signings, and rising young talents who have stepped into central roles at their clubs. Additionally, ea fc 26 enhances these special cards with permanent stat upgrades and a +2 Club Chemistry boost, cementing their status as essential pillars for any squad. The fc 26 promo is set to drop special packs on the official release date, with further cards available through themed SBCs and Objectives.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Cornerstones - from how to obtain these cards to maximising their potential in your Ultimate Team.

WHAT IS THE FC 26 CORNERSTONES PROMO?

The Cornerstones promo officially launched on Friday, September 26, 2025, at 10:00 AM PT, marking a significant shift in EA's approach to Ultimate Team content. This new event replaces the traditional season-opening promos like Ones To Watch or RTTK that players have come to expect in previous years.

Essentially, Cornerstones celebrates the players who form the foundation of their clubs' success. These special cards represent three distinct player archetypes: trusted leaders who guide their teams, pivotal long-term signings who've made lasting impacts, and emerging young talents stepping into central roles.

What makes these cards special is their permanent stat upgrades and enhanced chemistry benefits. Each Cornerstones card comes with a +2 Club Chemistry link, giving you greater flexibility when building your fc 26 ultimate team squads early in the game cycle.

How it fits into the FC 26 promo calendar?

Cornerstones occupies a strategic position in the ea fc 26 promotional calendar. As the inaugural promo, it launches precisely as the Early Access period concludes and the game becomes available worldwide. This timing is no coincidence - it ensures all players, regardless of when they join the game, have the opportunity to experience this new content.

The fc 26 promo calendar traditionally kicked off with Round to the Knockouts (RTTK), but the developers have clearly chosen to shake things up this season. This change signals EA's willingness to experiment with fresh content rather than relying solely on established formulas.

While EA hasn't officially confirmed the duration, the fc 26 promo is expected to run for either one or two weeks, with Team 2 scheduled for release on Friday, October 3. Throughout this period, you'll have access to:

Special Cornerstones packs in the store
Themed Squad Building Challenges (SBCs)
Objectives and Evolutions featuring Cornerstones players
Live Events like the Cornerstones Regular Event

This comprehensive approach ensures the promo maintains player engagement while providing multiple pathways to obtain these special cards for your Ultimate Team.

OFFICIAL EA FC 26 CORNERSTONES CARDS

Here are the actual FC 26 Cornerstones cards that are now live in Ultimate Team 26:

HOW TO GET FC 26 CORNERSTONES CARDS?

There are multiple ways to acquire FC 26 Cornerstones players for your Ultimate Team squad. From opening packs to completing challenges, each method offers different advantages depending on your playstyle and resources.

Packs and store availability

The most straightforward path to obtaining Cornerstones cards is through packs. These special items can appear in any pack that contains player cards. Currently, higher odds exist in packs containing more players. If you're feeling lucky, head to the store and purchase packs using either coins or FC Points to try your hand at pulling these cards.

Importantly, throughout the fc 26 promo period, the gold versions of featured Cornerstones players are temporarily removed from packs. This reduction in supply potentially increases the market value of their standard cards, making this an interesting period for investors.

SBCs (Squad Building Challenges)

EA has released several Squad Building Challenges specifically for fc 26 ultimate team players to obtain Cornerstones cards. The first notable SBC features Martin Zubimendi, with his card rated at 86 OVR. This SBC requires completing five separate challenges, including Spain (83-rated), Premier League (84-rated), and three rating-based squads (84, 85, and 86).

Additionally, EA offers simpler fodder challenges like Cornerstones Challenge 1, which has relatively straightforward requirements: minimum two players from the same league, at least three nationalities, three rare players, minimum team rating of 65, and at least 12 chemistry points. Completing this rewards you with a tradeable Premium Gold Pack.

Objectives and seasonal rewards

The Cornerstones Exhibitions objective presents an excellent opportunity to earn Arnau Martinez's 84-rated Cornerstones card completely free. This objective features six tasks, from which you need to complete any four. The challenges involve playing matches with specific league requirements:

Premier League: Play 5 matches with minimum 3 Premier League players
La Liga: Play 5 matches with minimum 2 La Liga players
Serie A: Play 5 matches with minimum 2 Serie A players

Seasonal objectives also provide opportunities to earn packs that may contain Cornerstones players. Complete Season 1 Weekly Play objectives to claim exclusive pack rewards.

Transfer market options

For those with limited time or patience, the transfer market offers a direct route to acquiring specific Cornerstones players. Given the temporary removal of gold versions during the promotion, prices typically fluctuate based on demand and card performance.

If you're planning to trade during this period, remember ea fc 26 has implemented transfer market restrictions. After listing eight players, you must wait 24 hours before buying or selling more. This restriction affects how quickly you can flip cards, so plan your market activities accordingly.

Alternatively, buying FC 26 Coins at our store - https://supercoinsy.com/fc26-coins - to purchase Cornerstones cards directly might be more efficient than testing your luck with packs, especially for specific players you want to add to your squad.

CONCLUSION

FC 26 Cornerstones certainly represents a thoughtful evolution in EA's approach to Ultimate Team promotions. Rather than rushing the power curve, this promo celebrates players who truly form the backbone of their clubs through measured stat upgrades and enhanced chemistry benefits. The +2 Club Chemistry boost stands out as particularly valuable during the early stages of Ultimate Team, when achieving full chemistry often proves challenging.

Whether you're targeting club leaders like Bruno Fernandes, established stars like Federico Valverde, or rising talents like Cole Palmer, these cards offer excellent foundations for your squad. Additionally, the permanent nature of their upgrades ensures they'll retain value throughout the season, unlike some promotional cards that quickly become outdated.

The multiple pathways to obtain Cornerstones cards give you flexibility based on your preferred playstyle and available resources. You might test your luck with packs, complete SBCs for specific players like Zubimendi, tackle objectives for free cards like Arnau Martinez, or simply purchase your desired cards directly from the transfer market.

Overall, FC 26 Cornerstones serves as an excellent starting point for your Ultimate Team journey. These cards effectively balance immediate utility with long-term value while supporting EA's vision for a more gradual progression throughout the season. As you build your squad, these foundational players will likely remain valuable components well beyond the promotional period, justifying their status as true cornerstones of any successful Ultimate Team.