EA FC 26 GAME MODE EXPLAINED - FRIENDLIES

In EA Sports FC 26 Ultimate Team, the sole purpose of grinding Rivals and Champs is for elite rewards, but sometimes you just crave pure, unfiltered fun with your squad.

Enter Friendlies—the revamped mode for casual battles against your mates, whether you're chilling on the couch or duking it out online across platforms. No sweat-soaked pressure, no impact on your Club record, just bragging rights, slick new stats tracking, and tournaments that are back with a bang.

In this guide, you'll master everything from accessing Friendlies to dominating your friends' squads, uncovering hidden strategies, and cashing in on those sweet tournament prizes.

WHAT IS EA FC 26 FRIENDLIES?

Friendlies in EA FC 26 Ultimate Team is your go-to spot for relaxed, friend-focused matches that let you test your dream squad without the high-stakes grind. You may invite your crew, tweak your tactics, and clash in pure 11v11 Classic Matches—no funky House Rules, no gimmicks, just straight-up football like Kick-Off but with your Ultimate Team stars.

You'll find two main flavors:

Couch Play: Up to four players on the same screen, teaming up 2v2 or going head-to-head locally. Perfect for game nights when everyone's in the room.
Play a Friend: Online showdowns via EA Connect invites, with full crossplay support across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Switch. Send an invite, and you're queuing up against your buddy's squad from anywhere.

What sets Friendlies apart? Red cards don't carry over, loan players aren't burned (that last-use loan stays intact), and matches don't touch your competitive record. You get basic coin rewards just for playing, keeping it light. Plus, tournaments are back—casual brackets with your pals that end in rewarding payouts.

CHANGES TO FRIENDLIES MODE IN FC 26

EA listened to feedback and overhauled Friendlies for FC 26, streamlining it into a leaner, more focused experience while packing in features that make rivalries epic. Gone are the cluttered House Rules and varied formats from FC 25—now it's all Classic Matches only, emphasizing traditional gameplay over chaos.

Key upgrades you'll love:

Comprehensive Stats Tracking: Dive into wins/losses/draws, goals scored/conceded (inside/outside box, pens, FKs), goal heatmaps, shot accuracy, total shots, average possession (with zone breakdowns), and passing accuracy. It's like having a pro analyst for every matchup.
Opposition Scouting Reports: Pre-match intel on your friend's playstyle—spot weaknesses in their defense or attack patterns to craft the perfect gameplan.
Tournaments Return: Casual brackets with friends, complete with rewards dropped at the end. No more endless menus; jump in for knockout fun.
Play Menu Redesign: Friendlies slots neatly under a simplified "Play vs Friend" tab, less prominent but easier to access amid the new "For You" and "Upcoming" hubs.

Live Events evolved from Friendlies' spirit, bringing themed comps elsewhere, but core Friendlies stays your private arena—purer, smarter, and banter-ready.

HOW TO GET STARTED IN EA FC 26 FRIENDLIES?

Diving in is a breeze. From the Ultimate Team hub, you have to select Enter Game Modes and scroll to Play vs Friend.

For Online play you must open the EA Connect widget, add friends if needed, send an invite for "Play a Friend". Confirm crossplay in settings—they must accept, and you're live.

For Couch play you must choose "Couch Play", pass controllers, and pick sides (1v1 or 2v2).

On that note you might want to equip your best squad, but experiment with loans or hybrids. Auto-invite recurring mates for seamless sessions. Also, check their stats history pre-match to counter their meta.

FORMAT AND PROGRESSION OF FC 26 FRIENDLIES

Friendlies keeps it simple: standard 11v11 Classic Matches at 6-8 minutes half-length (adjustable), full rules—no offside traps or power-ups unless in a tournament variant.

Win conditions? First to whistle, with extra time if tied (no penalties in casual). Progression can be divided into two ways and that’s casual matches and tournaments.

In casual matches, you can have endless rematches and track lifetime head-to-head stats, such as your win percentage, goal difference and heatmaps, which evolve and fuel rivalries.

In tournaments you can create or join friend brackets (e.g., 8-player knockout). Advance via wins; losers get consolation games. Time-limited, mid-event joins allowed.

If you struggle to dominate then remember to review your opponent’s possession heatmap—if weak on flanks, overload wings. Also perform the tactical tweaks, so adjust the custom tactics pre-match; counter their passing accuracy with high press.

FRIENDLIES REWARDS SYSTEM IN FC 26

Rewards keep you hooked without the grind. Every match nets basic coins.

However tournaments is where you feast—payouts drop when brackets end, tiered by placement.

Typical tournament structure (event-specific):

Participation/1st Round Loss: FC 26 Coins + small pack.
Quarter/Semi: FC 26 Coins + pack or player pick.
Runner-Up: FC 26 Coins + packs + untradeable upgrade.
Champion: FC 26 Coins, pack, exclusive cosmetic, or promo loan.

Such rewards can be claimed instantly via My Packs tab.

CONCLUSION

Friendlies in EA FC 26 Ultimate Team is the breath of fresh air you need—casual yet competitive, with stats that fuel endless trash talk and tournaments that deliver real rewards.

In FC 26, EA nailed the friend-focused vibe while ditching the bloat. Whether couch-cooping locally or crossplay-clashing globally, you ought to have fun.

And should you want to have some sort of edge over your mates in Friendlies mode then consider buying FC 26 Coins which can get you almost any card from the transfer market. At SuperCoinsy we know how to provide FC Coins safe and sound!