EA FC 26’s massive June update is expected to add around 60 national teams, new stadiums, and a generic World Cup mode. Turkey is among the nations with a high chance of being included.
EA SPORTS FC 26 launched in September 2025 with just 28 men’s national teams, a sharp decline from the 49 nations available in FIFA 20. A massive title update expected in early June 2026 could change that dramatically, with reliable leaks pointing to roughly 60 national teams being added through a “Festival of Football” content drop. Turkey, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, and dozens more are on the list.
Why Are So Many National Teams Missing from EA FC 26?
The root cause is licensing. After EA and FIFA ended their long-running partnership, the series rebranded from FIFA to EA SPORTS FC. While club licenses have remained largely intact, national team licensing has suffered significantly. EA FC 26 launched with only 28 men’s national teams, with 22 of them European. Major footballing nations like Brazil, Belgium, Turkey, and even Canada (one of the 2026 World Cup host countries) were absent at launch.
Between FIFA 14 and FIFA 22, there were never fewer than 47 nations in the game. The current situation left EA FC 26 unable to run even a standard 32-team tournament, let alone simulate the expanded 48-team World Cup 2026 format. The community has been vocal about this gap, with EA Forum threads specifically requesting the addition of teams like Turkey, citing the country’s talented players (Hakan Çalhanoğlu at 93 OVR, Arda Güler at 81 OVR) and massive fanbase.
What Is the “Festival of Football” Update?
According to multiple reliable sources, EA is preparing a major title update codenamed “Festival of Football,” set to arrive in early June 2026 to coincide with the real-world 2026 FIFA World Cup. Since EA no longer holds the official FIFA World Cup license, the in-game tournament will use a generic format, likely branded as “International Cup” with a custom logo, alternative trophy, and its own broadcast package.
Despite the generic branding, the content itself will be substantial. EA can still include official adidas match balls (the Trionda), licensed kits for national teams, authentic stadiums, and real player faces. The update is expected to bring the total national team count to around 60.
Which National Teams Are Being Added?
The leaked information breaks down the new additions into confirmed and high-probability tiers:
Confirmed new additions:
- Brazil, Uruguay, Canada, Panama, Haiti, Jordan, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Indonesia
High probability (qualified for the 2026 World Cup):
- Algeria, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cape Verde, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Curaçao, DR Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, Iran, Japan, Korea Republic, New Zealand, Paraguay, Senegal, South Africa, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey
If all listed teams are included, the game would finally have enough nations to run a proper World Cup simulation. The 28 teams already in the game combined with the additions would create a roster comparable to the FIFA-era titles.
Turkey’s Path to EA FC 26
Turkey’s potential inclusion comes at a particularly meaningful moment. The Turkish national team qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Kosovo, marking their first World Cup appearance since their historic third-place finish in 2002. The timing aligns perfectly with EA’s planned June update.
Adding weight to the speculation, Turkey’s eSports national team head coach Tolga Atalay made a public statement on May 5, 2026, saying: “There’s a very big surprise coming from EA SPORTS in June. Very big. It looks like it will be the thing you’ve been wanting for years.” Given Atalay’s official position and direct connection to EA SPORTS through the eFootball programme, his comments carry genuine authority.
Turkish players already exist in EA FC 26 through their club teams. The top-rated Turkish players in the game include Hakan Çalhanoğlu (93 OVR), Orkun Kökçü (82 OVR), Arda Güler (81 OVR), Barış Alper Yılmaz (80 OVR), and Kerem Aktürkoğlu (80 OVR). What’s been missing is the official national team structure: the kit, badge, anthem, and squad configuration.
New Stadiums and Real Faces Coming Too
The World Cup update is not limited to teams. Three licensed 2026 World Cup stadiums are already in EA FC 26: BC Place (Canada), Lumen Field (USA), and Mercedes-Benz Stadium (USA). Four additional stadium codes have been found in the game’s database, with candidates including MetLife Stadium, Hard Rock Stadium, AT&T Stadium, SoFi Stadium, BMO Field, NRG Stadium, and more.
Legacy real faces are also returning for players who had face scans in older FIFA titles. The expected list includes Marko Arnautović (Austria), Lucas Paquetá (Brazil), Danilo (Brazil), Enner Valencia (Ecuador), Aïssa Laïdouni (Tunisia), and others. Real manager likenesses such as Carlo Ancelotti and Fabio Cannavaro may also be part of the package.
What This Means for Career Mode and Ultimate Team
The expansion from 28 to approximately 60 national teams transforms several game modes. In Career Mode, managers will be able to take charge of newly added nations and compete in international tournaments. The custom tournament mode, which currently caps at 16 teams due to limited nation availability, will become far more functional for World Cup recreations.
In Ultimate Team, the addition of new national teams typically comes with special event content. EA’s Season 8, titled “The Festival of Football,” has already been teased as the culmination of the game’s seasonal content cycle, with host nation and winning nation players appearing across Season Ladder rewards, SBCs, and Objectives.
EA FC 26 Is Now Free on PS Plus
The timing of these developments is notable. EA SPORTS FC 26 was added to the PlayStation Plus Essential lineup in May 2026, making it free for all PS Plus subscribers. The PS5 version holds an 84 on Metacritic. With millions of new players potentially downloading the game, a massive national team expansion in June could significantly boost engagement at a crucial point in the game’s lifecycle.
The Modding Community Didn’t Wait
PC players who couldn’t wait for official licensing took matters into their own hands. A mod on Nexus Mods adds the Turkish national team with custom name, logo, kits, anthem, scarves, flags, and banners. While this only works on PC and doesn’t carry official licensing, it demonstrates the depth of community demand for Turkey’s inclusion.
Key Questions Players Are Asking
Is Turkey’s addition to EA FC 26 officially confirmed?
No official announcement has come from EA. However, Turkey appears on the “high probability” list from reliable leakers, and the comments from Turkey’s eSports national team coach strongly suggest an upcoming announcement. The update is expected in early June.
Will there be a real World Cup mode?
Not exactly. EA no longer holds the FIFA World Cup license, so the tournament will use a generic name, logo, and trophy. However, licensed national team kits, official adidas match balls, and real stadiums will ensure on-pitch authenticity. Think of it as the World Cup experience without the official FIFA branding.
How many national teams will EA FC 26 have after the update?
Currently 28 men’s national teams are in the game. The June update is expected to bring the total to approximately 60, which would be enough for a full 48-team World Cup simulation plus additional nations.
Which platforms get the update?
The title update is expected across all platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch 2, and Nintendo Switch.
Will the new teams work in Career Mode?
Based on previous EA updates that added national teams, new nations should be fully integrated into Career Mode, tournament mode, and kick-off. Ultimate Team is also expected to receive related content through the Festival of Football seasonal event.
The June 2026 update could be the most significant post-launch content drop in EA FC 26’s lifecycle. For fans of international football, particularly those who have waited years for their national team to appear in the game, it represents a long-overdue correction. If you’re looking to prepare your Ultimate Team for the summer content wave, you can pick up EA FC 26 FC Points on GamerMarkt to be ready when the update drops.
