How to Play FC 26 Player Career Mode

Learn how to create a player in FC 26 Career Mode and kick-start your football journey.

---

Select PLAYER CAREER

To begin your career as a player in FC 26, go to PLAY MODES in the main menu, then select NEW CAREER. If there’s a squads update available, you may be prompted to update your squad data. You will then have three options: CREATE YOUR PRO or SELECT A REAL PLAYER.

• Download Latest – The latest squads and player data (if available).
• Use Current Squads – Uses the squads currently installed, whether updated or not.
• Use Initial Squads – Uses the default launch-day squads.

We recommend downloading the latest data if available.

---

Create Your Player

This option allows you to build your player from scratch as CREATE NEW PLAYER or to select a real player as PLAY AS REAL PLAYER.

By selecting CREATE YOUR PRO, you will first choose a player avatar and then enter your player’s details as follows:

INFO

Personal information for your Virtual Pro:

• First Name
• Last Name
• Known As – Name displayed on your kit
• Commentary Name – Selectable from the FC 26 commentary database
• Team
• Kit Number – Preferred squad number
• Nationality / Region – Country name
• Birth Year
• Birth Month
• Birth Day

ATHLETIC

Details about your player’s body and physical attributes. Height and weight directly affect certain stats (Acceleration, Agility, Balance, Jumping, Reactions, Sprint Speed, Stamina, Strength) with real-time changes shown as you edit.

POSITION

Your player’s on-field position:

• Position – Forward, Midfielder, Defender, or Goalkeeper
• Role – Specific role within the position
• Preferred Foot – Right or Left

HEAD

Customise your player’s head type, facial features, and hairstyle:

• Face – Shapes & types
• Tone & Complexion – Skin tones
• Eyes – Type, colour, shape, position, separation, protrusion & rotation
• Brows – Type, colour, shape, position, separation, protrusion & rotation
• Nose – Shape, position, separation, protrusion & rotation
• Mouth – Size, position & protrusion
• Cheeks & Jaws – Position & fullness
• Chin – Size, protrusion & fullness
• Ears – Size, earlobe, protrusion, helix & pitch
• Hair – Colour & style (short, medium, long, accessorised)
• Facial Hair – Type & colour (moustache, beard, etc.)

KIT

Customise your player’s kit & accessories:

• Boots & Accessories – Boots, socks & ankle tape
• Gloves & Wrists – Gloves, left & right wrist accessories
• Kit Fit – Waist fit (tucked in/untucked), sleeve type (short, long, undershirt, turtleneck undershirt), jersey fit (normal or tight)

ANIMATION

Set your player’s animations for:

• Goal Celebration
• Set Piece Style
• Running Style

Once you’ve completed your player setup, press Advance (Options/Menu) to continue, then select a club for your Virtual Pro.

Choose a Real Player

If you select PLAY AS A REAL PLAYER, choose your favourite footballer from their real-world club and take control of their career.

Next, adjust your career settings.

---

Choose Your Club

After creating your player, choose a club to join. Your favourite club will appear by default, but you may select another. Only men’s clubs are available, and national teams cannot be chosen.

---

Career Settings

• Match Difficulty – Beginner, Amateur, Semi-Pro, Professional, World Class, Legendary, or Ultimate
• Half Length – 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, or 20 minutes
• Currency – Sterling, Dollars, or Euros
• European Competitions – Enable/Disable (UCL, UEL, UECL)
• Transfer Window – Enable/Disable (First Summer Transfer Window)
• International Offers – Enable/Disable (Job offers from national teams)
• Negotiation Strictness – Strict or Loose
• Financial Takeover – Enable/Disable (Start with a large cash injection)

---

Save Your Career

Save your career progress locally on your console or PC.

---

Next, you’ll see a cinematic scene introducing your Virtual Pro to the first team. This can be skipped.

---

Start Your Career

Begin your career by playing matches, training, and developing your player.