EA released the latest FC 26 player of the month votes for both the Premier League and Serie A, sparking debates within the community. The Premier League nominees include Jack Grealish, João Pedro, Erling Haaland, and others, while Serie A features Marcus Thuram, Matías Soulé, Kenan Yıldız, and more. Based on performance stats, João Pedro, Grealish, and Thuram stand out as front-runners.

However, there’s a catch — EA added a disclaimer stating that no Premier League or Serie A player will receive a player of the month SBC card in FC26. This move frustrated many fans since past Ultimate Team seasons heavily relied on these cards to drive early-game excitement. While the wording makes it seem final, there’s still hope, as similar disclaimers appeared in FC25 before Schlatterbeck received an unexpected SBC.

Release Date Clarifications for PC and Console

EA’s community manager EA Pulsar confirmed the official FC26 release timing in a forum post. PC players will get access first, launching at 12:00 a.m. NZT on September 19, which converts to 8:00 a.m. ET and 1:00 p.m. UK time on September 18 for most regions.

Console players, however, follow a rolling release, unlocking midnight local time on September 19 per country. This means Xbox and PlayStation users won’t see a global simultaneous launch. Players on Xbox can still bypass timing restrictions using the New Zealand trick, while PlayStation users remain locked to regional access schedules.

Pepsi Packs, Zlatan Event, and Pack Code Leaks

Pepsi partnership promotions are returning for FC26, offering up to two special packs per account alongside themed kits. Some codes are already appearing on bottles in select regions, sparking early claims through alternative country redemptions.

Additionally, EA teased fans with a humorous “Zlatan FC” video showing every squad position — including the manager — filled by Zlatan Ibrahimović. While not yet confirmed as an in-game event, fans speculate this could become a themed featured match or career mode activation.

Meanwhile, newly discovered pack codes hint at test entries for 84×5 reward bundles and Trailblazers-themed content, suggesting early groundwork for FC26’s seasonal promos. These leaks remain unconfirmed but have the FUT community tracking database updates closely.

What to Expect Moving Forward

Despite limited concrete details, FC26 continues to build anticipation through scattered announcements and leaks. The absence of early Premier League and Serie A SBCs raises questions about EA’s Ultimate Team strategy this year. However, with player of the month SBCs historically central to progression, fans hope EA reintroduces them starting October.

For now, the focus shifts toward web app preparation, Pepsi promotions, and early trading strategies as September’s release window nears. Expect more news as EA pushes pre-launch updates and finalizes seasonal content structures in the coming weeks.