For years, football games in the United States have had one problem.

They’ve always had passionate players, but they haven’t always been part of the same mainstream gaming conversation as Call of Duty, Fortnite or basketball games.

That is changing.

As Luke, an EA FC player, I’ve noticed that EA SPORTS FC 26 is getting harder to ignore in 2026. Soccer is becoming a bigger part of American sports culture, and EA FC gives players a way to follow the game even when they aren’t watching a match.

You might log in because your favorite player just received a new Ultimate Team item.

You might be building a squad.

You might be trying to complete Objectives before they expire.

Or maybe you’re already looking ahead to the next EA FC cycle, EA FC 26 hacks.

And honestly, that last one is one of the biggest stories right now.

Even while EA SPORTS FC 26 is still pulling serious player numbers, the community is already talking about FC 27, Pre-Season rewards and what can carry into the next game.

EA SPORTS FC 26 Is Still Pulling Big Player Numbers

Let’s start with the obvious question.

Are people still playing EA SPORTS FC 26 in August 2026?

Absolutely.

Steam’s official charts showed EA SPORTS FC 26 with around 68,000 concurrent players in one late-August snapshot. Other snapshots on the same weekend pushed the game close to 95,000 concurrent players.

And that’s just Steam.

It doesn’t represent the complete EA FC audience across PlayStation, Xbox, EA App and other platforms.

Third-party Steam tracking also recorded a 30-day peak of more than 137,000 concurrent players during August.

For me, the important takeaway is simple:

EA SPORTS FC 26 is still one of the most actively played sports games on PC as the current game cycle moves toward its next chapter.

That’s impressive because late in an annual sports game cycle, players usually start thinking about what comes next.

But instead of everyone simply leaving FC 26 behind, EA is using new Ultimate Team content and Pre-Season rewards to keep players engaged.

What Is Trending in EA SPORTS FC 26 in August 2026?

If you’ve been playing Ultimate Team recently, you probably know what the conversation is about.

What’s worth doing before FC 27 arrives?

EA’s August content focused heavily on the end of the FC 26 cycle.

The biggest themes included:

• Ultimate Rewind
• World Tour Season 10: Pre-Season
• Pre-Season Objectives
• Carryover rewards for EA SPORTS FC 27
• New Player Items
• Evolution Consumables
• Squad building opportunities

EA announced World Tour Season 10: Pre-Season on August 13, followed by Ultimate Rewind on August 14. On August 28, EA added Pre-Season Objectives that allow players to earn rewards designed to carry into FC 27 Ultimate Team.

And that is exactly the kind of thing that keeps me logging in.

At this point in the game cycle, I’m not just thinking:

“How can I improve my FC 26 squad?”

I’m also thinking:

“What can I earn now that might help me when the next game starts?”

That changes the entire motivation behind playing.

Ultimate Team Is Still Driving the Biggest Conversations

For me, EA FC without Ultimate Team would be a completely different experience.

And for millions of players, Ultimate Team is still the reason they keep returning.

You build a squad.

You open packs.

You chase Player Items.

You complete Objectives.

You experiment with Evolutions.

Then EA releases something new, and suddenly you’re looking at your squad all over again.

That’s why Ultimate Team creates so many search opportunities.

Players are constantly asking:

• Which players are worth getting?
• What is the best Ultimate Team squad?
• Which Objectives should I complete first?
• Are these rewards worth the grind?
• What are the best Evolutions?
• Which SBC is worth completing?
• What can carry over to FC 27?

For a gaming website targeting the US market, this is important.

EA FC search traffic isn’t only about the game itself.

It’s about constantly changing decisions inside the game.

The FC 27 Conversation Is Already Starting

This is probably the biggest search trend I would watch right now.

EA SPORTS FC 27.

By late August, EA was already connecting FC 26 activity to the next Ultimate Team cycle through carryover rewards.

That means players have a reason to search for information about both games at the same time.

Someone might search:

EA FC 26 Pre-Season rewards

Then immediately search:

What carries over to FC 27?

Then:

How do I get FC 27 rewards?

This is a strong content opportunity because it connects the existing audience with future demand.

Instead of treating FC 26 and FC 27 as completely separate topics, the transition between them can become its own content cluster.

Content Opportunities Around the Transition

• EA FC 26 Pre-Season: Everything You Need to Know
• Which Rewards Carry Over to FC 27?
• How to Complete EA FC 26 Pre-Season Objectives
• Are EA FC 26 Pre-Season Rewards Worth It?
• What to Do in Ultimate Team Before FC 27
• Best Way to Prepare for EA FC 27 Ultimate Team

From an SEO perspective, this is the moment when old-game and new-game search demand overlap.

That’s valuable.

The Searches I Would Target for the US Market

If I were building an EA FC content strategy around current US search trends, I wouldn’t rely on one keyword like “EA FC 26.”

I would target the questions players are asking right now.

1. EA FC 26 Pre-Season

This is one of the strongest current topics because it connects today’s gameplay with the next game.

Target searches could include:

• EA FC 26 Pre-Season
• EA FC 26 Pre-Season rewards
• EA FC 26 Pre-Season Objectives
• How to get FC 27 carryover rewards
• FC 26 rewards for FC 27

2. EA FC 26 Ultimate Team

Ultimate Team remains the biggest long-term content pillar.

Target topics include:

• Best EA FC 26 Ultimate Team players
• Best FC 26 squad
• Best cheap players in FC 26
• Best Evolutions
• Best SBCs
• Best formations
• Ultimate Team beginner guide

3. EA FC 26 Player Items

New Player Items create immediate interest.

Players want to know:

• Who received the upgrade?
• What are the new stats?
• Is the player worth buying?
• How does the player fit into my squad?

That makes player-focused content a strong mix of search traffic and social content.

4. EA FC 26 Best Teams and Players

This is one of the more evergreen opportunities.

Not every player is deep into Ultimate Team.

Some just want to start a match and ask:

“Who should I play as?”

Content ideas:

• Best Teams in EA FC 26
• Best Clubs to Use in EA FC 26
• Best Players in EA FC 26
• Fastest Players in EA FC 26
• Best Young Players for Career Mode

5. EA FC 27

As the current cycle approaches its transition period, interest in the next game becomes increasingly important.

Confirmed news, official announcements and carryover information should be separated clearly from leaks and speculation.

That gives you a reliable way to cover:

• EA FC 27 news
• EA FC 27 release information
• FC 27 Ultimate Team
• FC 27 carryover rewards
• What changes from FC 26?

Why EA FC Is Becoming More Interesting for the US Market

This is where I think things get really interesting.

EA SPORTS FC has always been a global football game.

But the US opportunity is getting bigger.

American fans are following more international soccer than ever before.

The Premier League has a major US audience.

European football is easier to watch.

Major League Soccer continues to build attention.

And international football is becoming an even bigger part of the American sports calendar.

For EA FC, that means more potential players are entering the game from different directions.

Someone might be a longtime Real Madrid fan.

Someone else might only follow MLS.

Another player might become interested through international football.

EA FC puts all of those audiences into the same digital football ecosystem.

EA says FC 26 includes more than 20,000 players, 750 clubs and national teams, over 120 stadiums and 35 leagues.

That scale is one of the game’s biggest strengths.

You can follow your favorite real-world competition, then jump into the game and build a completely different football story.

Career Mode, Clubs and More Ways to Play

Ultimate Team gets most of the headlines, but it’s not the only reason to play EA FC 26.

That’s something I think gets overlooked when people judge the game only through Ultimate Team.

Career Mode

Career Mode remains the place for players who want something more personal.

You can take control of a club.

Try to build a team.

Sign young players.

Make terrible transfers and regret them three games later.

Or take a smaller club all the way to the top.

EA FC 26 also expanded international football experiences with a tournament mode featuring 48 national teams, along with international-themed Manager Live Challenges and new international ICONs and Heroes in Player Career.

Clubs

For players who want to play with friends, Clubs gives the game another social layer.

FC 26 also introduced the ability to affiliate with up to three clubs and added a revamped Be-A-Goalkeeper system in Clubs Rush.

That means EA FC isn’t just about building a virtual dream squad.

Sometimes it’s about getting your friends online and trying to create something ridiculous together.

And yes, sometimes it’s about blaming your friend for conceding in the 89th minute.

Why Players Keep Coming Back to EA FC 26

As Luke, my answer is simple.

Football never really stops giving EA FC something to talk about.

A new real-world tournament happens.

A player has an incredible season.

A major football moment creates new discussion.

Then Ultimate Team reacts with new content.

That connection between real football and the game is one of EA FC’s biggest advantages.

Fortnite needs a new collaboration.

COD needs a new season.

EA FC has those content cycles too.

But it also has an entire sport creating conversations outside the game.

And when those worlds connect, player interest can rise quickly.

Is EA SPORTS FC 26 Still Worth Playing in 2026?

From my point of view?

Yes.

Especially if you enjoy football and want more than one way to play.

There is still plenty happening in Ultimate Team.

Current Pre-Season content gives players a reason to keep completing Objectives.

New rewards can influence how players prepare for the next game.

And the player numbers show that the community is still very active on Steam alone.

Of course, we’re also reaching that point in the annual cycle where the next EA FC game starts becoming part of the conversation.

But I don’t think that means FC 26 is suddenly finished.

If anything, the transition is part of the current trend.

Players are still playing FC 26 while preparing for whatever comes next.

Final Thoughts: EA FC 26 Is Still a Big Game, and the US Opportunity Is Growing

If you’re looking for games that still have strong player activity in August 2026, EA SPORTS FC 26 deserves to be in the conversation.

Late-August Steam charts placed the game among the platform’s most-played titles, with tens of thousands of players online at the same time and recent peaks moving well above 100,000.

Again, that’s only one platform.

The complete EA FC audience is spread across multiple platforms.

But even the Steam numbers make one thing clear:

Players haven’t moved on yet.

And for a gaming website targeting the US market, the opportunity isn’t just to write “EA FC 26 is popular.”

The better strategy is to follow what players are actually searching for.

• Ultimate Team rewards
• Pre-Season Objectives
• Carryover rewards
• Best players
• Best squads
• Evolutions
• SBCs
• Career Mode
• Clubs
• EA FC 27

As a player, that’s why I think EA FC is interesting right now.

I’m still playing the current game.

But I’m also watching what happens next.

And I know I’m not the only one.

That’s the real trend heading into the next chapter:

FC 26 isn’t just trying to keep players playing. It’s turning the end of one game into the beginning of the next conversation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is EA SPORTS FC 26 still popular in August 2026?

Yes. Late-August Steam charts showed EA SPORTS FC 26 with roughly 68,000 to 95,000 concurrent players in different snapshots. Third-party Steam tracking recorded a 30-day peak of more than 137,000 players. These numbers represent Steam only and do not include console or other PC platforms.

What is trending in EA FC 26 right now?

Major late-August 2026 topics include Ultimate Team Pre-Season, Ultimate Rewind, Player Items, Objectives, Evolution Consumables and rewards designed to carry into EA SPORTS FC 27 Ultimate Team.

What are the best EA FC 26 content topics?

Strong topics include Ultimate Team, Pre-Season rewards, Objectives, carryover rewards, best players, best squads, Evolutions, SBCs, Career Mode, Clubs and the transition from FC 26 to FC 27.

Why is EA FC relevant to the US gaming market?

Soccer continues to attract a larger audience in the United States, while EA FC brings international football, domestic leagues, clubs, national teams and major competitions into one gaming ecosystem. This creates opportunities to target both gaming and football-related search interest.

Should players still complete EA FC 26 Pre-Season Objectives?

EA announced that selected Pre-Season Objectives offer rewards designed to carry over into EA SPORTS FC 27 Ultimate Team. Players should check the official Objective requirements and reward details before deciding which content to complete.