EA Sports has officially kicked off the hype for FC 26 with the reveal of its Ultimate Edition cover, starring Swedish football legend Zlatan Ibrahimović. The announcement confirms that Ibrahimović will return to the game as an Icon in Ultimate Team, celebrating his storied career with clubs like Ajax, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan, LA Galaxy, and more. Known for his dominant presence and flair both on and off the field, his inclusion is already generating excitement across the soccer/football community.
The new cover is a creative re-creation of a famous early photo from Ibrahimović’s time at Malmö FF. In the original, a young Zlatan sits in his bedroom surrounded by posters of his idol, Ronaldo Nazário. EA’s version keeps the original setup while filling the scene with Easter eggs and subtle nods to moments from his career.
Fans have already spotted several references. There are framed photos of his iconic bicycle kick for Sweden and visual callouts to teams like Ajax, PSG, LA Galaxy, and Malmö. The computer screen on the desk shows what appears to be the FC 26 interface and hints at U.S. soccer star Alex Morgan possibly joining the Icon lineup. Homages to Ronaldo also appear throughout the room. AC Milan and Manchester United are notably absent, likely due to EA’s licensing restrictions with those clubs.
While the Ultimate Edition cover is now confirmed, EA has yet to reveal the Standard Edition. Leaks suggest Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala will be featured. Bellingham was on last year’s FC 25 cover, while this would be Musiala’s first. Both are currently recovering from injuries and are not expected to be active when the game launches later this year.
The full FC 26 reveal is scheduled for Wednesday, July 16, at 11:57 a.m. ET. The trailer will showcase gameplay footage, new features, and updates to Ultimate Team and Career Mode. The game will launch on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Last year’s FC 25 had a strong launch but quickly lost momentum. Despite early success, many players stuck with FC 24, and long-standing gameplay issues resurfaced. EA CEO Andrew Wilson pointed to a slow player transition and weaker engagement as reasons the title underperformed financially. You can currently try out FC 25 on Xbox Game Pass.
This year, with Ibrahimović leading the charge and new features still under wraps, FC 26 is getting a fresh start. The Ultimate Edition’s creative and nostalgia-filled design is already generating buzz, and EA will be counting on the full reveal to reignite excitement across the fanbase.
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