Should I let my child play EA Sports FC 26?
3+
Only with conditions
From age 3, on an EA child or teen account with spending kept at zero, because the game sells packs of random player cards.
The football itself is fine for any age: PEGI rates it 3 and ESRB rates it for everyone. The risk is Ultimate Team, an online mode that sells packs of random player cards, a kind of loot box. From June 2026 Europe's rating board PEGI rates new games with paid random items 16 or higher, so next year's game is expected to be rated 16. EA's controls are strong: child accounts have no online play at all, so no card packs or chat, and teen accounts start with spending at zero. With those in place, it's only with conditions, and the steps below are the conditions.
EA Sports FC 26 passes all 7 safety checks. See how we decided, and the official age ratings
What is EA Sports FC 26?
EA Sports FC 26 is the football game that used to be called FIFA. Children play matches with real teams, build a career, or collect players for Ultimate Team, an online mode built around buying packs of random player cards.
Our advice by age
- Under 3
- NoPEGI rates it 3 and over.
- 3 to 12
- Only with conditionsOnly on an EA child account. It has no online play, so no card packs, no chat and no online matches, but they can still play matches and careers.
- 13 to 17
- Only with conditionsOnly on an EA teen account with spending kept at zero, and communication limited to friends. Talk to them about card packs before they ask, and set up every step below.
What to watch out for
Paid packs of random cardsRisk is high by default, low with controls on
Ultimate Team sells packs of random player cards for real money, a kind of loot box, and the best players are rare. Some countries have treated this as close to gambling. On a child account there's no Ultimate Team, and on a teen account spending starts at zero.
Contact with strangersRisk is medium by default, low with controls on
Online matches put children against strangers, with voice chat. Child accounts have no online play, and teen accounts can only chat with friends.
Time spentRisk is medium by default, low with controls on
Weekly challenges and rewards keep players coming back. The game's Playtime controls can limit matches per week.
What's good about it
- Real football that children can play together on one console
- Strong EA controls for spending, packs and play time
- Child accounts can't reach online play or card packs at all
- No player-made content
How to set it up safely
Required steps are the conditions of our verdict. If you can't do them, our answer is no. Takes about ten minutes. Do it with your child so they know what's switched on and why.
Use an EA child or teen accountRequired
Set your child's real date of birth. Under-13s get a child account with no online play; teens get chat with friends only.
Keep spending at zeroRequired
Teen accounts start at zero. Leave it there, or set a small monthly limit, and turn on purchase approval in your console's settings.
Limit communication to friendsRequired
In your console's parental controls, set communication with other players to friends only or off. It applies inside the game too.
Set Playtime limitsRecommended
In the game's Playtime settings, limit card packs and matches per week.
Talk about card packsRecommended
Explain that packs are a gamble for a rare player, and agree your family's rules before they ask.
Recent news
- All games with loot boxes will be rated minimum PEGI 16, starting this summerVideo Games Chronicle
Europe's rating board now rates new games with paid random items at least 16, so EA Sports FC 27 is expected to be rated 16.
- EA Sports FC loot boxes are not a form of gambling, according to Austrian Supreme CourtGamereactor
Austria's highest court ruled Ultimate Team packs aren't gambling under its law. Other countries have taken a stricter view.
Common questions
What age is EA Sports FC 26 suitable for?
PEGI rates it 3, so the football is fine for young children. Our answer is only with conditions at any age, because of Ultimate Team's paid card packs: use an EA child or teen account and keep spending at zero.
Are Ultimate Team packs gambling?
They're packs of random player cards bought with real money, a kind of loot box. Courts disagree on whether that's gambling, but Europe's rating board PEGI now rates new games with them 16 or higher.
How do I stop my child spending money in EA Sports FC 26?
Use an EA teen account, which starts with spending at zero, and turn on purchase approval in your console's settings. On a child account they can't reach Ultimate Team at all.
Can strangers talk to my child in EA Sports FC 26?
Not on an EA child account, which has no online play. Teen accounts can only chat with friends, and your console's communication settings apply inside the game.
All my child's friends play Ultimate Team. What should I do?
That's hard when friends are opening packs. Explain why rather than just saying no: talk about how packs work and why the rare players are rare on purpose. If you let them play it, keep spending at zero or set a small monthly limit you've agreed together.
What would change your verdict?
Ultimate Team dropping paid packs of random cards. Then the game could get a plain yes.
How old was your child when they first played EA Sports FC 26?
Other parents' answers. They don't change our verdict.