If previous installments are anything to go by, EA Sports FC 26 will likely end up being one of the best-selling video games of the year. With the game's launch now looming large on the horizon, many football fans are keen to learn when exactly they can start playing it, and whether or not there'll be any kind of early access period.
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As with last year's edition, EA Sports FC 26 release times vary a little depending on where in the world you're living and the platform on which you plan on playing it. Thankfully, this guide has PC, Xbox, and PlayStation release times for FC 26, as well as information about the companion and web apps for the game.
Early Access Release Times for FC 26
|
Location / Time Zone |
Console Release Time |
PC Release Time |
|---|---|---|
|
Los Angeles (PDT) |
21:00 (September 18) |
16:00 (September 18) |
|
New York (EDT) |
00:00 (September 19) |
19:00 (September 18) |
|
London (BST) |
00:00 (September 19) |
00:00 (September 19) |
|
Berlin (CEST) |
00:00 (September 19) |
01:00 (September 19) |
|
Cairo (EEST) |
00:00 (September 19) |
02:00 (September 19) |
|
Tokyo (JST) |
00:00 (September 19) |
08:00 (September 19) |
|
Sydney (AEST) |
00:00 (September 19) |
09:00 (September 19) |
|
Auckland (NZST) |
00:00 (September 19) |
11:00 (September 19) |
According to an official blog post on EA.com, console players with the Ultimate Edition will be able to start playing EA Sports FC 26 at midnight, local time, on September 19, with local time determined by the region of their console or account. For PC players, early access will begin at midnight BST on September 19. To find out the exact FC 26 early access release time for your region and platform, you can check the table above.
The early access release time for the PC version of EA Sports FC 26 has been changed to midnight BST on September 19. EA Play members will still gain access at 1 pm on September 18, as originally planned.
Standard Edition Release Times for FC 26
|
Location / Time Zone |
Console Release Time |
PC Release Time |
|---|---|---|
|
Los Angeles (PDT) |
21:00 (September 26) |
05:00 (September 25) |
|
New York (EDT) |
00:00 (September 26) |
08:00 (September 25) |
|
London (BST) |
00:00 (September 26) |
13:00 (September 25) |
|
Berlin (CEST) |
00:00 (September 26) |
14:00 (September 25) |
|
Cairo (EEST) |
00:00 (September 26) |
15:00 (September 25) |
|
Tokyo (JST) |
00:00 (September 26) |
21:00 (September 25) |
|
Sydney (AEST) |
00:00 (September 26) |
22:00 (September 25) |
|
Auckland (NZST) |
00:00 (September 26) |
00:00 (September 26) |
The standard edition of FC 26 will go live exactly one week after the early access period kicks off, meaning console players will gain access at midnight, local time, on September 26. For those on PC, the standard edition of EA Sports FC 26 will be playable from 1 pm BST on September 25.
EA Sports FC 26 Companion and Web App Release Times
According to EA, the FC 26 Web App will launch on September 17, with the Companion App refresh set to go live on September 18. As of the time of writing, the exact times for these have yet to be officially confirmed, although if last year's release times are anything to go by, football fans can expect them to go live at 6 pm BST on their respective release days.
How to Play EA Sports FC 26 Early
To get FC 26 early access, players can purchase the Ultimate Edition of EA Sports FC 26. Alternatively, EA Play members can take advantage of a 10-hour early access trial, with EA Play Pro members getting unlimited access to the trial on PC. The Ultimate Edition of FC 26 also includes 6,000 FC Points, the Season 1 Premium Pass, an additional Evo Slot, and a bunch of Clubs and Career mode content.
EA Sports FC 26
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 83%
- Released
- September 26, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone / In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- EA Vancouver, EA Romania
- Publisher(s)
- EA
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Sports
FAQ
Q: When Can I Start Playing EA Sports FC 26 on PlayStation?
According to EA, the FC 26 early access period will begin at midnight on September 19 (local time). Those who purchase the standard edition of the game will be able to start playing exactly one week later at midnight on September 26.
Q: When Can I Start Playing EA Sports FC 26 on PC?
PC players with early access will be able to start playing FC 26 at midnight BST on September 19. Those with the standard edition will gain access one week later at 1 pm BST on September 25.