Every year, the TOTY squad recognizes the best players in world football over the past 12 months, resulting in some of the most overpowered cards in the game. These cards are notoriously rare, game-changing, and instantly inflate the price of fodder and high-rated players across the board as the community scrambles to complete related Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) and open packs.
For those new to the grind in EA Sports FC 26, the voting process is simple: you select your ultimate XI from a shortlist provided by EA. While the community vote doesn't solely determine the final lineup—EA always keeps a percentage of the decision in-house—it heavily influences which players receive those coveted blue upgrades.
The current state of the game’s meta almost guarantees certain positions will see immediate, massive upgrades. Expect the usual suspects in the attacking third who have dominated the real-world leagues. However, in the midfield and defense, the choices become more nuanced, reflecting which players have the best in-game stats and PlayStyles that complement the current meta.
If you're sitting on a stash of packs, now is the time to finalize your strategy. Do you hold them for the full TOTY release (usually later in January) when all players are in packs simultaneously, or do you start opening as soon as the first positions drop? The key is timing your pack openings to maximize the tiny window where the full, most valuable squad is available.
Get ready to cast your votes and, more importantly, brace yourself for the market chaos. The TOTY event is less about the voting and more about the three weeks of intense Ultimate Team activity that follows.
Soren