The first Squad Building Challenge (SBC) event for EA FC 26 Ultimate Team has officially landed, and it’s bringing the community-favourite Marquee Matchups back into the spotlight. These challenges lean into real-world football rivalries and fixtures, giving players a creative and affordable way to build up their squads early on. If you’re jumping into the grind with the Ultimate Edition or even just playing through the Web App ahead of full release, this SBC is a no-brainer.
Let’s break down all the Marquee Matchups SBC tasks in EA FC 26, along with the most efficient and cheapest squad solutions you can use right now to bag those precious tradable rewards.
When did EA FC 26 Marquee Matchups SBC go live?
The Marquee Matchups SBC went live on September 18, 2025, at 5:00 PM UTC, announced by the reputable EA FC community source @FIFA22_INFO on X (formerly Twitter).
Whether you’ve got early access through the Ultimate Edition or you’re diving into the Web App, these SBCs are live and ready to tackle right now.
What is the Marquee Matchups SBC in EA FC 26?
For those not in the know: Marquee Matchups SBCs reflect real-world hyped football fixtures, and each task requires building themed squads around these matches. This week, we’re looking at giants like Manchester City vs Arsenal and a classic Spanish fixture Real Madrid vs Espanyol, among others.
Let’s dig into the specific squad requirements and solutions.
EA FC 26 Marquee Matchups SBC Tasks
Task 1: Manchester City vs Arsenal
- Minimum 2 Manchester City or Arsenal players
- Minimum 2 England players
- Maximum 5 players from the same nation
- Minimum 2 Rare players (any tier)
- Minimum Squad Rating: 75
- Total Players: 11
Task 2: Real Madrid vs Espanyol
- Minimum 2 Spanish players
- Minimum 1 LaLiga player
- Minimum 3 Gold players
- Maximum 4 players from one club
- Total Players: 11
Task 3: Unspecified (Still Real Madrid vs Espanyol as per source)
- Minimum 1 Bundesliga player
- Minimum 2 players from the same club
- Minimum 2 Rare players (any tier)
- Maximum 3 players from the same league
- Total Players: 11
Task 4: Olympique de Marseille vs Paris Saint-Germain
- Minimum 1 French player
- Minimum 3 Silver players
- Maximum 6 players from the same nationality
- Total Players: 11
EA FC 26 Marquee Matchups SBC Cheapest Solutions
Solution 1 (Manchester City vs Arsenal)
| Player | Version | OVR | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kerolin Nicoli | Rare Gold | 80 | 700 |
| Fortounis | Rare Gold | 80 | 700 |
| Chris Smalling | Rare Gold | 80 | 700 |
| Fowler | Rare Gold | 79 | 600 |
| McGregor | Rare Gold | 79 | 600 |
| Lacazette | Rare Gold | 79 | 600 |
| Nlundulu | Rare Bronze | 61 | 250 |
| Doohan | Rare Bronze | 61 | 250 |
| Sobowale | Rare Bronze | 61 | 250 |
| Al Jayzani | Rare Bronze | 61 | 250 |
| Al Harbi | Rare Bronze | 61 | 250 |
Solution 2 (Real Madrid vs Espanyol)
| Player | Version | OVR | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diego Carlos | Rare Gold | 78 | 650 |
| Caqueret | Rare Gold | 77 | 650 |
| Dallinga | Rare Gold | 76 | 600 |
| Catro | Rare Gold | 76 | 600 |
| Lucumi | Rare Gold | 76 | 600 |
| Pedraza | Rare Gold | 75 | 600 |
| Vojvoda | Rare Gold | 75 | 600 |
| Pilgrim | Rare Gold | 75 | 600 |
| Valdezate | Rare Gold | 75 | 600 |
| Alberto Moreno | Rare Gold | 75 | 600 |
| Rowe | Rare Gold | 75 | 600 |
Solution 3
| Player | Version | OVR | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kehrer | Rare Gold | 79 | 700 |
| Mika Biereth | Rare Gold | 78 | 600 |
| Kondogbia | Rare Gold | 78 | 600 |
| Haraldsson | Rare Gold | 78 | 600 |
| Tagliafico | Rare Gold | 78 | 600 |
| Ndayishimiye | Rare Gold | 77 | 600 |
| Embolo | Rare Gold | 77 | 600 |
| Vanhoutte | Rare Gold | 77 | 600 |
| Chukwuemeka | Rare Gold | 76 | 600 |
| Lundgren | Rare Silver | 69 | 500 |
| Zugelj | Rare Bronze | 67 | 500 |
Solution 4
| Player | Version | OVR | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown | Rare Silver | 69 | 500 |
| Ivacic | Rare Silver | 67 | 500 |
| Mahmmoud | Rare Silver | 67 | 500 |
| Hanlan | Rare Bronze | 63 | 400 |
| Fielding | Rare Bronze | 63 | 400 |
| Eccleston | Rare Bronze | 62 | 400 |
| Chapman | Rare Bronze | 62 | 400 |
| Hall | Rare Bronze | 62 | 400 |
| Stickland | Rare Bronze | 61 | 300 |
| Mitchell | Rare Bronze | 61 | 300 |
| Hutchinson | Rare Bronze | 61 | 300 |
Should you complete this SBC?
Considering this SBC set only costs around 16,000 coins to complete, and each task offers tradable gold packs as rewards, it’s a solid investment. Not only do you get good early-game value, but it’s also your ticket to start stacking coins and players for future builds.
Whether you’re a seasoned builder or just easing into Ultimate Team this year, these Marquee Matchups are a perfect launchpad for your club’s journey in EA FC 26.