Best formations and custom tactics
If you’re looking to dominate Division Rivals and Champions in EA FC 26, you’re going to need the meta formations and custom tactics to get your team playing its best football.
Ultimate Team gives you the freedom to create your own squad from scratch, and while fielding a starting 11 full of the game’s best players, you’ll soon get undone if your system isn’t strong enough. Choosing the right formation, player roles, and build-up play options to get the most out of the players is essential in higher ranks.
With this in mind, here are the best formations and tactics to help you dominate Ultimate Team this season.
Best formation in EA FC 26
The best formation in EA FC 26 at launch is 4-2-1–3, as it’s easily the most balanced setup. Whether you like to pack the midfield and play through the opposition, or spread the ball out wide and get crosses into the box, this system has it all.
By having a LW, RW, and CAM, you have a lot more flexibility. If your opponent is using their full-backs to bomb forward, you can set the wide players to Wingers, giving them the freedom to exploit the space on either flank. Or, you ask them to flood the box by making them Inside Forwards, giving you a lot of attacking options.
The two CDM positions are also crucial, as these provide some-needed defensive cover. That being said, you can also encourage at least one of them to support the attackers by assigning them the Box Crasher role, giving them license to push forward.
But if you really want to get the most out of this formation, you need to choose the right players. Especially in the wide positions, as you’ll need plenty of pace and creativity.
Meta formations, tactics, and codes
4-2-1-3
Code: &YQyNaQ6?wAD
EA SPORTS / DexertoTactics
- Tactical Preset: Custom
- Formation: 4-2-1-3
- Build-Up Style: Counter
- Defensive Line: 40
Player Roles
- GK: Goalkeeper / Defend
- LB: Fullback / Defend
- CB: Defender / Defend
- CB: Defender / Defend
- RB: Fullback / Defend
- CDM: Box Crasher / Balanced
- CDM: Holding / Defend
- LW: Inside Forward / Attack
- RW: Inside Forward / Attack
- CAM: Playmaker / Balanced
- ST: Advanced Forward / Attack
4-4-2
Code: t4Ht?T2z3ph8
EA SPORTS / DexertoTactics
- Tactical Preset: Custom
- Formation: 4-4-2 (Flat)
- Build-Up Style: Counter
- Defensive Line: 45
Player Roles
- GK: Goalkeeper / Defend
- LB: Fullback / Defend
- CB: Defender / Defend
- CB: Defender / Defend
- RB: Fullback / Defend
- LM: Inside Forward / Attack
- CM: Holding / Defend
- CM: Deep-Lying Playmaker / Build-up
- RM: Inside Forward / Attack
- ST: Target Forward / Balanced
- ST: Advanced Forward / Attack
4-4-1-1
EA SPORTS / DexertoCode: 7JV$CB7BF3nM
Tactics
- Tactical Preset: Custom
- Formation: 4-4-1-1
- Build-Up Style: Counter
- Defensive Line: 60
Player Roles
- GK: Goalkeeper / Defend
- LB: Fullback / Defend
- CB: Defender / Defend
- CB: Defender / Defend
- RB: Fullback / Defend
- CM: Box-to-Box / Balanced
- CM: Holding / Defend
- CAM: Shadow Striker / Attack
- LW: Inside Forward / Balanced
- RW: Inside Forward / Balanced
- ST: Advanced Forward / Attack
4-1-2-1-2 (Narrow)
Code: twGr2xF13rxN
EA SPORTS / DexertoTactics
- Tactical Preset: Custom
- Formation: 4-4-1-1
- Build-Up Style: Counter
- Defensive Line: 60
Player Roles
- GK: Goalkeeper / Defend
- LB: Fullback / Defend
- CB: Defender / Defend
- CB: Defender / Defend
- RB: Fullback / Defend
- CDM: Holding / Defend
- CM: Box-to-Box / Balanced
- CM: Box-to-Box / Balanced
- CAM: Classic 10 / Attack
- ST: Target Forward / Attack
- ST: Advanced Forward / Attack
4-2-2-2
Code: zgM9UdP79xPT
EA SPORTS / DexertoTactics
- Tactical Preset: Custom
- Formation: 4-2-2-2
- Build-Up Style: Short Passing
- Defensive Line: 40
Player Roles
- GK: Goalkeeper / Defend
- LB: Fullback / Defend
- CB: Defender / Defend
- CB: Defender / Defend
- RB: Fullback / Defend
- CDM: Holding / Defend
- CDM: Box Crasher / Balanced
- CAM: Playermaker / Balanced
- CAM: Shadow Striker / Attack
- ST: Target Forward / Attack
- ST: Advanced Forward / Attack
The EA FC 26 meta will evolve as more and more updates roll out, so we’ll be sure to keep this page updated with the latest tactics.
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