Best & Worst times to open packs on EA FC 26 Ultimate Team
Maximizing the value of your packs in EA FC 26 Ultimate Team isn’t just about luck—it’s about timing.
Knowing when to open packs can significantly increase your chances of landing meta players, high-rated cards, or valuable tradeable items. Similarly, avoiding poor timing can save you from wasting coins or missing out on bigger opportunities during major promo events.
In this guide, we break down the best and worst times to open packs, helping you make smarter decisions and get the most out of every coin spent. By following our tips, you’ll learn how to align your pack openings with market trends and promo cycles, ensuring you stay ahead of the competition and consistently boost your Ultimate Team squad.
Best times to open packs
Pack timing is heavily influenced by promo events. Consider:
- Immediately after rewards: If the current promo features a card you want, opening packs right after receiving coins or rewards gives you a higher chance of buying what you need from the market.
- When a promo just starts: If you’re waiting for a bigger promo on Friday, it can be better to delay opening packs until then.
Example: If a Team of the Week promo is live, opening packs on Thursday or Friday may yield a meta player worth 100,000 coins. Opening earlier during a lull might only give you cards valued at 30,000–40,000 coins.
Worst times to open packs
Opening packs at the wrong time can reduce your chances of getting high-value or meta cards. Avoid these periods:
- During market crashes or lull periods: Midweek (Wednesday) before FUT Champions rewards is usually slow, meaning fewer coins are in circulation and promo hype is low. Packs opened now tend to yield lower-value players.
- Just before a major promo: Opening packs too early, like on Thursday morning when a big Friday promo is expected, can mean missing out on better cards and limited-time rewards. Sometimes it’s tempting to open them right away, but try to hold off.
- Immediately after a weak promo ends: If the previous promo had low-value cards, packs opened right afterward often reflect that drop in quality.
Example: Opening packs on Wednesday before FUT Champions rewards might give you 30,000–40,000 coin cards, while waiting until the Friday promo could net a meta card worth 100,000 coins.
For more tips, check out our trading tips guide with the best times and worst times to sell your players.