It seems almost inevitable: every new EA FC (and formerly FIFA) game arrives with some sort of overpowered tactic or exploit that players quickly discover. Often, this involves a ‘kick-off glitch’ – a specific sequence of moves, team setup, or player type that makes scoring immediately after a kick-off frustratingly easy. In FC 26, this kick-off curse has returned. While it might not be as severe as in previous titles, it’s still been a major source of frustration for many players, myself included. But there’s good news: EA has confirmed an upcoming update will address this very issue.
In FC 26, the primary culprit behind these easy kick-off goals is defensive positioning. During regular gameplay, teams are dynamic, with players constantly adapting to each other’s movements. However, from a kick-off, players are often locked into rigid formation positions. This rigidity creates clear pathways for one or two attacking players to exploit gaps in the opposing defense, frequently leading to a quick goal.
EA has officially acknowledged this concern, stating that changes are on the way. Through their EA Sports FC Direct Communication channels, they posted, “We see your feedback coming in around kick off goals and we’re working on defensive positioning improvements that would only take effect around kick offs. Right now we’re targeting this update for early October, and we’ll let you know if anything changes.”
This means a fix for the frustrating kick-off glitch should arrive within the next couple of weeks. It will be interesting to see exactly how EA improves player positioning specifically for kick-off scenarios without negatively impacting general match fluidity. My anticipation is that players will adopt a more compact formation during kick-offs, but we’ll have to wait and see the final implementation.
Personally, I believe FC 26 boasts some of the strongest gameplay foundations we’ve seen in years, though I acknowledge not everyone will agree. The overall feel of the game has been excellent. The kick-off issue is arguably the most significant gameplay problem encountered so far, and as noted, it hasn’t even been as exploitable as similar glitches in past years. However, there’s always a risk that excessive tweaking could inadvertently disrupt the game’s balance, a scenario we’ve witnessed many times before. Nevertheless, I remain optimistic that EA has learned from previous experiences with FC 26.
For those immersed in Ultimate Team, consider exploring strategies for team setups to gain an edge. If Career Mode is more your style, keep an eye out for promising young talents, often referred to as ‘Wonderkids,’ to build your future squad.
We’d love to hear your early thoughts on the new EA FC game! Feel free to share your impressions with the wider community.