Knockout Royalty promo in EA Sports FC 26: Everything we know so far (release date, Heroes, tournament mode)

What is Knockout Royalty in EA Sports FC 26?

Knockout Royalty is an upcoming Ultimate Team promo in EA Sports FC 26 with new promo items already teased in-game, plus a new tournament mode dropping during the event. The only official confirmation so far is that four new Heroes are coming as part of Knockout Royalty, while player names, rewards, and card mechanics haven’t been fully announced yet.

When does Knockout Royalty start?

Knockout Royalty is expected to begin on Friday, 13 February at 6PM UK time, matching the usual content drop window for new promos. You can already see teaser assets in-game ahead of release, and this page will be updated as soon as EA confirms more details.

What’s confirmed so far?

Here’s what you can safely treat as confirmed right now:

• Promo name: Knockout Royalty (teased in-game).
• New Heroes: EA has revealed four Knockout Royalty Heroes (names + ratings below).
• New mode: Royalty Tournaments are listed in Ultimate Team and will run in three “weight classes”: Lightweight, Middleweight, and Heavyweight.

Which Heroes are confirmed for Knockout Royalty?

EA has now officially revealed the four Knockout Royalty Heroes coming to FC 26.

We’ll add FUT.GG player links and release method (packs vs SBC/objectives) as soon as those details go live in-game.

How do the Royalty Tournaments work? (Lightweight, Middleweight, Heavyweight)

Knockout Royalty introduces three online-only tournament tiers found under Ultimate Team → Play → Tournaments. Lightweight is open entry, while Middleweight and Heavyweight are locked behind progression milestones—so you have to earn your way up the ladder.

Tournament structure (what we know)

• Lightweight Royalty Tournament: Open entry.
• Middleweight Royalty Tournament: Unlock by winning Lightweight quarter-finals.
• Heavyweight Royalty Tournament: Unlock by winning Middleweight semi-finals.
• Entries: 5 entries, refreshed daily.
• Format: Classic Match, Short Matches (online Tournament)

Are Knockout Royalty cards getting live upgrades?

The promo name and knockout theme naturally sounds like it could link to live upgrades, but EA hasn’t confirmed any upgrade system yet. Until we see official wording (or in-game item descriptions), it's best to assume promo items are standard boosted cards.

How to prepare for Knockout Royalty (simple checklist)

If you want to be ready without overthinking it:

• Stock fodder for SBCs (new promo usually means daily SBC content).
• Keep coins liquid so you can buy players fast when the market moves after release.

That’s it, no need to over-invest until we know what rewards and SBC requirements look like.

Possible Knockout Royalty players (speculation)

This section is not confirmed by EA yet. It’s here to track rumours and splash-screen hints, and we’ll update it as soon as official names drop.

Rumoured additions (unconfirmed)

Icons (rumoured)

• Dunga
• Geoff Hurst

Splash-screen hints (speculation)

The current in-game teaser image appears to point to:

• A USA Icon (could be Mia Hamm)
• A Real Madrid player (could be Vinícius Jr.)

We’ll replace these guesses with confirmed names, ratings, and FUT.GG links once EA publishes the Knockout Royalty squad.

Knockout Royalty is shaping up to be a promo built around high-stakes modes, with the Royalty Tournament ladder looking like the main grind. What are you more interested in; new Heroes, the tournament rewards, or the card design itself?​