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February 2, 2026
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FC 26 – How to get all the Icon Swaps (Fastest method)
This is the fastest way to completely Icon Swaps in EA FC 26 and save time by doing multiple objectives at once.
Table of Contents
I’ve spent hours testing the most efficient ways to get these tokens so you don’t have to lose your mind in Squad Battles. If you aren’t careful, you are looking at over 60 games against the AI. That is a massive waste of time. I recommend using my two birds, one stone strategy to get in and out as fast as possible.
I have a video below where I go through each setting in detail, explaining all the icon swaps in detail. Remember if you are looking for detailed coaching or advice about this year’s game, make sure to check out my FC School, where I offer in-depth guides about EA Sports FC 26.
Check out the full video explained in detail where I show you the order of what icon swaps to do.
The Golden Combo: Brazilian Silvers:
I see so many players making the mistake of playing 6 games with a Silver team and then another 6 with a Brazilian team. Please do not do this. I recommend heading to the Transfer Market immediately and buying 11 Silver players who are also Brazilian.
By winning just 6 games with this specific squad, you are knocking out the Seleção and the Silvers tokens at the same time. If you happen to have First Owned Brazilian Silvers in your club, you are now hitting three objectives in one go. This is the only way I do it because it saves hours of gameplay.
Stacking Future Stars Academy Evos
If you are grinding these games, I recommend you do not play with a random squad. Use your Future Stars Academy players like Andre Santos while you do your swaps.
Most of these Academy Evolutions require play or win objectives in Squad Battles. I put my Evo players directly into my Swaps teams. By the time I have my tokens, I have also fully evolved a high tier Future Stars card without playing a single extra match. It is pure efficiency.
Why Trust NealGuides:
NealGuides is a gameplay expert with one of the biggest tutorial channels for EA FC 26. He has repeatedly predicted powerful META mechanics in advance and turned them into practical guides that help players improve. He is also one of the very few members part of the EA Design Council, in which he travels to EA headquarters multiple times per year to play the game and provide feedback and as a consultant.
Through his 20 years of extensive football simulation knowledge, he now focuses on helping the average player get better at the game. He has coached over 10,000s of people exclusively through his FC School, and his YouTube channel boasts over 300,000 subscribers, with over 100 million views across all platforms. Best known for his tactics, he breaks down each tactic and formation exploring the different variations and adjustments for the viewers style, all his formations that he releases are testing by him and members of different skill levels before being released.
My Mechanical Shortcuts: Easy Crosses and Chips
Some of these objectives, like the Bundesliga Chip Shot or Ligue 1 Crosses, are notoriously deadly because the game often does not register them correctly. I have found a few ways to cheese the system.
Forget Headers—Use Low Crosses
The game is very inconsistent with registering headers for crossing objectives. Instead, use a Low Cross by double-tapping the cross button or a Driven Cross (L1 + R1 + Square). It is much easier for your striker to finish with a foot, and it is 100% more reliable for counting toward the objective.
The Sweat Chip Shot
Do not try to chip a keeper 1v1 from distance; it’s too easy to miss. Instead, “sweat” the ball—pass it across the face of the goal to an open teammate and perform a low-power chip shot (L1 + Circle) into the open net.
My Key Tip: Hold the L1 (PlayStation) or LB (XBOX) button from the moment you power up the shot and do not let go until the ball physically touches the net. Letting go too early is the main reason these goals do not register.
Squad Battles Efficiency: Avoid the Criminals
Squad Battles on World Class can be a nightmare. I recommend using the Refresh Strategy to keep your sanity.
Avoid the “Criminal” Squads: If you see an 88-rated team with 33 chemistry, just skip it. The AI logic on those teams is too frustrating.
The Easy Route: Only play against the 60–70 rated bronze teams with low chemistry.
The Reset: Once you beat the easy teams, refresh the opponents immediately. You have unlimited refreshes for objectives, so use them!
My Reward Recommendations: Who to Pick?
| Tokens | Reward | My Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | TOTY Icon Ronaldo (R9) | The GOAT. Guaranteed end-game card. |
| 17 | 1 of 3 93+ Campaign Pick | Risk it for a biscuit. Gamble for top-tier cards. |
| 14 | TOTY Rio Ferdinand | The best CB in the game to choose. Definite defensive wall. |
| 10 | Iconic Attacker Glow Up | Best efficiency. Adds a 2nd Playstyle+ to your Icon. |
| 10 | Iconic Defender Glow Up | Huge for making old defensive Icons meta-relevant. |
| 5 | TOTY Gigi Buffon | Avoid. Lacks key playstyles like Rush Out. |
| 3 | TOTY Xabi Alonso | The lazy choice. Elite passing but lacks pace. |
Honourable Mentions and Considerations
If you want to finish the grind in record time, you need to combine requirements. Look at your club for these specific overlaps:
The Quadruple Stack: Use a starting 11 of French Silvers from the Arkema Première Ligue who are also First Owned.
Result: You finish Silvers, Les Bleus, Première Class, and One Club Wonders in just 6 games.
The Samba Hybrid: If you lack the French league players, aim for Brazilian Silvers that are First Owned.
Result: You clear Seleção, Silvers, and One Club Wonders simultaneously.
The Evo Shortcut: Use players currently in the Future Stars Academy or Silver Icon Evolutions. They count toward the “Silver” requirements while simultaneously gaining XP and upgrades.
If you are struggling to complete the objectives in in FC 26, make sure to look at the best tactics and formations in FC 26 to ensure you are using the best tactics to complete these objectives quicker.
Key Takeaways
Golden Goal Etiquette: In the “One League” Friendlies, if your opponent scores first, just leave. It saves everyone time. Conversely, if you score, do not celebrate and do not pause for them. Let them pause and leave on their own—it’s much less toxic.
The Bench is Key: Your starting 11 might be a 75-rated Silver squad, but your bench doesn’t have to be. Sub on three meta attackers the second the game starts to carry the team.
Combine Three at Once: Always look to stack Nationality + League + Silver or First Owned. If you can do 5 tokens in 12 games instead of 30, you’ve already won.
Check the Difficulty: Most Squad Battles objectives require World Class. Double-check this before you start, as playing on Professional will result in zero progress.
Message Your Opponent: In Friendlies, if you both need “Cross Assists” or “Chip Shots,” send a quick message. Most people are happy to trade goals to get the objectives done in one match.
Make sure you check out my tactics list of codes and formations.
If you are unsure how to defend check out my defending tutorial.
Neal Guides
I am NealGuides, I run a Youtube Channel with over 300k+ Subscribers helping people get better at FC 26. We have helped millions of people improve.
I am part of the EA Design Council, in which I have played EA FC 26 early and provide feedback on the game to help shape its future.
I have coached many players in FC from the average casual, to pros, to real life footballers. If you want to improve at FC join my FC school series.
Want to improve at FC 26? Join my FC School Series
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EA FC 26 has changed some of the default game settings that you may be used to. If you’re struggling with defending and shooting, it may be because EA has changed the “default controls”. Although at first it can seem challenging to understand what each setting does, largely down to not being particularly clear in-game.
I have a video below where I go through each setting in detail and explain what each setting does with visual examples. And remember if you are looking for detailed coaching or advice about this year’s game, make sure to check out my FC School (URL), where I offer in-depth guides about FC 26. (EA Website)
