The weekly cycle of player upgrades is upon us once again in EA Sports FC 26, with the imminent arrival of Team of the Week 9 set to refresh Ultimate Team squads across the globe. This new selection promises to be a significant improvement over the somewhat underwhelming TOTW 8, potentially featuring one of the most iconic players in football history.
Disappointment Makes Way for Excitement
The current TOTW 8 squad, headlined by Arsenal's Declan Rice and AC Milan's Mike Maignan, both rated 88, failed to capture the imagination of the gaming community. While players like Sporting Lisbon's Pedro Goncalves and Real Madrid's Alvaro Carreras were included, the overall reception was lukewarm. The release of the UEFA Primetime promo, which introduced three new Heroes, provided a welcome distraction from the TOTW letdown.
All eyes are now firmly on the future, and the TOTW 9 lineup is shaping up to be a blockbuster. The disappointment of the previous week is set to be washed away by a wave of high-performing footballers from the past weekend's action.
Star-Studded TOTW 9 Predictions
Based on standout real-world performances, several players are almost certain to receive coveted in-form items. The headline acts are two of the game's most prolific goalscorers.
Lionel Messi is heavily tipped to receive his first TOTW card of the EA FC 26 cycle after a masterclass for Inter Miami, where he scored two goals and provided an assist against Nashville. Meanwhile, Robert Lewandowski of Barcelona is a guaranteed inclusion after he netted a hat-trick in a thrilling 4-2 victory over Celta Vigo, an performance that could see his rating soar to 90.
Here is the full predicted starting XI for EA FC 26 Team of the Week 9:
- ST: Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) - Hat-trick vs Celta Vigo
- ST: Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid) - Two goals off the bench vs Levante
- ST: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) - Two goals and an assist vs Nashville
- LW: Jérémy Doku (Manchester City) - Goal and MOTM performance vs Liverpool
- LM: Nico Williams (Athletic Club) - Goal and MOTM performance vs Real Oviedo
- CM: Vitinha (PSG) - Two assists vs Olympique Lyonnais
- CM: Sakina Karchaoui (PSG Women) - Two assists vs Fleury
- CB: Matthijs de Ligt (Manchester United) - Goal vs Spurs
- CB: Danilho Doekhi (Union Berlin) - Two goals vs Bayern Munich
- LB: Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan) - Assist and clean sheet vs Lazio
- GK: Mile Svilar (AS Roma) - Clean sheet and MOTM performance vs Udinese
Predicted Substitutes and Reserves
The bench is also expected to be packed with talent, featuring players who delivered exceptional single-game performances. It is crucial to remember that EA selects the TOTW based on individual matches, not cumulative stats, and domestic cup games are not considered.
- ST: Igor Thiago (Brentford) - Two goals vs Newcastle United
- ST: Brian Brobbey (Sunderland) - Goal vs Arsenal
- ST: Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses) - Two goals and an assist vs Spurs
- RM: Tadeo Allende (Inter Miami) - Two goals and an assist vs Nashville
- LM: Salem Al Dawsari (Al-Hilal) - Two goals and an assist vs Al-Najma
- LM: Alejandro Garnacho (Chelsea) - Two assists vs Wolves
- CM: Arne Engels (Celtic) - Goal and an assist vs Kilmarnock
When to Build Your Ultimate Team
Mark your calendars, managers. The EA FC 26 TOTW 9 squad will go live this Wednesday, November 12. The players will become available in Ultimate Team packs from 6pm GMT / 2pm EDT / 11am PDT. This is the perfect opportunity to bolster your squad with some of the most in-form players from the world of football.
