The Winter Wildcards promo might not be fully live in packs yet, but the grind has already started in FC 26, and this is exactly the right time to buy cheap fc 26 coins if you want to keep up with the wave of new SBCs, evolutions, and league upgrade cycles that are shaping the market. Players who prepare now will be in the best position when the full Winter Wildcards team finally hits packs and the power curve jumps again.

The first big pillar of this pre–promo period is the crafting upgrade, which is already live for 42 days and ties into a 100‑completion milestone track. Each completion gives a 78+ x3 pack, and at milestones you see rewards like 81x3, 82x4, 84+ player picks, and eventually an 85x5 group reward at 100 completions. The structure looks generous at a glance, but the actual return for 90 or 100 completions is underwhelming for the time and club stock required.

Where this system becomes worthwhile is how it interacts with league SBC grinding. Many off‑league golds that do not fit back into the main league SBCs can be recycled into the Winter Wildcards crafting upgrade, turning “dead” cards into more rares that might be usable in new runs. Because the requirement is five gold commons and two rares, and the reward is three 78+ rares, the cycle is at least sustainable for players who constantly open and re‑enter league SBC packs.

Daily login content is another important part of this early grind. Logging in across 12 days delivers packs like 81x2, 82x3, 83x3, and 84x2, but the headline reward is the Winter Wildcards Red evolution item at the group finish. Along the way, special evolutions such as “green”, “ice cold”, and “green fire” variants give meaningful progression routes for certain cards that fit the Evo restrictions. For engaged players, missing a daily login now means missing out on a free, premium Evo later.

On top of that, EA has dropped two strong evolutions: The Bandit and Thunder It In. The Bandit focuses on defensive and passing playstyles like Anticipate, Anticipate+, Jockey, Pinged Pass, Long Ball Pass, and Bruiser, costing 20,000 coins and being repeatable twice. Thunder It In, meanwhile, pumps attacking stats such as long shots, shot power, volleys, and composure; used smartly on icons or low‑rated forwards, it can turn a 74‑rated card into something that plays far above its rating.

Menu content is rounded out with SBCs like Alex Baena’s World Tour item, which comes with solid playstyles but is widely seen as overpriced due to the 85‑rated squad with an inform requirement. There is also an 82x10 repeatable for 25 days and a base icon upgrade that demands 85, 86 (with inform), 87, and 88‑rated squads, making it a high‑risk sink for fodder where many returns will be discard‑value icons. With Winter Campaign Best Of now in packs and full Winter Wildcards team one leaked with huge names, players must decide whether to send fodder into 82x10s now or save for tomorrow’s full power‑curve push.

Ultimately, the promo has “already started” because the infrastructure is in place: evolutions to plan, league SBC loops to optimize, and long‑term crafting ladders to climb. Those who manage their coins, club stock, and time effectively in this phase will be best equipped to attack the real Winter Wildcards when the official squads and premium SBCs go live.

Recommendation: FC 26 Winter Wildcards Crafting Upgrade Guide – Fastest and Most Efficient Method