Few things in Ultimate Team carry the same prestige as unlocking an Icon. They aren’t just powerful cards, they’re symbols of football’s most legendary players. With FC 26, EA is once again expanding the roster, introducing a mix of recently retired stars, all-time greats, and new faces from the women’s game. The result is one of the most balanced and exciting Icon lineups we’ve seen in years.
Who’s In? The New FUT Icons List
The new FC 26 icons are the ideal mix of new memories and nostalgia. Andrés Iniesta, Barcelona’s everlasting midfield wizard, joins Zlatan Ibrahimović in receiving his renowned card. Francesco Totti reminds everyone why loyalty is iconic in and of itself, while Toni Kroos and Caroline Seger provide leadership and control in the center.
With Giorgio Chiellini displaying his signature toughness, Oliver Kahn roaring back as one of football’s fiercest keepers, and Marcelo adding attacking flare from left-back, the defense is also loaded. On the women’s team, Cha Bum-Kun stands in for the pioneers of Asian football, while Alex Morgan, Steffi Jones, and Sissi represent various periods of supremacy.
What makes this lineup special is how many of these players only recently retired. Despite feeling rooted in the present, FUT 26 honors the game’s founding legends.
Archetypes: Icons with Identity
One of the big changes this year is the introduction of Archetype-based designations for Icons. Instead of being generic all-stars, each Icon comes with a role that reflects their real-world style.
- Zlatan Ibrahimović – Target: designed for hold-up play and aerial dominance.
- Andrés Iniesta – Creator: displays mastery at distribution, vision, and tempo control.
- Toni Kroos – Maestro: the midfield maestro with an unparalleled passing range.
- Oliver Kahn – Shot Stopper: is deftly unrelenting in between the posts.
- Alex Morgan – Finisher: puts up a clinic in front of goal and has a good pace.
These archetypes matter because they add clarity to squad-building. You’re not just picking legends, you’re choosing specialists. An Icon no longer feels like a one-size-fits-all solution; it feels like a tactical piece of your strategy.
Debut Icons and Automatic Upgrades
To make Icons even more enticing, EA is adding a Debut ICON program for pre-orders of the Ultimate Edition. Players who pre-order receive a Debut version of a FUT Icon at launch, giving them immediate access to a legendary figure.
Even better, those cards aren’t static. By November, Debut Icons will automatically upgrade to their Champion versions. That means they grow stronger over time, ensuring your investment lasts beyond the first few months of FUT’s yearly cycle.
This approach keeps Icons relevant deep into the game’s lifecycle and encourages players to build squads around them early.
Why Women’s Icons Matter
Perhaps the most impactful addition is the inclusion of more women’s football legends. Stars like Alex Morgan, Steffi Jones, Sissi, and Caroline Seger are not only powerful in-game cards, they represent a cultural step forward for FUT.
By placing Morgan alongside Zlatan and Iniesta in the same release, EA signals that women’s football is fully integrated into FUT’s identity. These Icons also open up new squad-building opportunities, blending men’s and women’s football in ways that were impossible just a few years ago.
Impact on Ultimate Team Strategy
So what do these Icons mean for FUT players? Quite a lot.
- Stronger hybrid squads – The blend of new Icons from different eras and leagues allows players to connect squads across nations and competitions more easily.
- Midfield dominance – With Iniesta, Kroos, Seger, and Sissi added, midfield creativity is deeper than ever. FUT matches may now lean more toward possession-heavy builds.
- Defensive upgrades – Icons like Chiellini and Steffi Jones bring elite defensive options, balancing the attacking focus of FUT’s meta.
- Fresh dynamics – The Archetype system ensures these Icons don’t overlap too much with existing stars. Instead, they bring defined strengths that push players toward more creative team-building.
In short: Icons are no longer just trophies, they’re practical, specialized tools for reshaping squads.
The return of legendary Icons in FC 26 FUT shows EA striking a better balance between nostalgia and innovation. The mix of recently retired stars, global legends, and pioneering women’s players makes this class one of the most inclusive in the series’ history.
By introducing archetypes and automatic upgrades, EA also ensures Icons aren’t just shiny collectibles. They’ll shape tactics, influence metas, and give FUT squads real variety across the season.
Expert gamers can relive Iniesta, Zlatan, or Totti’s genius. It serves as a reminder to newcomers that football has a rich history that extends well beyond its current stars.And for everyone, it serves as evidence that icons are the foundation of FUT’s identity and are more than just highly regarded cards.
It’s a class that bridges generations, giving FUT fans the chance to build dream squads with heroes from both yesterday and today.