Building My EA Sports FC 26 Team From 11 Red Picks

Team of the Season rewards have officially returned to EA Sports FC 26, and that means one thing: red picks are absolutely insane right now. With Premier League Team of the Season cards available in Foot Champions rewards, players now have the chance to pack stars like Bruno Fernandes, Erling Haaland, Virgil van Dijk, and several other elite-level cards.

To celebrate the return of upgraded Champs rewards, a full challenge was created around them. The goal was simple but chaotic: open rewards from 11 different Foot Champs accounts, choose one red player from each account, and then build an entire squad using only those selections.

The result was one of the most overpowered and unpredictable squads imaginable.

The First Rewards Started Slowly

The opening account did not exactly provide a dream start. Instead of multiple elite player picks, there was only a single red option available.

Still, the rewards were not completely terrible.

Dominik Szoboszlai immediately stood out as the safest and most usable choice, especially considering his versatility and Premier League links. Enzo Fernández also looked tempting, particularly for Road to Glory squads where quality midfielders are always valuable. A large number of cheap FC 26 Coins can also be of great help to you.

While the first rewards lacked a truly elite pull, they at least provided a solid foundation for the team.

Things escalated very quickly after that.

Saliba and Van Dijk Changed Everything

One of the next accounts produced an absolutely outrageous set of rewards.

William Saliba appeared in the red picks, instantly transforming the defensive options available. Even players who dislike using Arsenal cards had to admit the Team of the Season Saliba is one of the best defenders in the game.

Then things somehow became even more ridiculous.

Another player managed to pull Virgil van Dijk from only nine wins in Foot Champs. Considering the squad they used to achieve those wins was relatively weak, the rewards felt almost unfairly lucky.

At that point, the defensive core of the squad was already becoming elite-level.

Red Saliba paired with Team of the Season Van Dijk immediately gave the team one of the strongest center-back partnerships possible in FC 26.

The Haaland Pull Completely Broke the Challenge

Then came the moment every player dreams about.

One account opened its red picks, and Erling Haaland appeared.

The reaction was pure chaos.

Among all Premier League Team of the Season rewards, Haaland is arguably the most feared attacker available. His combination of strength, finishing, movement, and physicality makes him almost impossible to stop inside the box.

The moment he was added to the squad, the challenge changed completely.

It no longer felt like a random red-pick experiment. Suddenly, this looked like a genuine endgame Foot Champs team capable of dominating online matches.

Even if every remaining reward had been terrible, the squad was already worth using purely because of Haaland alone.

Arsenal Players Dominated the Rewards

One surprising theme throughout the reward openings was the number of Arsenal players appearing repeatedly.

Saliba showed up multiple times, Jurrien Timber appeared frequently, and other Arsenal-themed rewards kept popping up during the process.

While some players complained about receiving duplicate options, cards like Timber still carried huge value due to their versatility and chemistry links.

At one point, it genuinely felt impossible to escape Arsenal-themed rewards.

Fortunately, not every pick was repetitive.

Cherki and Thompson Became Unexpected Stars

Outside the obvious superstar pulls, several underrated players impressed during the selections.

Rayan Cherki quickly emerged as one of the most exciting attacking cards available. His dribbling, creativity, and technical playstyle made him feel incredibly smooth on the ball, even if he was not as hyped as the Premier League superstars.

Meanwhile, Thompson also received a surprising amount of praise. Although many viewers expected bigger names, the card performed much better than expected and offered excellent all-around play.

Sometimes the most enjoyable cards are not necessarily the most expensive ones.

Building the Final Team

After all 11 reward openings were completed, the final squad actually looked remarkably balanced.

Every player reached full chemistry, creating a fully functional Foot Champs team made entirely from reward selections.

The attack looked terrifying, with Haaland leading the line alongside several agile creators and wide players capable of feeding him chances constantly. The midfield had enough creativity and defensive stability to compete at a high level, while the back line featured elite Team of the Season defenders.

What started as a random reward-opening challenge somehow turned into a genuinely competitive Ultimate Team squad.

And then it was time to test it online.

The Team Dominated Online Matches

The very first match immediately showcased just how dangerous the squad could be.

Despite facing opponents using unusual teams featuring older promo cards like Flashback Jamie Vardy, the Foot Champs rewards team completely overwhelmed the opposition. Haaland instantly became the star of the show, bullying defenders and converting nearly every chance inside the penalty area.

His finishing felt automatic.

Every time the ball entered the box, it seemed inevitable that Haaland would score. By the end of one match, he had scored six goals almost effortlessly.

Other players also stepped up.

The midfield controlled possession comfortably, while attacking players like Cherki and Thompson created constant pressure with quick dribbling and dangerous movement. Even some of the more underrated reward selections began to shine once used in proper gameplay situations.

One opponent eventually collapsed under the pressure, conceding goal after goal before finally rage-quitting after going down heavily.

Why Team of the Season Rewards Feel Better Than Ever

One major takeaway from the challenge is how rewarding Foot Champs currently feels during Team of the Season.

Even players with relatively average win totals are capable of pulling incredible cards. Several accounts with only nine or ten wins still managed to receive elite Team of the Season items worth massive amounts of coins.

Compared to earlier stages of the game cycle, the rewards now feel far more exciting and impactful.

That excitement is exactly why Team of the Season remains one of the most popular periods in Ultimate Team every single year.

Is Haaland the Best Red Pick Available?

After using the squad in actual gameplay, one thing became very clear: Team of the Season Haaland is absolutely broken.

His physical dominance, shooting animations, and movement inside the area make him nearly unstoppable. Even when defenders appear perfectly positioned, he somehow forces the ball into the net. Having plenty of FC 26 Coins can also be of great help to you.

While Bruno Fernandes, Van Dijk, and Saliba are all incredible rewards, Haaland simply changes games on his own.

If there is one player every FC 26 player wants to see in their red picks this season, it is undoubtedly Erling Haaland.