EA FC 26’s Risky 91+ SBC: Worth It for the Grind-ELD.gg

With last week's pack being a 90+ guaranteed and offering only three total TOTS players, this week's upgrade adds an extra slot to the TOTS count, giving players four opportunities to trade in high-value cards for a shot at greatness.

EA Sports continues to fuel the hype train in EA FC 26 with the release of yet another Trade-In SBC (Squad Building Challenge), but this time with a twist: a 91+ Player Pick featuring one of three potential Team of the Season (TOTS) or Highlight players. With last week's pack being a 90+ guaranteed and offering only three total TOTS players, this week's upgrade adds an extra slot to the TOTS count, giving players four opportunities to trade in high-value cards for a shot at greatness.

But is this SBC the W that players were hoping for Fut 26 Coins, or has EA delivered another dice roll riddled with disappointment? Let's dive into the community's reactions, rewards, and the risk-reward value of this freshly dropped SBC.

 

The Format: 91+ Player Pick With a Costly Trade-In

At face value, the 91+ Player Pick sounds like a banger-three player options, all guaranteed to be 91-rated or higher, and a chance at pulling some of the top-tier TOTS items. To unlock it, players had to trade in four high-rated cards, typically from previous promos or special events. Given that many players have a stack of Highlight cards or out-of-meta fodder, this seemed like a decent opportunity to try their luck.

However, what seemed like a goldmine quickly turned into a minefield for many players, especially when they realized EA included Highlight cards in the possible outcomes.

 

Early Pulls: Ls, Ws, and Mid Picks

As always, content creators and pack grinders dove into the SBC immediately, sharing their pulls with the community. The first few picks? Absolute disasters. One unlucky player received Aurora, Kelman, and Aora-a brutal trio of underwhelming picks that sparked early skepticism.

"Four highlight cards gone… and I get THIS? No way. That's an L."

But things weren't all bad. The second attempt brought Fred, a TOTS card that still holds solid in-game value, especially in box-to-box roles. Another pull included Santos, a card that's not necessarily endgame but can be evolved into something special in EA FC 26's unique EVO system.

That made the early tallies read: One W, one L. But the scales were quick to tip.

 

Highlight Card Problem: The Elephant in the Room

One major issue the community quickly rallied around was the inclusion of Highlight cards in the Player Pick. These cards, while flashy, are often vastly inferior to blue TOTS cards-both in value and in performance.

From Gyoro to Ant-Man, Emiri to Baltimore, Highlight cards were popping up left and right. And the reaction was unanimous: they just don't belong in a 91+ TOTS trade-in SBC.

"It should just be TOTS cards. These highlight pulls are painful."

Even when players like Mtoma and Fanta showed up, the reaction was lukewarm at best. The excitement of the 91+ guarantee quickly turned into frustration for many players when their best option was nothing more than decent FOD.

 

The Rare Wins: VVD, Fred, and Grimāldo

Not all hope was lost. One of the standout moments came when a player somehow pulled Virgil van Dijk TOTS-an absolute monster of a defender and easily one of the best cards in the game. That single pull reignited some hope.

Others had smaller Ws: Fred again, Trent Alexander-Arnold (underrated in-game despite a modest price tag), and Grimāldo, who despite being under 100k, is a fan-favorite left back with excellent traits and links.

Even Fowler made a surprise appearance, with many acknowledging that his card-thanks to incisive passing and good finishing-was better than anticipated.

 

Icon Picks and Additional SBCs: A Mixed Bag

For players pushing the grind even harder, there were also 91+ and 93+ Icon Picks available, alongside the usual 85+ packs and 86x10s. These served as further bait, and reactions were just as mixed.

One player walked away with Ian Wright, Puskás, and CO (Cristiano Ronaldo Icon)-a massive win. Another got stuck with Gatuso, Lampard, and Van Basten-a horror show. The volatility in icon rewards has never been clearer.

Meanwhile, packs like 85x5 and 89x2 were also opened with modest success: Fred, Emiri, and Kimmich TOTS showed up here more frequently, but still leaned heavily into "decent FOD" territory.

 

Red Picks Rewards: Have EA Nerfed the Weekend League?

Since Saturday, many players have noticed a drop-off in red pick quality. Whether this is a coincidence or a tweak in backend probabilities, the trend is clear: red picks are not hitting the same.

"Something changed. These red picks feel nerfed."

Players pulling rank two and even rank one rewards often walked away with nothing better than Hincapié, Bull, or Dawson. Even decent names like Grimāldo and Kimich weren't enough to offset the disappointment.The FOD Factor: What You're Really Getting

Let's call it like it is: Most people are doing this SBC for the FOD. With 91+ guaranteed ratings and decent odds of a 93 or 94 pull, this pick is useful if you need high-rated cards for future SBCs.

"You're basically trading four highlight cards for slightly better ones... but hey, at least it's storage now."

For players stacking FOD for future promos like Ultimate TOTS or waiting on a big name SBC (Mbappe, anyone?), this Player Pick serves a purpose. But as an exciting event? It's more hit-and-miss than many would like to admit.

 

Strategy: Should You Do This SBC?

YES - If:

  • You have untradeable high-rated FOD sitting in the club.
  • You're stocking up for future SBCs and want to refill your club.
  • You're feeling lucky and want to chase the big TOTS names like VVD, Saka, or Messi.
  • NO -If:
  • You're low on FOD and value high-efficiency SBC grinding.
  • You're frustrated by Highlight card inclusion.
  • You're expecting a guaranteed meta player from this.

 

Market Impact and Prices

The community also noted the rapid price drops of TOTS players in the aftermath of this SBC. Grimāldo, once hovering around 100k, dropped to 88k. Even Alonso, originally valued near 450k, crashed to 300k.

The market is clearly saturated, and with every new SBC, more supply floods in. For traders and market watchers, it's a time of opportunity-or caution.

 

Final Verdict: More Miss Than Hit, But Still Addictive

The 91+ Player Pick SBC in EA FC 26 is a microcosm of the game's current state-high-risk, low consistency, and occasionally high-reward. The Highlight cards dull the shine of what should have been a thrilling team-of-the-season hunt. But for the FOD farmers and gamblers alike, it remains a must-do.

"You know it's an L... but you'll still do it again tomorrow."

If you're hunting for VVD or dreaming of packing Messi, the dream is still alive FIFA 26 Coins. Just know the odds-and the Highlight cards-aren't always in your favor.

 

TL;DR:

  • The new 91+ Player Pick SBC offers 3 players, 91+ rated, with TOTS and Highlight cards included.
  • Most picks end up being Highlight cards or low-value TOTS.
  • Occasional big Ws like VVD, Fred, and Saka keep hope alive.
  • EA needs to remove Highlight cards for better value.
  • Worth doing only if you have the FOD to spare.
  • Get your coins, prep your clubs, and may your player picks be ever blue.

Chunzliu

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