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Compare an SBC reward with the best player you already have for the same job in your lineup—not with your squad’s overall rating alone. Then weigh that upgrade against the specific Player Items the challenge requires you to submit: EA says those items are permanently removed, and FC 26 submissions cannot be restored.

Start with the role the reward would fill

Decide where you would actually use the reward: as a starter at a particular position, a substitute, or a fit for a specific tactical setup. Compare it with your strongest current option for that same role. Look at the attributes and abilities that matter for the job, along with any relevant roles or PlayStyles shown in-game.

This is a practical comparison, not an EA scoring formula. A higher displayed overall rating does not automatically make a card a better choice for your lineup. If the reward does not improve a role you need, its value to your squad may be limited.

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Check what the challenge actually requires

Requirements vary by SBC, so read the challenge in the game before deciding what to submit. EA’s FC 26 guidance lists possible requirements such as squad rating, chemistry, player quality, leagues, nations, and clubs; some SBCs have multiple steps or group rewards. See EA Help’s SBC efficiency guidance for its advice on checking challenge details and rewards.

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Keep the game year in view. FC 27 includes both traditional puzzle SBCs and Simplified SBCs. EA says Simplified SBCs use an Item Score based on overall rating and rarity, and allow partial progress and duplicate submissions; puzzle SBCs continue to use squad requirements. Those Simplified SBC rules should not be applied to FC 26 challenges. EA describes the aim as reducing repetitive friction without removing meaningful decisions in its FC 27 FUT Deep Dive.

Work out what you would give up

Make a list of the exact Player Items you would submit. For each one, consider whether you start it, use it as a substitute, need it for another challenge, or would find it difficult to replace. Then compare that loss with the reward’s likely role in your own lineup.

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EA advises players to “compare the Player Items you’re exchanging with the reward you’re earning.” In FC 26, EA says submissions are final and submitted items cannot be restored. FC 27’s guidance also says submitted items are permanently removed, including items submitted as partial progress before you finish an SBC. Do not treat a partially completed challenge as a way to reserve those players.

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Check the reward, deadline, and available items before committing

Before buying anything or submitting players, check the reward, the SBC’s expiration, your club and SBC Storage, and the Transfer Market. These details can change the decision: a reward may not suit your lineup, a deadline may affect whether you can complete the challenge, and you may already have eligible items available.

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  1. Open the specific SBC. Read every requirement and identify whether it has multiple steps or a group reward.
  2. Review the reward and expiry. Decide whether the reward fills a real role for you and whether you have time to complete the challenge.
  3. Check your club and SBC Storage. Note which eligible items are available and whether any are important to your lineup or other plans.
  4. Consider the Transfer Market only after that review. EA recommends checking it before obtaining additional items; do not assume a price snapshot or a third-party suggestion establishes the challenge’s value.
  5. Recheck the submission list before confirming. Make sure you are willing to permanently give up each selected item.

Use chemistry guidance carefully

Chemistry can appear as an SBC requirement in FC 26, so follow the exact challenge’s instructions. Do not use older chemistry explanations to infer the current effect on match performance: EA’s FIFA 23 notes said that low chemistry no longer reduced player attributes in that version, but that historical statement does not establish the FC 26 or FC 27 formula.

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A practical decision rule

Ask: Will this reward improve a role I need, and is that improvement worth permanently giving up these particular items? If the reward would strengthen your intended lineup and the required submissions are replaceable or expendable for your plans, the exchange may make sense. If it mainly raises a displayed rating, does not fit your setup, or costs players you rely on, the case is weaker. There is no universal ranking or price that answers this without knowing the specific challenge and squad.

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  • For the first time, play an authentic Women’s Career experience, taking control of a club or player from the top five women’s leagues.
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  • Enjoy more ways to build your dream squad in Football Ultimate Team with the best past and present players from across The World’s Game.

EA’s Companion App supports SBC completion and club management, among other Ultimate Team features, on Android and iOS devices and tablets; it is an optional way to manage your club, not a requirement for making the comparison. See EA’s Companion App page for its stated features.

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Quick Recap

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No matter how you choose to win in EA SPORTS FC 25, do it for the club
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