FIFA 26: An overview of the strongest teams

The strongest teams in FIFA 26 (EA Sports FC 26) continue to be the top European clubs, filled with world-class players in almost every position. From Real Madrid to Manchester City, these powerhouses dominate both on the pitch and in the virtual arena. Their balance of speed, precision, and tactics mirrors the same qualities that players look for when making smart choices at Revery Play. Success there, just like in football, comes from strategy, timing, and a bit of daring. As FIFA 26 continues to evolve, these elite clubs remain the ultimate choice for anyone chasing perfection in gameplay.

FIFA 26: These are the strongest teams

These teams are the first choice for players who value maximum team strength and star power in classic Kick-Off, Ultimate Team, and Career Mode, similar to FIFA 25. Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich dominate the rankings, followed by other favourites such as PSG, Liverpool, and Arsenal.

Top teams with 5 stars:

● Real Madrid: Outstanding offensive stats (88 ATT), with stars such as Kylian Mbappé (91 OVR), Vinícius Jr. (90 OVR), Jude Bellingham (89 OVR), Thibaut Courtois (89 OVR), and Federico Valverde (88 OVR). Extremely fast wingers and a strong, versatile midfield make Madrid the favourites in the game.
● FC Barcelona: Strong midfield control (87 MID), with Raphinha (90 OVR), Pedri (90 OVR), Lamine Yamal (89 OVR), Lewandowski (88 OVR), and ter Stegen (87 OVR). Particularly suited to possession football, with plenty of pace and technique on the wings.
● Manchester City: Very strong despite slight weaknesses (85 ATT, 85 MID), with Erling Haaland (90 OVR), Rodri (90 OVR), Kevin De Bruyne (89 OVR), and Bernardo Silva (88 OVR). Specialises in passing and game control – ideal for build-up tactics.
● Bayern Munich: Very balanced (89 ATT), with Harry Kane (89 OVR), Jamal Musiala (88 OVR), Joshua Kimmich (88 OVR), Jonathan Tah (87 OVR), and Michael Olise (86 OVR). A flexible team for different playing styles, with high quality in all areas.
● Liverpool FC, PSG, Arsenal: Also rated 5 stars and packed with top-class players, they are excellent options for any match.

Other strong teams (4.5 stars) include Atlético Madrid, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Bayer Leverkusen, Newcastle United, SSC Napoli, and Borussia Dortmund. These clubs offer competitive squads and are particularly interesting for Career Mode or competitive matches beyond the absolute favourites.

Players with the highest ratings include Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid, 91 OVR), Erling Haaland (Manchester City, 90 OVR), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, 89 OVR), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, 91 OVR), and Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City, 89 OVR), as well as numerous other top players from Barcelona, PSG, Liverpool, and City.

Summary of ratings

Team	Stars	Special features	Key players (OVR)
Real Madrid	5	Attack, pace, technique	Mbappé (91), Vinícius Jr. (90), Bellingham (89)
FC Barcelona	5	Midfield strength, wings	Raphinha (90), Pedri (90), Yamal (89)
Manchester City	5	Passing, control	Haaland (90), Rodri (90), De Bruyne (89)
Bayern Munich	5	Flexibility, finishing	Kane (89), Musiala (88), Kimmich (88)
Liverpool, PSG, Arsenal	5	Star power, balance	Salah (91), Nuno Mendes (89), Saka (88)
Other top clubs	4.5	Squad depth, strategy options	Schick (Leverkusen, 85), Sancho (Man United, 84)

The strongest teams in FIFA 26 (EA Sports FC 26) continue to be the top European clubs, filled with world-class players in almost every position.

Best teams for Ultimate Team and why

The best lineups for Ultimate Team (FUT) in FIFA 26 are characterised by high player ratings, strong chemistry, and optimal positioning. A particularly strong starting setup at the beginning of the game is an all-gold squad in a 3-1-4-2 formation, with a total chemistry of 29 out of a possible 33 points.

Best starting formation and team (all-gold):

Formation: 3-1-4-2 — it allows for high overall ratings.

● Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City, 89)
● Centre-backs: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, 90), Mapi León (Barcelona, 89), Irene Paredes (Barcelona, 88)
● Defensive midfielder: Rodri (Manchester City, 91)
● Attacking/Central midfielders: Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona, 91), Alexia Putellas (Barcelona, 91)
● Wingers: Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid, 91), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool, 91)
● Strikers: Erling Haaland (Manchester City, 90), Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain, 90)

This line-up achieves a very high overall rating (around 90 OVR) and features some of the highest-rated players available without using icons. The team provides a strong mix of pace, technique, and finishing ability, along with excellent chemistry thanks to shared leagues, nations, and clubs.

Why these teams are so strong:

Top ratings between 88 and 91 ensure consistent top-level performances. Players from the same clubs (e.g. Barcelona, Manchester City) and leagues boost team chemistry, which is crucial in Ultimate Team. The combination of stars with different playing styles allows for both counter-attacking and possession-based gameplay. Precise player positioning helps create fast combinations and effective attacks.

Tips for building the best Ultimate Team:

Aim for at least 29 out of 33 chemistry points. Choose players from the same league and nation, and always keep them in their natural positions. Expensive icons are rare early in the game, so an all-gold lineup remains the most efficient starting option. Over time, ‘Team of the Week’ cards and icons can greatly strengthen your squad.

These lineups are the key to quick success in Ultimate Team, especially when starting out and expanding your collection. The balance between rating, chemistry, and playing style makes this setup the best choice for FUT in FIFA 26.

This team has the strongest offensive stats

The team with the strongest offensive stats in FIFA 26 and in real football is Manchester City. According to current rankings and the Soccer Power Index (SPI), Manchester City has the highest offensive rating worldwide, with an SPI score of 93.9. They stand out for their high expected goals and excellent chance creation.

Other teams with very strong offensive stats include:

● FC Bayern Munich: With the best chance conversion rate and the highest number of goals in the Bundesliga, led by Harry Kane. Bayern score the most goals (38.45 xG) and have one of the most efficient attacks in Europe.
● FC Barcelona and FC Liverpool: Both sides create a large number of scoring chances and have world-class attacking players. Their total goal output is very high, although their conversion rate is slightly lower than Bayern’s.
● Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain: Also among the strongest attacking teams, though their overall numbers are a bit lower than those of Manchester City and Bayern Munich.

This real-world dominance is reflected in EA Sports FC 26 (FIFA 26), where Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and FC Barcelona all feature top offensive ratings in both attack and midfield.

Manchester City is therefore the strongest attacking team in FIFA 26 and in real-world football, followed closely by Bayern Munich.