- Games
- EA SPORTS FC 26
EA SPORTS FC 26
A football game where two friends can share a team against computer-controlled squads.
Online co-op for 2 players and local co-op, with crossplay.
- 2 online
- On one screen
- Crossplay
Where to buy
Playing together
- Online co-op2 players
- Local co-opYesScreen type not confirmed
- YesPC, PlayStation, XboxFriends on different platforms, such as PC and PlayStation, can play together.
- Not confirmedA friend can join or leave while you are already playing, without starting over.
- Not confirmedFriends play free with a Friend's Pass or similar.
- Steam DeckUnsupportedValve's own rating
About the game
You build a football squad in its squad-building mode, choose its players and take it onto the pitch. In Squad Battles, the opposition is controlled by the computer. You pass into space, move runners forward, shoot and defend your own goal. Results earn coins and points, while player upgrades give you reasons to return.
Two friends can play Squad Battles together online. The captain picks the opposing squad and difficulty, and both players receive rewards. You need to read each other’s runs and leave space for the next pass. Matches use the faster Competitive gameplay preset, so this suits a pair who wants repeated football matches with a team to develop.
How it feels
Kind of game
You play on the same side through shared levels, matches, missions or jobs. Progress comes from combining your actions toward the same objective.
- At its heart
- Now and then
- Calm and coziness
- Time to hang out
- Sessions
- Short rounds
- About
- Sports
Rated on our own feel scale. 4 sources back these ratings.
Screenshots
From the Steam store page. Open one to see it full size.
If you liked EA SPORTS FC 26
You will probably enjoy these too. Each one says why.
EA SPORTS FC 27
Why it scores 92%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Shared team objectives
- About
- Sports
- Core to both
- Unlocks and progress
- Sessions
- Short rounds
- Notable in both
- Working in sync, Tension and danger, Planning ahead, Getting better
- Co-op
- Online co-op for 2 players and local co-op
How EA SPORTS FC 27 differs
- Fits a bigger group than EA SPORTS FC 26
- 2 online
- 4 on one screen
Both give your team shared objectives to work through together. Both are about playing sports. Both have upgrades that carry over.
But fits a bigger group than EA SPORTS FC 26.
Super Mega Baseball 3
Why it scores 85%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Shared team objectives
- About
- Sports
- Notable in both
- Working in sync, Tension and danger, Planning ahead, Getting better, Unlocks and progress
- Co-op
- Online co-op for 2 players and local co-op
How Super Mega Baseball 3 differs
- Repeatable runs and missions, not short rounds
- 2 online
- 2 on one screen
Both give your team shared objectives to work through together. Both have online co-op for 2 players and local co-op. Both are about playing sports.
No big difference from EA SPORTS FC 26.
Absolum
Why it scores 73%
What they share
- Kind of game
- Shared team objectives
- Notable in both
- Working in sync, Tension and danger, Planning ahead, Getting better, Unlocks and progress
- Co-op
- Online co-op for 2 players and local co-op
How Absolum differs
- More fighting than EA SPORTS FC 26
- Repeatable runs and missions, not short rounds
- A roguelike, so every run starts over
- 2 online
- 2 on one screen
- Crossplay
Both give your team shared objectives to work through together. Both have online co-op for 2 players and local co-op.
But more fighting than EA SPORTS FC 26.
All co-op facts
Last checked 24 October 2026. The small numbers link to the page that states each fact.
Co-op
- Fewest players online
- Not confirmed
- Most players on one screen
- Not confirmed
- Split or shared screen
- Not confirmed
- Separate-device co-op
- Not confirmed
- Most players on separate devices
- Not confirmed
- Free base co-op
- No
The checked computer full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
- 71011121317
- Confirmed free setups
- Does not apply
- Friends can join mid-game
- Not confirmed
- Only one of you needs to buy it
- Not confirmed
- Voice chat by distance
- Not confirmed
Platforms
Genres
Store IDs
- Wikidata item
- Not confirmed
Sources
17 pages
ea.comOfficial news, read 24 October 2026
Backs Online co-op, Kind of game, About, Planning ahead, Unlocks and progress.
- Online co-op: FC 26 places Squad Battles under matches against the computer. EA support separately confirms cooperative play in this mode.
- Kind of game: The pair plays on one football team against computer-controlled squads. Competitive modes are outside this co-op assessment.
- About: Football is the main activity.
- Planning ahead: Squad construction, chemistry and player upgrades support planning before matches.
- Unlocks and progress: The August 5, 2025 FUT deep dive describes developing player items through Evolutions and recurring rewards. Building a stronger lasting squad is a main goal of cooperative Squad Battles. A role-playing character is not required for core progression.
help.ea.comOfficial support page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Online co-op, Most players online, Working in sync, Sessions.
- Online co-op: Invite a friend from the squad-building mode menu to play against computer-controlled squads.
- Most players online: Two people in cooperative Squad Battles. The larger online counts on console stores include competitive modes.
- Working in sync: Two players share a team and its passing, attacks and defence.
- Sessions: A session consists of individual football matches with points and coins awarded afterward.
help.ea.comOfficial support page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Crossplay, Crossplay between.
- Crossplay: The article names separate groups by console generation. Its mode table explicitly includes FC 26 cooperative Squad Battles.
- Crossplay between: Main group is Windows, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. PS4 and Xbox One form a separate group. Nintendo versions cannot join either group.
help.ea.comOfficial support page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Crossplay, Crossplay between.
- Crossplay: The FC 26 mode table explicitly includes cooperative Squad Battles. This is the same EA article with its mode table still exposed.
- Crossplay between: Windows, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S share the current-generation pool. PS4 and Xbox One share a separate pool. Nintendo versions are excluded.
help.ea.comOfficial support page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Local co-op.
- Local co-op: The maker describes one-device 1+1 cooperative play and choosing a side in Kick-Off. Local wireless on two systems is a different mode.
ea.comOfficial news, read 24 October 2026
Backs Release date.
- Release date: September 12, 2025 launch notes specify standard edition on PC at 1 PM BST on September 25, before the September 26 console launch. Paid advance access is distinguished from the standard launch.
store.steampowered.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Steam app ID, Release status, Local co-op, Platforms, Free base co-op.
- Steam app ID: The opened product is app 3405690.
- Release status: The released base game has an active purchase option.
- Local co-op: Publisher categories include shared or split screen co-op.
- Platforms: Windows requirements and a current base-game purchase option.
- Free base co-op: The checked computer full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
store.steampowered.comStore data, read 24 October 2026
Backs Platforms, Release status.
- Platforms: Windows build.
- Release status: Steam lists the game as available to play.
store.steampowered.comStore data, read 24 October 2026
Backs Steam Deck.
- Steam Deck: Valve rates the game Unsupported on Steam Deck.
store.playstation.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Platforms, Free base co-op.
- Platforms: Current standard-edition purchase listing for PS4 and PS5. The 22-player count is not a cooperative cap.
- Free base co-op: The checked PlayStation full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
xbox.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Platforms, Free base co-op.
- Platforms: Opened title identifies the standard edition for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. The publisher buy page links this product.
- Free base co-op: The checked Xbox full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
nintendo.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Platforms, Free base co-op.
- Platforms: Current digital product for Nintendo Switch.
- Free base co-op: The checked Nintendo full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
nintendo.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Platforms, Free base co-op.
- Platforms: Separate current digital product for Nintendo Switch 2.
- Free base co-op: The checked Nintendo full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.
pcgamer.comPress, read 24 October 2026
Backs Tension and danger, Getting better, Planning ahead, Calm and coziness, Time to hang out.
- Tension and danger: PC Gamer, September 30, 2025 describes fast matches in the Competitive preset used by the squad-building mode. Pressure varies with the chosen computer difficulty.
- Getting better: Tricks, aiming, passing and defending reward practice.
- Planning ahead: Positioning and player roles matter, though this remains real-time football rather than turn-based planning.
- Calm and coziness: Menus and breaks between individual matches give some quiet time. The slower Authentic preset does not apply to the cooperative squad-building mode.
- Time to hang out: Short matches and menu breaks allow some conversation, but passing and defending need attention.
gamesradar.comPress, read 24 October 2026
Backs Tension and danger, Getting better.
- Tension and danger: GamesRadar describes quick attacking play and difficult defending, and explicitly notes Squad Battles cannot use the slower Authentic preset.
- Getting better: The review describes a focus on controller skill, attacking movement and defensive positioning.
store.epicgames.comStore page, read 24 October 2026
Backs Free base co-op.
- Free base co-op: The checked computer full-base edition has a paid base-game access model. Demos, trials, guest passes, platform sharing and temporary grants do not establish ongoing free base co-op.