EA has declared that Swedish football star Zlatan Ibrahimović will be the cover athlete for EA Sports FC 26, with the complete reveal trailer scheduled to premiere on Wednesday, July 16th. The game will launch on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One, and PC later this year. Ibrahimović, who has retired from professional football, will appear on the Ultimate Edition of the game as an icon item, honoring his remarkable career with clubs such as Barcelona, PSG, Inter Milan, and Ajax. This announcement comes after several hints and leaks regarding his inclusion, along with 12 new ICONS including Alex Morgan and Andres Iniesta, and eight new Heroes like Daniele De Rossi.

Ibrahimović’s return to EA’s titles follows a public dispute in 2021 concerning the use of his likeness, which appears to have been settled. The standard edition of EA Sports FC 26 is expected to feature Jude Bellingham and Jamal Musiala as co-cover athletes. Last year’s EA Sports FC 25 was criticized for persistent gameplay issues, impacting its financial success despite favorable initial reviews. EA CEO Andrew Wilson mentioned an increase in pre-orders and engagement but noted fewer players moving from EA Sports FC 24 to 25. It remains uncertain whether Ibrahimović’s return will motivate more players to transition to EA Sports FC 26.

The official reveal trailer for EA Sports FC 26 will debut on the EA Sports FC YouTube channel on Wednesday, July 16 at 8:57am PDT / 11:57am EDT / 4:57pm BST, with a duration of two minutes and 25 seconds.