FC 26 Cornerstones Team 1 Predictions: Expected Players, Start Date & Features

EA FC 26's first promotion, Cornerstones, has officially been revealed. It will start on September 26, 2025. This new promotion focuses on players who are the cornerstones of their club: leaders, long-time signings, and breakthrough players who have earned the respect of their teammates and fans.

Promotions are always a hot topic in Ultimate Team, and it looks as though Cornerstones is going to offer everybody a bunch of new cards at the start of the game. Although there are many leaks and predictions from the community, let's take a look at the expected FC 26 Cornerstones cards and what to expect.

What is the FC 26 Cornerstones Promo?

The Cornerstones promo will be the first major moment of EA FC 26 Ultimate Team, with cards going live on Friday, September 26 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM BST. The launch is timed perfectly with the end of early access, so every player will be able to start building squads around the specific cards.

The promotion will highlight players who emphasise what aspects are important to each club's identity. In the Cornerstones promo, we are to honour top players as leaders on and off the field as depending on the team, defensive stars such as Virgil van Dijk and young prodigies finding a place in the previous few seasons, and others considered core players that have made an impact on the pitch.

It can be expected that each card will include permanent stat upgrades (in the case of a stat increase happening in real life) and unique +2 Club Chemistry links, which will help players develop squads at the beginning.

In addition to the card drops, objectives, provided by the Community, SBCs, and Evolutions will also launch alongside this event, giving everyone multiple options to earn rewards and make their Ultimate Team stronger.

FC 26 Cornerstones Team 1 Predictions

There is already buzz around the upcoming Cornerstones promo as names have emerged from leaked sources that include some of the most trustworthy names in football. The top player on the list is none other than Virgil Van Dijk, the definition of a cornerstone defender for Liverpool. Other well-known players are Dani Carvajal, a longtime Real Madrid veteran, and Heung-Min Son, who is still the main man for Tottenham. Meanwhile, do not forget to check out our EA FC 26 Trial Guide to learn more about the game.

These leaked names also hint at experience blended with youth, with players such as Cole Palmer, Salma Paralluelo, and Rayan Cherki, who are in the running based on their breakout seasons, while veterans such as Angel Di María and Mikel Oyarzabal will bring veteran experience and consistency to the lineup.

In some way that contributes to style, performance, and identity, each of these players can be considered as fulfilling the idea of being a cornerstone of their teams.

If these names end up being true, Cornerstones will provide fans with a great mix of elite starters and under-the-radar gems, which can set the stage for a more decelerated and balanced overall power curve in FC 26 Ultimate Team.

FC 26 Cornerstones Team 1 Predictions List

Here’s a look at the predicted lineup of Cornerstones promo cards based on leaks and community expectations:

This projected list features a well-rounded design of world-class defenders, creative midfielders, and prolific forwards.

Van Dijk leads the defence while both Son and Zaccagni add the attacking flair, with the young players such as Paralluelo and Cherki adding fresh energy. If this list is confirmed, the squad will allow players to have diverse choices to create their early Ultimate Team lineups. We also recently covered the FC 26 TOTW 2 Predictions on our website, which you can also check out.