EA Sports FC 26 Hits Xbox Game Pass for Free Play Days Weekend
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Xbox Game Pass subscribers can play EA Sports FC 26 for free from January 15 to January 18 as part of the latest Free Play Days weekend.
Xbox Game Pass subscribers have a chance to try out one of last year's biggest sports titles without opening their wallets. As reported by Polygon, Microsoft is bringing back Free Play Days with EA Sports FC 26 taking center stage from January 15 through January 18. Subscribers across Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential tiers can jump into the pitch and test out the massive roster featuring over 20,000 licensed players and hundreds of clubs. To help promote the event, Xbox even teamed up with former German football star Toni Kroos for a special announcement video.
While the game pulled in a solid 77 critic average when it launched back in September 2025, it has faced plenty of friction from the community. The user score tells a different story sitting down at 2.9, largely driven by player frustration over bugs and the heavy monetization that continues to define modern sports titles. Even so, this weekend trial gives everyone a risk-free window to test out Football Ultimate Team and the new Player Archetypes in Career mode before deciding to invest any cash.
For cross-platform players and sports fans looking for something to fill the weekend queue, temporary access like this is a great way to check out major releases on your own terms. Whether you want to grind out matches in Ultimate Team or just see how the latest engine updates feel on console, you can dive into the action through Game Pass starting today. Head over to Polygon to check out their full coverage of the event.
Tags: Xbox Game Pass, EA Sports FC 26, Sports Games, Xbox, Gaming News
Original article: Polygon