The world of EA FC 25 Ultimate Team is constantly evolving, and in early 2026, EA Sports introduced a groundbreaking new feature for collectors and competitors alike: the Iconic Rise Evolution. This isn't just another run-of-the-mill player upgrade path. What makes this Evolution so special? It's the very first one in the game's history that is acquired not through gameplay objectives or the transfer market, but exclusively through a Squad Building Challenge (SBC). This means players must strategically assemble a squad to unlock the right to evolve their most prized possessions—their base Icon cards. This exclusive SBC acts as a gateway, allowing gamers to significantly boost the core attributes of their Iconic legends, from shooting and dribbling to even enhancing their weak foot and skill moves. For anyone looking to keep their classic heroes relevant in the fast-paced meta of 2026, understanding this Evolution is crucial.

How to Unlock the Iconic Rise Evolution

To embark on this journey of upgrading an Icon, you must first complete the Icon Evolution Upgrade SBC. This is the mandatory key to accessing the Evolution menu for your chosen legend. The challenge requires building a squad with specific stipulations. The requirements are as follows:

• Team Of The Week Players: Minimum of one in your starting 11.

• Squad Size: 11 players.

• Team Overall Rating: Minimum 85.

Completing this SBC in early 2026 comes at a cost. Based on the market at the time of release, the cheapest solution had an estimated price tag of around 41,950 EA FC Coins. The requirement for a Team of the Week (TOTW) player is often the variable that can inflate the price, so savvy players keep an eye on the market for affordable TOTW options. A sample squad that meets the criteria could include players like:

Which Icons Are Eligible?

Not every Icon can undergo this transformation. The Iconic Rise Evolution is exclusively reserved for base Icon cards. However, even among base Icons, there is a strict filter. The only requirement for eligibility is:

• Overall Rating: Maximum 88

• Rarity: Icon

While this rule is simple, it opens the door to a vast and exciting pool of classic players. The question then becomes: which of these 88-rated and below Icons provide the most value and the best in-game performance after their evolution? The community quickly identified several standout candidates that, once upgraded, can dominate in the current meta.

Top Base Icons to Evolve

Choosing the right Icon to evolve is perhaps the most important decision. You're investing coins and time, so you want a player who will become a cornerstone of your team. Here are some of the most highly recommended base Icons for the Iconic Rise Evolution, based on their positions and how their upgraded stats fit the 2026 gameplay:

🔥 Top-Tier Picks:

• Patrick Vieira (88): An evolved Vieira becomes an even more impenetrable wall in midfield.

• Rio Ferdinand (88): His defensive stats receive a massive boost, making him a top-tier center-back.

• Wayne Rooney (88): Transforms into a complete and clinical striker with enhanced shooting and physicality.

• Steven Gerrard (88): Gains the passing and shooting to be the ultimate box-to-box midfielder.

💎 Excellent Value Choices:

• Gareth Bale (88): His pace and shooting upgrade makes him a terrifying winger or striker.

• Franck Ribery (88): Dribbling and skills become even more lethal on the wing.

• Fernando Torres (87): A more affordable striker option who becomes incredibly fast and clinical.

• Michael Essien (86): The budget powerhouse in midfield who gets a huge overall boost.

Other fantastic options include Laurent Blanc, Lilian Thuram, David Beckham, and Bastian Schweinsteiger. Each of these players receives significant upgrades that can bridge the gap between their base version and the more expensive mid or prime versions.

What Upgrades Does the Evolution Provide?

So, what exactly are you getting for your SBC completion and subsequent grind? The Iconic Rise Evolution follows a two-level upgrade path, similar to other free Evolutions in Ultimate Team. The stat boosts are substantial and tailored to make these Icons competitive. The upgrades are as follows:

📈 Attribute Boosts:

• Overall: +4 (Max 90)

• Pace: +5 (Max 86)

• Shooting: +6 (Max 90)

• Passing: +4 (Max 86)

• Dribbling: +5 (Max 89)

• Defending: +2 (Max 89)

• Physicality: +2 (Max 85)

🎯 PlayStyle Enhancements:

• Weak Foot: +1 (Max 4★)

• Skill Moves: +1 (Max 4★)

Imagine taking an 88-rated Icon and giving them a +6 boost to Shooting and a +5 boost to Pace and Dribbling. That's the game-changing potential here. The additional boost to Weak Foot and Skill Moves is the cherry on top, making these players far more versatile and unpredictable in attack.

How to Complete the Evolution Challenges

Unlocking the Evolution via SBC is only half the battle. To fully realize these upgrades, you must complete a series of in-game challenges with your chosen Icon active in your squad. The challenges are designed to be completed through normal gameplay across various modes:

1. Play 3 matches in any of the following modes on at least Semi-Pro difficulty: Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles. Your active Evo player must be in the game.

2. Win 2 matches in any of the above modes on at least Semi-Pro difficulty with your active Evo player.

3. Play 3 more matches under the same conditions as the first challenge.

4. Win 2 matches while conceding one goal or less in any of the eligible modes on at least Semi-Pro difficulty with your active Evo player.

These objectives are straightforward but require you to actually use the player you're upgrading. It's a grind that asks for a bit of defensive solidity for the final step, but it's well worth it for the final product. Is there a better feeling than scoring a last-minute winner with your newly evolved Icon to complete the final challenge? For dedicated Ultimate Team managers in 2026, the Iconic Rise Evolution represents a unique opportunity to personalize and power up their favorite legends, ensuring they remain viable threats on the virtual pitch for months to come.

Data referenced from Sensor Tower highlights how live-service sports titles rely on time-limited content beats to drive sustained engagement, which helps explain why EA FC 25’s SBC-gated Iconic Rise Evolution feels strategically timed: by placing a high-value upgrade behind an SBC (with a TOTW price variable) and then requiring match-play objectives, the feature effectively combines marketplace pressure with on-pitch retention to keep Ultimate Team activity cycling week to week.