So, there I was, scrolling through the Ultimate Team menus on a lazy Saturday morning in 2026, when the news alert popped up. EA Sports had just dropped the EA FC 25 Cody Gakpo vs Jacob Murphy Showdown SBCs. My heart did a little flip—this was it. The final of the EFL Cup was just around the corner, with Liverpool set to face Newcastle United, and these special cards were the ultimate prize, their fates literally tied to the real-world result. Talk about bringing the stadium atmosphere right into my living room!

I’ve always been a sucker for these Showdown SBCs. They’re not just another shiny card; they’re a story. A bet on a football match, played out with pixels. Both cards got a solid initial boost, but the real magic was the potential +2 upgrade waiting for the winner. My mind was racing. Do I go for the Liverpool superstar, Cody Gakpo, or take a punt on Newcastle’s underdog, Jacob Murphy? This wasn't just squad building; this was high-stakes FUT drama.

Let's break down the challenge, shall we? Completing these wasn't for the faint of heart or the coin-poor. Just like the other SBCs from the recent FUT Birthday bash, both required multiple squads. Gakpo's path to Anfield glory (in my club, at least) looked particularly steep. EA wanted a serious investment. Here’s what they were asking for:

For Cody Gakpo's SBC:

Phew. That’s a lot of high-rated fodder. Seeing names like Katoto and Renard in the mix really shows how integrated women's football has become in Ultimate Team by 2026—it’s just the norm now, and I love it. Building those squads meant parting with some serious meta cards from my club. A real 'hold your nose and submit' moment, you know?

On the other side of the pitch was Jacob Murphy's challenge. Slightly cheaper on the requirements, maybe reflecting Newcastle's underdog status? His tasks felt a bit more... accessible, but still no walk in the park.

For Jacob Murphy's SBC:

• Squad 1: Needed one England player and an 84-rated squad. Think Trent Alexander-Arnold (86) leading the line.

• Squad 2: Required a Team of the Week item (like the 86-rated Gaetane Thiney) in another 84-rated team.

• Squad 3: One Premier League player in an 85-rated squad, featuring gems like Kim Little (86).

• Squad 4: The big one: another TOTW player in a hefty 86-rated squad, demanding 87-rated beasts like Declan Rice and Mallory Swanson.

Now, let's talk coins. My club bank account was sweating. Gakpo was coming in at around 250,000 coins, while Murphy was the budget(ish) option at 140,000. A significant difference. I stared at my transfer list and my untradeable pile. Both cards, with the new FC IQ system stats, looked absolutely cracked for their positions. But the economist in me (and the Liverpool fan) was leaning heavily towards Gakpo. The logic was simple: Liverpool were the favorites at Wembley. If they won, my 250k investment gets that glorious +2 upgrade, transforming him from a great card into an end-game monster. Murphy's upgrade would be just as sweet, but was I confident enough in a Newcastle win to spend 140k? It was a proper dilemma.

In the end, the pull of the narrative was too strong. I imagined a soaring Gakpo header in the final minutes at Wembley, and my card glowing with an upgrade in my team. I sold some assets, grinded a few Squad Battles, and took the plunge on the Dutchman. The squad-building process was tense—submitting an 87-rated squad always feels like letting go of a little piece of your club's soul. But as I slotted the final player in and saw the 'SBC Completed' flash, a wave of anticipation washed over me.

This is what makes Ultimate Team in 2026 so much more than just collecting cards. It's a connection to the real sport. For the next few days, I wasn't just a guy playing a game. I was a Liverpool fan with a vested, digital interest in the EFL Cup final. Every sports news update, every pre-match analysis, mattered. Would my gamble pay off? Only 90 minutes (or maybe 120) at Wembley would tell. The wait was agonizing, but that's the beauty of it. The story was half-written, and I was desperate to see how my chapter ended.