With the global release of EA SPORTS FC 26 scheduled for September 2025, a series of rumours has been stirring the gaming community. One of the boldest — and also one of the most discussed — is the possible inclusion of an "open world" mode, inspired by titles like GTA, where players could freely explore environments outside the pitch. But is this possible? And what would it mean for the future of the franchise?
Where Did the Idea Come From?
The rumour gained traction in early 2025, following leaks on specialised forums and small snippets from developer interviews mentioning "new ways of interaction off the pitch." The community quickly associated this statement with the idea of a GTA-style mode, where the player would control their athlete in urban environments, engaging in activities beyond training and playing.
Moreover, in previous versions, EA has already flirted with more immersive experiences, such as behind-the-scenes scenes, interviews, gyms, and social moments in The Journey mode and small events in Volta Football. With the success of these experiments, many believe that a larger step, like a fully explorable environment, would be in the plans for FC 26.
What Would an "Open World" Mode Be Like?
In practice, an open world mode in EA FC 26 would allow the player to step off the pitch and control the athlete in an expansive virtual environment. Imagine being able to walk the streets, visit shops, customise clothing, interact with fans, manage the character's social media, or even participate in mini-games and challenges in urban locations.
This approach would add a layer of unprecedented immersion and customisation, connecting the football experience with RPG and social life elements, something that is already trending in other sports games, like NBA 2K with its MyCareer mode and virtual city.
Why Would EA Consider This Innovation?
EA has been looking for ways to keep players engaged for longer. With the rise of streaming content and the popularity of content creators, offering a social and exploratory mode would be a way to attract new audiences and revitalise the offline experience.
Additionally, the idea of an open environment perfectly aligns with the modern concept of "game as a service," where new missions, events, and cosmetic items can be continuously added, keeping the community active and consuming new content year-round.
What Challenges Would This Idea Face?
Despite exciting many fans, creating an open world mode presents enormous challenges. The primary one is technical complexity. Modelling a realistic city, full of details, with NPCs, missions, and freedom of movement requires a much larger structure than current modes.
Another delicate point is the acceptance of the more traditional audience. Many FC players prefer the experience focused on pure football and may consider an open world as unnecessary or "distracting." Furthermore, there is concern that resources invested in the open world mode could compromise important gameplay improvements on the pitch.
What If It Really Happens?
If the rumour is confirmed, FC 26 could go down in history as the first major football game to mix sports and open world on a large scale. It would be possible to live a player's career fully: from social life to training, press conferences, contract management, and side activities.
Fans could feel even more connected to the created character, turning each match into part of a larger narrative. This would also open the door for new monetisation methods, such as exclusive customisation items, vehicles, virtual apartments, and other cosmetic features.
Conclusion
So far, everything is just speculation. EA has not officially confirmed whether EA SPORTS FC 26 will have an open world. The expectation is that more details will be revealed during the official announcements in July and August, when trailers and detailed previews are usually presented.
Regardless, just the possibility already stirs the imagination of fans. An EA FC 26 with the freedom to explore a universe outside the pitch would undoubtedly be one of the biggest revolutions in the history of football games. We’ll have to wait and hope that the news exceeds expectations and delivers the most complete and innovative experience ever seen in the franchise.