FC 26 has been out for almost a year, and with the recent addition of The World's Game mode, the game has experienced another surge in popularity. With 53 national teams and a 48-team format, the tournament progresses from the group stage to the final - but why do some players dominate the World Cup while others consistently falter in the group stage? The difference isn't in how flashy the moves are, but in the handling of details at crucial moments.
Today, I've compiled five particularly useful tips for actual gameplay. Each one is simple, but mastering them will definitely help you win several more matches.
Triggering Runs On The Move
Let's start with triggering runs while the ball is in flight. Triggering runs in FC 26 is simple, but simple runs are easily anticipated by opponents, rendering your attack ineffective. To maintain a smooth attack and make your opponent unpredictable, you must learn to initiate runs while the ball is in motion. This allows you to anticipate your attack two steps ahead, making it impossible for your opponent to defend. Next, let's look at the specific steps. First, select the player you want to control while the ball is in flight and quickly press the L1/LB button. This player will start running before receiving the ball, reaching a position near where the ball will land, allowing for subsequent passing combinations with the receiving player in that position.
More importantly, triggering the run before the ball hits the ground creates a false impression for the opponent. In FIFA 26, one player controls an entire team, and only one player can be controlled at a time; the others are AI. AI defenders will be forced to track opponents when they detect an attacking move. Therefore, if you make this feint to confuse the AI, you can easily stretch their defense and create more options for your actual attacking route.
In The World's Game tournament, opponents in the knockout stages typically defend more densely and cautiously. Triggering a run while the ball is in flight can effectively break down the opponent's defensive line, especially effective against players who prefer a compact defense.
Scanning the Pitch
However, to perform the above maneuvers, you not only need to monitor the ball's trajectory but also control your player's movement and ensure the corresponding defenders are reacting (to prevent the opposing player from simultaneously controlling that player). All of this requires accurate observation of the field.
Observing the field means shifting your gaze away from the ball carrier, but if the timing is wrong, you can easily lose control. For example, if the opponent is aggressively pressing your ball carrier, you must concentrate all your attention on them, as preventing the ball from being stolen is paramount.
However, if the opponent's defense falters or they press too aggressively, giving you a moment of safety without immediate close pressure, this is one of those moments that gives you time to observe. Don't rush to release the ball or press the sprint button (R2/RT). A slight push of the left stick to change direction can easily evade an unbalanced defender. The order of actions is crucial. Your first priority is to establish position and maintain possession of the ball. Only after the ball is completely under your control and the pressure is relieved should you look up to assess the situation.
Another excellent time to observe the overall situation is when the ball is in the air, when neither you nor your opponent can do anything about it. After you pass, you have time to observe the receiver's movements and look at other players nearby. The goal is to determine if there are opposing defenders nearby and if there are teammates who can continue the pass.
L1/LB Stop
Now let's learn the hidden trick in FUT 26 - L1/LB stop. To perform this, simply press L1/LB quickly. It sounds simple, but the difficulty lies in the fact that you can only press these two buttons. This is the easiest place to make a mistake - lightly press L1/LB the moment you release the left stick or a split second later. If you are still pushing the direction, the player will slowly dribble towards the goal in that direction instead of staying stationary.
This technique is very useful in three situations:
1. Break pressure in the midfield
Use this trick to stop abruptly when you encounter a direct interception from an opponent while dribbling forward in midfield. Use a sudden stop to see which direction the defender is rushing towards due to inertia, then gently push the joystick in the opposite direction to easily shake off the opponent and gain the scanning time mentioned above.
2. Wing sprinting & Passing angle
The second technique is when you're dribbling down the wing, and the opposing defender will follow you and tries to block you and all your passing lanes. At this moment, press L1/LB to stay still, and the defender won't expect this. Even if they try to stop with you, they can't resist the inertia and will fall out of the defensive zone or even out of bounds. This creates an excellent angle for your pass, allowing you to easily pass the ball to your striker.
3. Chance creation in or around the penalty area
Finally, creating opportunities in or around the penalty area works similarly. You can simply dribble in one direction, then use L1/LB to stop instantly and turn to the other side. In a densely packed penalty area, this move can instantly evade defenders.
In short, L1/LB stop is a very practical and simple technique; all you need to do is press the button cleanly and crisply.
Partial Team Press
Next, I will introduce a very important defensive technique in FUT 26 - the partial team press. Many players don't actually know how to use it. The operation is very simple: when you are controlling a player to defend against an opponent with the ball, quickly tap R1/RB twice, and be careful not to release the button after the second tap. At this time, two AI players on your team will automatically run to mark the two opponents most likely to receive the ball.
This way, you can anticipate who the opponent intends to pass the ball to, and then quickly switch to that teammate to intercept the ball with a high success rate. This technique is particularly useful in one situation - when the opponent breaks down the wing and reaches the byline, suddenly pass the ball back to the middle, allowing a teammate in the middle to shoot.
In FC 26's The World's Game mode, many players like to use this passing method. Using this technique to block the receiving point in advance can directly disrupt the opponent's most common attacking patterns, a tactic applicable in both group stages and knockout rounds.
Therefore, if your opponent frequently uses this tactic, decisively use this button to push your defensive line forward; your defense will be much more solid. A solid defense naturally creates more counter-attack opportunities, leading to more FC 26 coins and points for winning.
Also Read: What Does EA FC 26 Update v1.6.2 Change in The World's Game, Career Mode, Clubs, and Presentation Systems?
Going Back In 1v1 Defending
Finally, let's discuss a key point for 1v1 defense - many people habitually lunge forward when defending 1v1, but this is extremely risky because if you miss, your back is completely exposed, with no one to cover for you. True defense isn't about immediately trying to win the ball; it's about limiting the opponent's attacking options.
Therefore, the correct approach is: don't rush to tackle; take a small step back, focusing on keeping up with the opponent's movement rhythm. Retreating slightly gives you reaction time, forcing the opponent to rethink their next move, while you remain positioned between the goal and the ball, denying them an easy shooting angle.
At this point, holding down L2/LT will keep your player in a low-center-of-gravity defensive posture, retreating while observing the opponent's feints and changes of direction. Even if you occasionally can't resist taking a step forward, simply holding down this button will allow you to quickly adjust and return to your defensive position.
In the knockout stage of The World's Game, a single defensive mistake can lead to immediate elimination. It's better to retreat and wait for teammates to get back into position than to recklessly rush in; this is an ironclad rule for going further in the knockout stages.
These are the five practical tips we wanted to share today. These maneuvers aren't difficult; the challenge lies in developing them into habits in actual gameplay - don't rush to dive when you should retreat, don't press the sprint button when you should stop, and don't habitually stare at the ball when you should be watching your opponent. If you can integrate these small details into your game, leading your team to victory in FC 26 The World's Game is only a matter of time.
