Managers could even be allowed to FC 26 Coins control these youth teams, using tactics that match the senior squad and ensuring smoother transitions when promotions happen.

Youth Facility Upgrades Matter

Much like in Football Manager, FC 26 should tie player quality and development speed to academy and facility investments. Clubs with state-of-the-art youth setups (like Ajax or Barcelona) would naturally produce higher-quality prospects more frequently. Smaller clubs could choose to invest heavily in facilities as a long-term strategy for sustainable success.

Dynamic Growth Curves

Not every top youth prospect becomes a superstar. Some suffer injuries, others get mentally overwhelmed, while some late bloomers defy early projections. FC 26 should abandon fixed potential ranges and instead adopt dynamic growth curves. Player development could vary depending on playing time, injuries, morale, mentorship, and coaching quality.

This unpredictability makes managing youth talent more rewarding — and mirrors the real football world where nothing is guaranteed.

 Emotional Milestones and Narrative Events

Imagine a scenario where a 17-year-old striker scores his first senior goal — and a commentary line acknowledges it. Or a young center-back makes a critical mistake in a derby match, affecting his confidence. These narrative moments, tied to youth development, would increase immersion and emotional connection to your academy players.

 Player Progression Feedback Loop

FC 26 could also include a player progression system that provides feedback loops. Youth players performing well in U21 games could request promotion or hint at growing confidence. Likewise, stagnating players might need one-on-one chats or additional training regimes to reignite their growth.

Youth development is more than a number on a card — it’s a living, breathing process that mirrors the soul of a football club. In EA Sports FC 25, this process is sterile and uninspiring. But in FC 26, there’s a real opportunity to turn it into one of the most compelling aspects of Career Mode.

By borrowing depth from Football Manager and adding EA’s own flair for presentation and emotion, EA Sports can breathe life into the youth system. Whether you’re developing the next homegrown hero or building a long-term dynasty from cheap FC 26 Coins the academy up, the future of FC 26 should be one where youth matters more than ever.