Play with all your friends through EA FC 26 cross-play

EA FC 26 cross-play (also known as cross-platform) allows players to compete against each other on different platforms. EA Sports' new football game thus fulfils the wish of all players. However, specific modes do not support cross-play in EA FC 26. We will tell you everything you need to know.

In 2025, cross-play functions can no longer be ignored in the gaming world. Cross-play enables gamers across different platforms to play together on a single server. This feature brings people together, whether they are behind a PC or one of the consoles. This year, EA FC 26 cross-play functions in more game modes than before.

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How does EA FC 26 cross-play work?

EA FC 26 cross-play lets you play with and against other players on different platforms of the same generation. This means that someone with a PlayStation 4 can play with someone with an Xbox One. The PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC are considered part of the same generation. Switch is excluded, so Nintendo Switch players can only play against each other.

EA FC 26 Cross-play is available for the game modes Online Friendlies, Fut Play A Friend, Fut Online Friendlies, Online Seasons, FUT Rivals, FUT Champions, and FUT Online Draft. However, it is available in even more modes in EA FC 26: Pro Clubs, Co-Op Season, VOLTA Football (Arcade and Squads), and Ultimate Team Co-Op (Squad Battles, Rivals, and Friendlies).

The community's biggest letdown last year was the lack of Pro Clubs in cross-play. It is refreshing to see EA Sports address this concern and add Pro Clubs to the list of cross-platform eligibility.

How do I use EA FC 26 cross-play?

Cross-play is enabled by default for everyone playing EA FC 26 for the first time. However, you can turn it off in the customization menu, then online settings, and click on matchmaking options. You can select or deselect 'Opt-in to cross-play' based on your preference.

EA FC 26 cross-play: EA Social widget

With the new EA Social widget, everyone can search for players, add them to their party, and ignore or decline invites. You will find the widget at the bottom right of the main menu. In EA Social, you see the subcategories friends, game invites, friend requests, player search, and recently met.

In the friend menu, you can see which friends are online. From this point, you can invite these friends to one of the game modes. You can also remove, block, and mute friends.

In the game invites menu, you see which invites you recently received. You get a pop-up message with every invite. You can accept these invites with one click. Comparable to the game invites menu, you can see which friend requests you received in the friend requests menu.

With the player search feature, you can search for friends. You enter their EA ID or platform ID in the search bar. If done correctly, these people's names appear, and you can send a friend request to them. 

Finally, did you meet someone in EA FC 26 that you would like to play with or against again? You can then find these players under 'recently met'. There you will find the players you have recently encountered. 

FUT transfer market: mostly shared

The FUT transfer market has mainly been merged since the addition of cross-play. PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S will have one joint transfer market. PC and Nintendo Switch both get different transfer markets, which raised many questions from the community. Namely, the markets are much worse for the PC and Nintendo due to higher prices and fewer players. However, EA Sports has not addressed the fact at this point, so we will have to wait and see.

EA FC 26 Cross-play and hackers

Within several other games, cross-play features have a terrible reputation when it comes to hackers. After all, it is easier for PC players to use cheating software. EA Sports is aware of this and is trying to sideline hackers with EA anti-cheat. Reports of hackers in cross-play from EA FC 25 (the previous game) have been minimal, so it looks like the anti-cheat has done the job.

Ready to level up your skills? Learn directly from our pros and coaches in the EA FC 25 Course, now available worldwide!