FC 26 Cornerstones Tournament: Everything You Need To Know

EA has just dropped a brand new tournament into Ultimate Team, the FC 26 Cornerstones Cup, and it’s packed with free packs, a special objective card, and two Cosmetic Evolutions.

However, it comes with some tricky squad requirements and a tight deadline. The tournament is only live until this Friday at 6 PM UK time, and with daily attempt limits, you’ll need to be efficient.

Here’s a full breakdown of the tournament format, every reward available, and some tips on how to build your squad to secure that top prize.

How The Cornerstones Qualifier Works

The format is straightforward, but the squad building is where the challenge lies.

• Format: A four-round knockout tournament (Round of 16, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, Final).
• Attempts: You get 5 attempts per day. These reset daily at 6 PM UK time.
• Deadline: The entire event expires on Friday at 6 PM UK time.
• Squad Requirements: This is the most important rule.
  • Max Team Rating: 84
  • You are only allowed one player rated 86 or higher in your entire squad (starters and subs).

This squad restriction forces you to build a balanced, budget-friendly team around one superstar, making for some interesting matchups.

Full Objectives & Rewards List

Completing the objectives will net you a solid haul of untradable packs, perfect for building fodder or trying your luck for a promo card in FC 26.

• Play 5 Games: 2 x 78+ Rare Gold Players Pack
• Score 5 goals: 80+ Rare Gold Player Pack
• Win Round of 16: 81+ Rare Gold Player Pack
• Win Quarter-Finals: 82+ Rare Gold Player Pack
• Win Semi-Finals: 2x 81+ Rare Gold Player Pack
• Win Tournament: TOTW Embellishment Evolution + 2x 82+ Rare Gold Player Pack
• Win the Tournament Twice: Arrow Spin Evolution + 84+ Rare Gold Player Pack
• Group Reward (Complete All): Cornerstones Brendan Chardonnet

All rewards are untradable, but the value here is massive, especially with the two new Evolutions and a free special card on the line.

Tips for Building Your 84-Rated Squad

The 84-rated squad limit with only one 86+ player is a classic Ultimate Team puzzle. Here’s how to solve it:

• Choose Your Superstar Wisely: Your single 86+ player slot should be used on a game-changer. An elite-tier attacker like Pina or Dumornay.
• Build Around Meta Budget Beasts: Fill the rest of your starting XI with cheap, effective players. Look for pacey defenders with key defensive PlayStyles like Lacroix, well-rounded midfielders, and attackers with good shooting and weak foot stats. This is not the place for your slow, high-rated fodder players.
• Use Your Bench for Rating: Don’t waste high ratings on your substitutes. If you’re struggling to get down to the 84-rating requirement, fill your bench with bronze players to lower the overall squad rating.

Don’t Forget: Qualify for the Finale!

This follow-up tournament starts in just over two days and is only active for 24 hours! Make sure you get that first win to guarantee your spot in the final showdown.

There’s one more crucial detail. Winning the Cornerstones Cup at least once qualifies you for the FC 26 Cornerstones Tournament: Finale.

Good luck, and let us know in the comments who your one superstar player will be