FC 26: 89+ Encore Icon Upgrade SBC - Requirements, Rewards & Solutions
By Alfie Carrington••2 min read
The highly anticipated 89+ Encore Icon Upgrade Squad Building Challenge (SBC) has just dropped in FC 26 Ultimate Team, offering players an exciting opportunity to bolster their squads with a top-tier Icon. This repeatable challenge allows you to earn a pack featuring an 89+ rated Icon from various sought-after promotions, including Thunderstruck, Unbreakables, Winter Wildcards, Champion ICON, or Time Warp Icons. With a chance to land some of the game's most coveted legends, let's dive into everything you need to know about this new SBC.
What is the 89+ Encore Icon Upgrade SBC?
The 89+ Encore Icon Upgrade SBC is a special challenge designed to give players another shot at securing an elite Icon. Unlike specific player SBCs, this one rewards you with an 89+ Encore Icon Player Pack, guaranteeing a highly-rated legend. It's a fantastic chance to add a game-changing midfielder, defender, or attacker to your Ultimate Team lineup. This SBC is repeatable up to 3 times, giving you multiple opportunities to try your luck before it expires on March 1, 2026.
89+ Encore Icon Upgrade SBC Challenges & Requirements
85-Rated Squad
Exchange an 85-Rated Squad.
13,750
15,250
Requirements
- •Team Rating: Min. 85
86-Rated Squad
Exchange an 86-Rated Squad.
23,000
23,500
Requirements
- •Team Rating: Min. 86
86-Rated Squad
Exchange an 86-Rated Squad.
33,250
36,500
Requirements
- •Min. 1 Players Team of the Week
- •Team Rating: Min. 86
87-Rated Squad
Exchange an 87-Rated Squad.
51,500
52,000
Requirements
- •Min. 1 Players Team of the Week
- •Team Rating: Min. 87
88-Rated Squad
Exchange an 88-Rated Squad.
66,000
44,750
Requirements
- •Team Rating: Min. 88
Analyzing the 89+ Encore Icon Upgrade Rewards
The primary reward for completing all challenges is the 89+ Encore Icon Player Pack, which, as the name suggests, guarantees an Icon rated 89 or higher from a selection of popular promos. This means you have a solid chance at obtaining a truly meta player who can significantly impact your squad's performance. The total cost to complete this SBC is approximately 187,500 coins on consoles and 172,000 on PC, making the 281,391 from the potential Icon a key factor in its value.
In addition to the main Icon pack, each of the five challenges offers its own rewards, which include a x2 Players Pack, a Small Electrum Players Pack, a Small Gold Players Pack, a Premium Gold Pack, and a Mixed Players Pack. While these individual challenge rewards might not always cover the full cost of each segment, they provide excellent opportunities for fodder or even a lucky pull that could offset the overall expenditure.
Is the 89+ Encore Icon Upgrade SBC Worth It?
Given the potential for high-rated Icons and the ability to repeat the SBC three times, the 89+ Encore Icon Upgrade presents a compelling proposition. The value of an 89+ Icon can be immense, both in terms of in-game performance and market price. While there's always an element of luck with pack-based rewards, the floor of an 89+ Icon from these specific promos is generally quite good.
