Raising EA Sports FC 26 age rating: what parents of kids 4–7 should know
EA Sports FC 26 age rating: the ESRB rates it E (Everyone) with no content descriptors, and PEGI rates it 3. Both flag paid random items: FC Points, bought with real money, can be spent on Ultimate Team Packs, and EA's own store text says the items include "a random selection." In 2018, Belgium's Gaming Commission found that FIFA 18's packs were games of chance under its gambling law, and EA's store text says FC Points still can't be bought in Belgium. A Dutch penalty order over FIFA packs was overturned in 2022.
EA Sports FC 26 at a glance
- –Official rating above age 7
ESRB: E; PEGI 3 - ✓Contact with other players or strangers
ESRB: Users Interact - ✓Purchases with real money
FC Points cost real money - ✓Paid random items
ESRB: In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items) - –Violence or scary content in rating descriptors
ESRB: No Descriptors - –Government lawsuits, fines, or safety warnings
Not FC 26; Belgium's 2018 finding covered FIFA 18
Each flag is a yes-or-no fact from the sources on this page. The number is a count of flags, not a safety score. How we count.
| Type | Soccer video game by Electronic Arts, the series formerly called FIFA |
|---|---|
| US & Canada (ESRB) | E (Everyone) — No Descriptors; Users Interact, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items) source |
| Europe & UK (PEGI) | 3 (suitable for all ages), with the label "Paid random items". PEGI says its June 2026 criteria set a minimum of 16 for games with paid random items; this entry still shows 3 as of October 2026. source |
| Purchases | FC Points buy Ultimate Team Packs and more; EA: "not available in Belgium and South Korea" source |
| Belgium (2018) | Gaming Commission found FIFA 18 loot boxes were games of chance; EA stopped selling points there source |
| Netherlands (2022) | Highest administrative court overturned a regulator's penalty order over FIFA packs source |
Checked October 2026. Ratings and settings change; check the official source before you decide. What do these ratings mean?
Facts for parents, not medical or legal advice. If you're worried about your child, talk to your pediatrician.
What is EA Sports FC 26?
Short answer: The 2025 edition of EA's soccer game, the series that used to be called FIFA.
The ESRB says players play realistic soccer matches, tournaments, skill games, and street soccer. It came out in September 2025 on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.
EA Sports FC 26 age rating: what's in it
Short answer: The game content has no rating notes; the notes are about purchases and online play.
- US & Canada (ESRB): E (Everyone), No Descriptors. Interactive elements: Users Interact, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items).
- Europe & UK (PEGI): 3, with the label "Paid random items." PEGI mentions in-game currency and randomized card packs.
We couldn't find a Common Sense Media review of this edition.
Ultimate Team packs and FC Points
Short answer: FC Points cost real money and can buy packs with random player cards.
EA's store text on the Nintendo eShop says FC Points can be used for Football Ultimate Team content such as Packs, and that the purchases include "a random selection of virtual in-game items." It also says FC Points are "optional & not required for Ultimate Team."
Are FC Points sold in Belgium?
Short answer: No. EA's store text says FC Points purchase is "not available in Belgium and South Korea."
In April 2018, Belgium's Gaming Commission found that loot boxes in FIFA 18, Overwatch, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive were games of chance under Belgian gambling law, and the justice minister demanded they be removed. According to PC Gamer, EA stopped selling FIFA Points in Belgium in 2019 and said it disagreed with the authorities' interpretation of the law. In the Netherlands, a regulator's penalty order against EA was overturned in 2022 by the Council of State, which found the packs were part of a game of skill.
The habit kids may copy: chasing the rare card
Pack openings are built around the hope of a rare card. The habit kids may copy is thinking the next try will be the lucky one.
Try tonight: the sure thing or the surprise
Offer two choices: one sticker now, or a closed envelope that might have two stickers or none. Whatever they pick, ask: "How did it feel to choose? Would you pick it again?" In our program, this is the lesson "I'm the Boss of My Want": practicing the pause between wanting something and getting it.
Why you can trust this page: the main facts link to their sources, a separate reviewer checks each page before it goes live, and the date shows when we last checked. How we review · Report an error
FAQ
What age is EA Sports FC 26 for?
The ESRB rates it E (Everyone) with no content descriptors, and PEGI rates it 3. Both note paid random items.
Is EA FC 26 OK for kids?
Its game content has no ESRB content notes. It sells FC Points that can buy random Ultimate Team packs, and players can interact online.
Are FC 26 packs gambling?
Regulators have disagreed: Belgium's Gaming Commission found in 2018 that FIFA 18's packs were games of chance, while the Dutch Council of State ruled in 2022 that FIFA packs weren't a separate game of chance. We found no ruling about FC 26 itself.
Do you need FC Points for Ultimate Team?
No. EA's store text says FC Points are "optional & not required for Ultimate Team."
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Read next →Raising Stoics is a 12-week program for ages 5–6, built on Stoic philosophy and developmental psychology. One lesson is "I'm the Boss of My Want": practicing the pause between wanting something and getting it.