As we’re nearing the release of EA FC 26, players will be excited to lead top-tier clubs to their immediate glory. While Ultimate Team is almost always all the rage in any FC game, a slightly underrated aspect of the game often lies in Career Mode. Road to Glory, specifically. Road to Glory is an interesting self-imposed challenge when you pick a small, overlooked, or struggling team and build it into a continental superpower.
If you’re interested in the challenge, you must choose a team that provides a unique narrative, a clear grind, and an overall enjoyable experience. We’ve got some recommendations for you right here.
Wrexham – Championship
The most popular Road to Glory team in almost every FC game. This is a team that’s backed by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Their rise is as fairytale as it gets, with back-to-back promotions and a passionate global fanbase that was introduced to the team by the Welcome to Wrexham documentary.
In FC 26, they sit in the EFL Championship, just a stone’s throw away from that Premier League dream. So, the challenge is obvious: guide Wrexham into England’s top level and turn them into a club that can go toe-to-toe with giants like Manchester City and Liverpool. What makes this such a fun save is that you have the blend of an underdog story and real-world buzz.
Schalke 04 – 2. Bundesliga
Schalk is a fallen giant, and it’s one of the most dramatic picks for the Road to Glory ambition. This is a club with immense history in German football. They were once regulars in the Bundesliga and were even Champions League contenders once. Unfortunately, after years of mismanagement, financial woes, and poor performances, they tumbled all the way down to 2. Bundesliga (the second tier of professional football in Germany).
In the game, you will take the reins of a club that’s desperate to claw back to the heights it fell from. The immediate challenge is tough, but simple: secure promotion and restore Schalke’s reputation in Germany. Long-term, the real goal is to take on the fight against Bayern Munich and win the Meisterschale.
Como – Serie A
Como is one of the most exciting up-and-coming clubs in Italy, and their Road to Glory journey has a lot of flavor. The club is nestled in the stunning backdrop of Lake Como, and they have a bit of star power behind them — with Thierry Henry’s involvement at the board level. Despite that, Como still has a long way to go before it becomes a household name in Italian football.
In FC 26, you’ll now find them in Serie A after achieving promotion in the 2023–24 season. The short-term challenge is survival. In Serie A, you’ll be facing the big three (Juventus, Inter, AC Milan), and strong teams like Napoli and Roma. You just need to ensure Coma doesn’t slip straight back into the second tier.
Coma has growing global attention, a squad that demands smart management, and a beautiful setting. It’s a good pick for people looking for a stylish but demanding project in Italy.
Leicester City – Championship
Leicester is one of the more fascinating picks for Road to Glory, mainly because of their recent history. Not long ago, they shocked the world by winning the Premier League in 2016, creating one of the best underdog stories in English football. After years of decline, though, they were relegated to the Championship in 2023.
Your goal is to restore Leicester to its former glory. First, you need to secure promotion and establish the team as a Premier League club. The real challenge is to recreate the 2016 story by winning the league again and maybe even chasing European glory. With Leicester, you have strong foundations, a modern stadium, and a squad with real potential. It’s not an atrocious start like some of the other teams on here, but still decently demanding.
Notts County – League Two
Like Wrexham and Schalke, Notts is another classic and popular pick for Road to Glory in career mode. Fun fact: Notts is the oldest professional football club in the world, founded all the way back in 1862. They have a deep history as a result, but have spent decades in the shadow of Nottingham Forest.
You’ll find them in the lower tiers of English football, EFL League Two to be precise. Climb the ladder step by step: League Two, League One, the Championship, and finally, the Premier League. Yeah, you’re in for a long, immense journey. It’s the full underdog grind, and a perfect pick for the most dedicated of Road to Glory enjoyers.
Portsmouth FC – Championship
Here you have another proud English club with a dramatic history. Portsmouth won the FA Cup in 2008 and were once a solid Premier League club, but financial struggles have sent them crashing down several divisions. Right now, they’re competing in the EFL Championship, the second level of the English football league.
Because of financial struggles and a squad that will require focused management, this is a gritty rebuild with a lot of history at play. You have a loyal fanbase, past glory, and the potential to make a huge comeback. It’s a rewarding save, but it will be a difficult journey to get back to the Premier League and rebuild a reputation as a top English club.
Athletic Club (Bilbao) – La Liga
Because of their strict player choosing policy, Athletic Bilbao offers one of the more interesting challenges in Road to Glory. Bilbao is strict about only signing players from the Basque region, limiting transfers, and forcing you to go hard on youth development.
In the game, Bilbao is already in the La Liga, but the challenge is to compete with giants like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atlético with a limited transfer pool. Winning the league and competing in Europe will be a monumental task. This one is all about patience, creativity, and pride. The strict policy will make every success special, and lifting the La Liga trophy is very satisfying as a result.
AS Saint-Étienne – Ligue 1
One of the most historic clubs in France. They have a total of 10 Ligue 1 titles, but they haven’t won one since their last win in 1980. Saint-Étienne was once the most successful club in French football, even bigger than Paris Saint-Germain. Their glory days are long, and recent years have been full of decline. After a disastrous 2022, they dropped to Ligue 2, a shocker for such a massive name.
The good news is that they were recently promoted to Ligue 1 in 2024, so that’s likely where you’ll be starting off. The challenge is to stay in this division and take the fight to PSG and other modern French teams. This will be easier said than done, especially with limited resources compared to the Paris giants. However, it’s a good RTG with a mix of ambition and tradition.
