Just as we are about to say goodbye to Winter Wildcards, EA FC 26 introduced another Red Icon SBC, this time starring all-time LB, Chelsea legend, and Invincible, Ashley Cole.
But given his high price and relationship with the Arsenal fanbase, it’s not surprising that his arrival comes with a question. After all, is the SBC a must-do? To help with that, here’s how to complete the Winter Wildcards Ashley Cole SBC in EA FC 26, as well as whether or not you should make it a priority at the current state of the game.
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EA FC 26 Winter Wildcards Ashley Cole SBC Solution
Available until January 21st, 2026, completing the new Winter Wildcards Red Icon Ashley Cole SBC will demand an investment of around 250-300K coins divided into nine squads: 1x 82-rated, 1x 83-rated, 1x 84-rated, 2x 85-rated, 2x 86-rated, and 2x 87-rated. As you can see below, five of them also require TOTW representatives.
| Challenge | Squad Requirements | Cheapest Solution |
|---|---|---|
| On a Loan | 82+ OVR | 2x 78’s, 8x 82’s, and 1x 84 |
| The Three Lions | 83+ OVR Must feature at least 1x TOTW and 1x English player |
3x 80’s, 4x 82’s, 3x 84’s, and 1x 85 |
| The Blues | 84+ OVR Must feature at least 1x TOTW and 1x Chelsea player |
4x 82’s, 6x 84’s, and 1x 86 |
| League Legend | 85+ OVR Must feature at least 1x TOTW player |
2x 82’s, 5x 84’s, and 4x 86’s |
| Top Form | 85+ OVR Must feature at least 1x TOTW player |
2x 82’s, 5x 84’s, and 4x 86’s |
| 86-Rated Squad | 86+ OVR | 3x 87’s, 3x 86’s, and 5x 84’s |
| 86-Rated Squad | 86+ OVR Must feature at least 1x TOTW player |
3x 87’s, 3x 86’s, and 5x 84’s |
| 87-Rated Squad | 87+ OVR | 3x 88’s, 4x 87’s, and 4x 84’s |
| 87-Rated Squad | 87+ OVR Must feature at least 1x TOTW player |
3x 88’s, 4x 87’s, and 4x 84’s |
EA FC 26 Winter Wildcards Red Ashley Cole Review
Upon reviewing it in a few matches, we can say that, although his lack of meta defensive PlayStyles will definitely hurt it in the long run, WW Ashley Cole is a card capable of dealing with any attacker via his high speed, solid PHY/DEF attributes, and Quick Step+/Jockey combo. His ability to work just as well on both sides of the pitch also helps increase his value, while Low Driven Shot might prove to be a good tool when using him as an offensive option down the wings. Before you ask, no, that does not mean the PlayStyle is not a waste of a slot for a defender, as I would trade it in a heartbeat for either Intercept or Anticipate.
If you are still in doubt and are looking for a more intricate breakdown of his stats, here’s how the new Winter Wildcards Ashley Cole compares to his Base Icon card. You can find the latter in the market for around 100-120K.
| Base Icon Ashley Cole | Winter Wildcards Red Ashley Cole | |
|---|---|---|
| PAC | 87 | 89 |
| SHO | 65 | 83 |
| PAS | 79 | 83 |
| DRI | 80 | 84 |
| DEF | 84 | 88 |
| PHY | 77 | 85 |
| Weak Foot | 2☆ | 5☆ |
| Skill Moves | 3☆ | 4☆ |
| PlayStyle+ | Jockey+ | Quick Step+ |
| PlayStyles | Whipped Pass, Block, Slide Tackle, Technical, and Quick Step | Low Driven Shot, Incisive Pass, Whipped Pass, Jockey, Block, Slide Tackle, and Technical |
| Positions | LB | LB / RB |
| Roles | Fullback++ | Fullback++, Wingback++, and Attacking Wingback+ for both positions |
Should You Complete the Ashley Cole SBC?
In a similar way to WW Ronaldinho, I believe Winter Wildcards Ashley Cole is a great investment if you either love the player or are looking for an all-rounder pick capable of fitting multiple teams and excelling in most formations, even if not 100% future proof. If you are in the upper divisions, are lacking in fodder, or pay more attention to the meta, though, his lack of defensive PlayStyles and high price might make it a hard pass, especially now that we are so close to both TOTY and its rumored game-changing arrivals.
