FC 26 Player Roles Revealed: Best Role for Every Position, Including All the New Meta Options

If you spent last year tinkering with Player Roles in FC 25, FC 26 gives you a few more toys to break your team with (in a good way). Below: what the new roles actually do, why they matter in Career Mode and Ultimate Team, and the roles I’d pick by position if you want a solid, flexible setup without turning every match into chaos.

What FC 26 adds: the new Player Roles, explained

Ball-playing keeper: Think a sweeper-keeper who creeps up to the edge of the defensive third, ready to hoover up loose balls and act as a pressure-release pass when you’re being pressed to bits. David Raya and Alisson are the obvious models. The trade-off is real, though: if you lose it and they’re high, you’re exposed to long lobs and quick chips over the top.

Inverted wingback: This is basically last year’s Falseback idea turned up the pitch. Instead of sitting at the base of midfield, they step inside and higher, creating passing lanes and, in the most aggressive patterns, even arriving in pseudo-striker spots. Myles Lewis-Skelly and Marc Cucurella fit the vibe.

Wide back: A center-back who can shuffle into full-back territory to cover when your actual RB/LB bombs forward. Works best in a back three with a more stay-at-home central CB. Benjamin Pavard and Piero Hincapie are good examples.

Box Crasher: A CDM with a late-runs-into-the-box habit, timing arrivals for crosses and rebounds like Declan Rice or Patri Guijarro. It’s fun and it stretches defenses, but you’ll leave a hole if you don’t have the legs to recover. Stamina is a must.

How to actually pick roles without breaking your shape

There isn’t a single correct combo. Use the team selection screen and look for the green coverage indicators to see what your shape is really doing. If you send both full-backs joyriding, you’ll need center-backs who can fan out or midfielders who drop in. Small changes have big ripple effects here, so experiment until the gaps turn green rather than red.

My go-to Player Roles by position in FC 26

• GK: Goalkeeper - Balanced — Same pick as last year. You get steady distribution and only the occasional sweep. If you want the elite animations, the PlayStyle ++ pool for this role includes Courtois (Real Madrid), Donnarumma (Manchester City), and Oblak (Atletico Madrid). And yes, that list says Donnarumma at Manchester City here. Make of that what you will.
• LB/RB: Wingback (Balanced) — Last year I leaned Falseback; this year, Wingback (Balanced) is the sweet spot. You still get forward thrust to open passing lanes or whip early crosses, but you’re not abandoning the back line entirely. Examples on the left: Theo Hernandez (Al-Hilal), Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City). On the right: Jules Kounde (Barca), Jeremie Frimpong (Liverpool). Bring stamina.
• CB: Centre Back (Balanced) — Pairs nicely with adventurous full-backs. These defenders can body up, win duels, and have enough pace to usher attackers away from goal. Think Arsenal’s Gabriel and Bayern’s Jonathan Tah.
• CDM: Box Crasher — I love the late-arrival chaos. Your holder times runs for crosses and second balls, a la Declan Rice or Kim Little. Just remember: someone has to mind the store when they go wandering, so set the rest of your midfield accordingly.
• CM: Box-To-Box (Ball Winning) — This supports the Box Crasher by cleaning up in transition and keeping play moving. Federico Valverde is the template: tackles on one end, tempo on the other.
• CAM: Playmaker (Build-Up) — Your creator drops a touch deeper to receive, then drags defenders into bad spots. Perfect for Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, who can spin out, slide it wide, hit the striker, or just go themselves.
• LW/RW: Inside Forward (Attack) — With wingbacks providing width, your wide men should cut inside and attack the box. Mo Salah, Vini Jr, Ousmane Dembele... you know exactly what this looks like, especially when the far-side cross is coming in.
• ST: Poacher (Versatile) — Lives in the box like Alessia Russo or Alexander Isak, but can drop in a touch if service dries up. Keeps your attacks compact and your finishing threat constant.

Bottom line: FC 26’s new roles open up some fun shapes, but the balance still matters more than any one shiny label. Start with coverage, layer in risk, and if you’re going to gamble, do it with players who have the engine to get back. Then enjoy terrorizing people with those late box runs.