EA FC 26 Ultimate Team has dropped a Flashback Squad Building Challenge for Dayot Upamecano, celebrating the Bayern Munich defender's appearance in the UT 19 Future Stars promotion. The 89-rated CB card comes with the Anticipate PlayStyle and strong links to Bundesliga and French squads, making it a solid pickup for players building around those leagues.
Quick answer: Complete all seven squad segments (rated 85 through 88) to unlock the untradeable Flashback Upamecano card. Total cost runs approximately 370K coins on console and 359K on PC.
SBC requirements and estimated costs
The Upamecano SBC consists of seven separate squad submissions. Each segment has specific requirements and rewards a tradeable pack upon completion. The final reward—the Flashback card itself—unlocks only after finishing all seven.
| Segment | Rating | Special requirement | Reward | Est. cost (console) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bundesliga | 85 | Min 1 Bundesliga player | x2 Players Pack | ~17K |
| France | 86 | Min 1 French player | Gold Pack | ~30K |
| Top Form | 86 | Min 1 TOTW player | Premium Gold Pack | ~40K |
| 87-Rated Squad (1) | 87 | None | Small Prime Electrum Players Pack | ~54K |
| 87-Rated Squad (2) | 87 | Min 1 TOTW player | Jumbo Gold Pack | ~64K |
| 87-Rated Squad (3) | 87 | Min 1 TOTW player | Jumbo Gold Pack | ~64K |
| 88-Rated Squad | 88 | None | Small Rare Gold Players Pack | ~101K |
All segments require exactly 11 players. The SBC is not repeatable and expires in approximately one week from its release date of January 31, 2026.
Budget solutions for each segment
Keeping costs down means targeting the cheapest high-rated players available on the transfer market. Gold cards rated 87-90 from less popular leagues often sell well below their rating value, making them ideal fodder for these squads.
Bundesliga (85-rated): Use one cheap Bundesliga gold card to satisfy the league requirement, then fill remaining slots with 84-85 rated players from any league. A single 87 or 88 anchor helps hit the rating threshold without overspending.
France (86-rated): French players carry a premium due to link popularity. Consider using a single low-cost French gold (any position) and building the rest of the squad from affordable 85-86 rated cards. Goalkeepers at 86+ rating often cost less than outfield players.
Top Form (86-rated with TOTW): The cheapest TOTW cards typically sit around 10-15K coins. Grab one at 84 rating or higher, then surround it with 85-86 rated golds to reach the squad threshold.
87-Rated Squads: Three separate 87-rated submissions means you need significant fodder. The first requires no special cards, so use your highest-rated untradeable duplicates here. The second and third each need a TOTW player, so budget around 25-30K extra per segment for those informs.
88-Rated Squad: This final segment hits hardest on your coin balance. Target 88-90 rated players who have dropped in price due to pack supply. Goalkeepers like Courtois, Neuer, or Donnarumma often provide the best value at this tier.
Card breakdown and PlayStyles
The Flashback Upamecano arrives as an 89-rated CB with strong defensive attributes. The card features Anticipate as a PlayStyle, which improves positioning and interception timing. It also includes Long Ball+, though this secondary PlayStyle has drawn mixed reactions from the community since it occupies a slot that could have held a more defensive option.
Notably, the card does not include Defender++, which some players expected given the price point. The Stopper PlayStyle role offers more aggressive defensive behavior as an alternative tactical approach.
For squad chemistry, Upamecano provides strong links to other Bayern Munich players and French nationals. Pairing him with TOTY Honourable Mentions Michael Olise creates a perfect link for hybrid Bundesliga-France builds.
Is the SBC worth completing?
At roughly 370K coins, this Flashback card sits in the mid-to-upper range for defender SBCs this cycle. The 89 rating and Anticipate PlayStyle make it competitive with other top-tier center-backs currently available. French nationality adds flexibility for building hybrid squads, and the Bundesliga link opens partnership options with cards like POTM Harry Kane or Thunderstruck Franz Beckenbauer.
The lack of Defender++ may disappoint players seeking maximum defensive coverage, but the overall stat profile and link potential justify the investment for squads that can use the chemistry connections. If you have untradeable high-rated fodder sitting in your club, the effective cost drops considerably.
Pack rewards from completing each segment return some value, though the tradeable packs rarely recoup significant portions of the total spend. Factor in what you pull, but don't count on breaking even through pack luck alone.
