EA FC 26 Team of the Week 3 is expected to release on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 10 AM PT (1 PM ET/6 PM BST), featuring upgraded cards for standout performers from the past week's matches across global football leagues. TOTW 3 looks set to be less exciting than previous weeks, with Julian Alvarez being the primary standout after his hat-trick performance for Atletico Madrid, while other notable inclusions likely include Lionel Messi, Joelinton, Georgia Stanway, and Konrad Laimer.
| Position | Player | Team | Current OVR | Predicted OVR | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST | Julian Alvarez | Atletico Madrid | 87 | 88 | Hat-trick vs Rayo Vallecano |
| CAM | Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | 86 | 87 | 2 goals, 1 assist |
| CDM | Georgia Stanway | Bayern Munich | 85 | 86 | 3 assists |
| CM | Joelinton | Newcastle | 82 | 84 | 2 goals vs Bradford |
| LB | Konrad Laimer | Bayern Munich | 82 | 84 | Goal and clean sheet |
| CB | Marc Guehi | Crystal Palace | 82 | 84 | Assist vs Liverpool |
| CB | Ronald Araujo | Barcelona | 83 | 85 | Goal vs Real Oviedo |
| GK | Dominik Greif | Lyon | 78 | 82 | MOTM, clean sheet |
The third Team of the Week in EA FC 26 Ultimate Team brings a mix of star power and disappointment to players hunting for upgraded cards. While previous weeks delivered exciting lineups, TOTW 3 appears to be the weakest selection so far this season, with limited options worth getting excited about beyond Alvarez and a handful of other meta cards.
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Team of the Week follows a consistent weekly schedule in EA FC 26, releasing every Wednesday at 10 AM PT (1 PM ET/6 PM BST) and remaining available in packs for exactly one week before being replaced by the next TOTW squad. This predictable timing allows traders and investors to plan their market strategies around these releases.
For TOTW 3 specifically, the cards will be available from October 1 through October 8, 2025. During this period, the base versions of featured players are completely removed from packs, meaning only their upgraded Team of the Week versions can be obtained, which often increases the value of base cards on the transfer market.
Dominik Greif (Lyon) - 78 → 82 OVR The Lyon goalkeeper earned Player of the Week honors after making crucial saves in a 1-0 victory over Lille, receiving an impressive 8/10 rating from L'Equipe despite only needing to make three saves. His inclusion represents the Ligue 1 goalkeeper quota that EA typically maintains in TOTW selections.
Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace) - 82 → 84 OVR Despite missing out on his dream move to Liverpool, Guehi delivered a professional masterclass against his would-be employers, providing the assist for Crystal Palace's dramatic 97th-minute winner in their 2-1 victory. His 9/10 Sky Sports rating makes him a near-certainty for inclusion.
Ronald Araujo (Barcelona) - 83 → 85 OVR The Uruguayan defender scored during Barcelona's 3-1 away victory over Real Oviedo, earning an 8.5 Sofascore rating. While not the most spectacular performance of the week, the lack of standout defensive options makes Araujo a likely pick to boost the card's appeal.
Konrad Laimer (Bayern Munich) - 82 → 84 OVR Playing out of position at left-back, Laimer scored and kept a clean sheet in Bayern's 4-0 demolition of Werder Bremen, earning a 1.5 Kicker rating - the joint-highest of the match alongside Jonathan Tah. Harry Kane's existing TOTW 1 inclusion rules him out despite his brace, opening the door for Laimer.
Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich Women) - 85 → 86 OVR The English midfielder delivered an exceptional performance with three assists in Bayern Munich's 4-0 midweek victory over Freiburg, earning an 8.6 Sofascore rating. Her inclusion continues EA's commitment to featuring top women's football performers.
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) - 86 → 87 OVR The Argentine maestro repeated his previous week's feat with two goals and an assist in Inter Miami's 4-0 victory over New York City, earning a perfect 10 Sofascore rating. After being surprisingly omitted from TOTW 2, Messi's inclusion this week seems guaranteed.
Joelinton (Newcastle United) - 82 → 84 OVR The Brazilian midfielder scored twice from a central midfield position as Newcastle progressed in cup competition with a 4-1 victory over Bradford, earning a 9.8 Sofascore rating. His versatility and Premier League status make him an attractive option for Ultimate Team squads.
Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund) - 83 → 85 OVR Despite not receiving official MOTM honors, Brandt provided both assists in Dortmund's 2-0 victory over Mainz and matched the 1.5 Kicker rating of goal scorer Karim Adeyemi. His creative output makes him a strong candidate for selection.
Armand Lauriente (Sassuolo) - 80 → 83 OVR In a week where Serie A offered limited standout performances, Lauriente's goal and assist in Sassuolo's 3-1 victory over Udinese earned him a 7.5 Gazzetta rating - among the division's best performances of the week.
Igor Thiago (Brentford) - 75 → 84 OVR The Brazilian forward announced himself to the Premier League with a devastating brace in Brentford's 3-1 victory over struggling Manchester United, earning a 9/10 Sky Sports rating. His pace and impressive rating boost make him a potential hidden gem.
Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid) - 87 → 88 OVR The week's standout performer, Alvarez scored a hat-trick in Atletico's 3-2 victory over Rayo Vallecano, earning a perfect 10 Sofascore rating. He could have earned selection from either of his matches this week, having also scored a brace in the Madrid derby as Atletico cruised to a 5-2 home victory. His card will undoubtedly be the most sought-after in TOTW 3.
Omar Alderete (Sunderland) - 78 → 82 OVR The defender scored the only goal as surprise package Sunderland defeated Nottingham Forest 1-0, helping them maintain their impressive fourth-place position with eleven points from six matches.
Korbin Shrader (Lyon Women) - 82 → 84 OVR The midfielder dominated PSG with three goals and an assist in Lyon's emphatic 6-1 victory, earning a perfect 10 Sofascore rating and demonstrating Lyon's continued dominance in French women's football.
Rafa Silva (Besiktas) - 82 → 84 OVR The Portuguese attacking midfielder scored a hat-trick from the CAM position in Besiktas' 4-0 away victory over Kayserispor, earning another perfect 10 Sofascore rating in midweek action.
Joseph Paintsil (LA Galaxy) - 76 → 81 OVR Playing as a striker, the pacey Ghanaian forward scored three times in LA Galaxy's 4-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City, earning a 9.8 Sofascore rating. With EA showing a clear preference for just one MLS player per week and Messi already likely included, Paintsil becomes the obvious alternative selection.
Gift Monday (Washington Spirit) - 80 → 83 OVR The Nigerian striker delivered a hat-trick performance in Washington's comfortable 4-0 home victory over Houston, earning a 9 Sofascore rating and continuing the NWSL's weekly representation in TOTW.
The reserve section typically features lower-rated players who delivered exceptional performances:
Diego Gomez (Brighton) - 73 → 80 OVR The midfielder scored four goals in Brighton's 6-0 cup thrashing of Barnsley, earning a perfect 10 Sofascore rating in one of the week's most dominant individual performances.
Fabio Abreu (Beijing Guoan) - 74 → 80 OVR The striker scored a hat-trick in Beijing Guoan's 4-2 victory, earning a perfect 10 match rating and potentially determining whether EA will continue to include Chinese Super League players in TOTW selections this season.
Several high-profile players delivered impressive performances but are unlikely to make TOTW 3 due to various factors:
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) Despite scoring another brace and earning MOTM honors, Kane's recent TOTW 1 inclusion means he won't receive back-to-back selections regardless of his continued excellent form.
Robin Koch (Eintracht Frankfurt) The German defender scored twice from center-back in Frankfurt's wild 6-4 victory after leading 6-0, but conceding four goals likely eliminates his chances despite featuring in Kicker's team of the week.
Erling Haaland (Manchester City) The Norwegian striker continued his goalscoring form but faces competition from other forwards and may be saved for a future promo.
Smart traders should consider these market movements before TOTW 3's release:
Based on current market trends and card desirability:
Lower-rated cards typically settle near discard value unless they offer exceptional pace or are from popular leagues.
TOTW cards have extremely low pack weights, requiring dozens of pack openings for realistic chances at securing in-form players. Consider these strategies:
If pack luck isn't on your side, consider these alternatives:
The EA FC 26 community has expressed disappointment that TOTW 3 appears to be the weakest selection so far this season, with many players questioning whether any cards beyond Alvarez are worth pursuing. This continues a trend from EA FC 25 where TOTW cards struggled to compete with special promos.
The consistent inclusion of women's players like Georgia Stanway and Korbin Shrader has been positively received, with EA maintaining their commitment to diverse squad selections despite occasionally limiting inclusions to one player per league.
EA's decision to include cup matches in TOTW consideration has created debate, with questions about how the quality of opposition affects selection chances. Joelinton's potential inclusion against lower-league Bradford will test EA's selection criteria.
TOTW 1 featured premium cards like:
In comparison, TOTW 3's highest-rated prediction is Alvarez at just 88 OVR, highlighting the significant quality drop.
TOTW 1 cards maintained higher values due to early-game scarcity and superior ratings. TOTW 3 cards will likely struggle to maintain value once better promos begin releasing in October.
Premier League Triangle
La Liga Powerhouse
Bundesliga Balance
4-2-3-1 Wide
3-5-2
Based on previous years, expect these TOTW-related SBCs:
Stock up on 83-84 rated players before these SBCs release, as prices typically increase 20-30% when TOTW upgrade challenges drop.
EA FC 26's unified transfer market means TOTW 3 cards will have consistent pricing across:
Nintendo Switch users should note that while they receive the same TOTW content, the separate transfer market often results in different pricing dynamics.
EA Play members receive:
With TOTW 3's underwhelming selection, players are already looking ahead to TOTW 4. Key matches to monitor include:
With EA confirming a slower power curve for FC 26, TOTW cards may retain relevance longer than in previous years, making even modest upgrades like those in TOTW 3 potentially valuable for several months.
For the latest TOTW 3 updates and community discussions, consider these resources:
Stay connected with official announcements through EA Sports FC's official channels for immediate TOTW reveals and surprise additions.
Join the vibrant discussion on r/EAFC on Reddit where thousands of players share predictions, reviews, and market tips for each TOTW release.
The official EA FC Discord server hosts real-time discussions about TOTW investments and pack opening sessions during release hours.
Follow established FIFA content creators who provide detailed TOTW player reviews and gameplay analysis within hours of release.
TOTW 3 releases on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at exactly 6 PM UK time (10 AM PT/1 PM ET), replacing TOTW 2 in packs immediately.
EA typically avoids giving the same player Team of the Week cards in back-to-back weeks, regardless of their performances. This rule explains Harry Kane's likely absence despite his continued excellent form.
Given that TOTW 3 appears to be the weakest selection so far, only meta cards like Alvarez and potentially Messi are likely to hold long-term value. Most other cards may approach discard price within weeks.
EA recently began including cup match performances in TOTW consideration, though the caliber of opposition and its impact on selection probability remains unclear.
When a player receives a TOTW card, their regular base item is completely removed from packs for that week, which can significantly increase the base card's market value.
Based on previous years, EA typically releases a "Best of TOTW" promotion during Black Friday or Team of the Year, bringing back the best TOTW cards from throughout the season.
EA appears committed to including women's football representatives each week, though they may limit selections to maintain squad diversity across leagues.
EA FC 26 Team of the Week 3 represents a noticeable step down in quality from the opening two weeks, with Julian Alvarez standing alone as the must-have card. While collectors and squad builders will find useful options in players like Joelinton, Stanway, and Laimer, the overall lack of elite options may lead many players to save their packs and coins for future promotions.
The consistent Wednesday release schedule continues to provide structure for traders and players alike, but TOTW 3 serves as a reminder that not every week delivers blockbuster upgrades. With October bringing anticipated promotions like Road to the Knockouts and potential Halloween events, TOTW 3 may quickly fade into obscurity once more exciting content arrives.
For those determined to add TOTW 3 players to their squads, patience will be rewarded as prices typically decrease throughout the week. Focus on acquiring players who fit your playstyle and formation rather than chasing expensive cards that may not improve your team significantly. Remember, with EA FC 26's slower power curve, even modest upgrades can remain viable longer than in previous years.
Keep checking back for updates as EA officially announces TOTW 3 on October 1, 2025, and prepare your squads for the weeks ahead when stronger TOTW selections and special promotions promise more exciting additions to Ultimate Team.