The most notable gameplay change is a nerf to manual goalkeeper movement, aimed at reducing overly effective manual saves and creating more balanced scoring opportunities. According to patch details, goalkeepers will now respond more realistically to directional inputs, limiting extreme movement patterns.
Ultimate Team and Clubs also received attention, with the update introducing a Rush rematch feature, allowing players to immediately retry Rush matches after a loss. Additionally, EA added “Classic XI Teams” to Kick Off mode, bringing historic squads into the game for the first time this cycle.
A holiday-themed menu overhaul has been deployed across modes, featuring winter visuals timed for the December period. Career Mode and Clubs received several quality-of-life improvements, including stability fixes and minor tuning updates.
The 1 December update marks the first major seasonal refresh for FC 26 as the game heads into its winter content cycle.