Quick answer: Third Time Lucky is a live FUTTIES Season 9 event in EA FC 26 (active from July 31, 2026). Complete any 5 of 6 challenges to earn a 1-of-4 FUTTIES Team 2 Player Pick + 100 FUTTIES Tokens. The fastest 5-challenge path with no FUTTIES player takes roughly 14 matches in Squad Battles on Semi-Pro or higher. Total token haul from a full 5/6 run: 175 Tokens. All rewards are untradeable.
The FUTTIES endgame is heating up. On July 31, 2026, EA dropped a new live event — Third Time Lucky — that pairs a straightforward match grind with one of the most valuable objective rewards in Season 9: a FUTTIES Team 2 Player Pick. With Luka Modrić (99) and Florian Wirtz (99) headlining Team 2, the pick alone is worth the hour of playtime. This guide covers every challenge, the most efficient completion path, what you'll earn from the Token rewards, and how to evaluate your pick.
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What Is the Third Time Lucky Event in EA FC 26?
Third Time Lucky is a live event objective group in FUT's Event Hub, released as part of the FUTTIES Season 9 campaign on July 31, 2026. Like all live events, it runs inside a dedicated event mode with its own matchmaking pool — playable in Squad Battles (Minimum Semi-Pro difficulty), Division Rivals, or FUT Champions.
The event follows the "5 of 6" format: there are six individual challenges, each with its own separate reward, and completing any five of them unlocks the group reward on top. You do not have to do all six to claim the main prize. All rewards — individual challenge drops and the group reward — are untradeable.
"Complete 5 of 6 challenges in the Third Time Lucky event to earn packs, Evolution items and FUTTIES Tokens!"
— EA SPORTS FC 26 FUT, objective description (July 31, 2026)
All 6 Third Time Lucky Challenges and Rewards
Here is every challenge listed in order from quickest to slowest to complete, along with what each one pays out:
| # | Challenge | Reward | FUTTIES Player Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Score at least 1 goal in the Third Time Lucky event | 50 FUTTIES Tokens | No |
| 2 | Play 7 matches in the Third Time Lucky event | 25 FUTTIES Tokens | No |
| 3 | Win 8 matches in the Third Time Lucky event | 2× 86+ Rare Gold Players Pack | No |
| 4 | Score at least 1 goal in 14 separate matches in the Third Time Lucky event | 2× 86+ Rare Gold Players Pack | No |
| 5 | Assist at least 1 goal in 5 separate matches with a FUTTIES player | Evo Unlock | Yes |
| 6 | Score at least 1 goal in 7 separate matches with a FUTTIES player | Evo Unlock | Yes |
| — | Group Reward (complete any 5 of 6 above) | 1 of 4 FUTTIES Team 2 Player Pick + 100 Tokens | — |
All rewards are untradeable. The two "Evo Unlock" rewards give you an Evolution Consumable item that can be applied to eligible cards in your club.
Which 5 of 6 Challenges Should You Complete?
Your path depends on whether you have a FUTTIES player in your squad.
Path A — No FUTTIES Player (Fastest Route)
If you do not have a FUTTIES Team 2 card, skip challenges 5 and 6 entirely. Your optimal five are:
- Score 1 goal — Done inside match 1. Easiest tick imaginable.
- Play 7 matches — Requires seven full matches regardless of result. Play Squad Battles on Semi-Pro to grind these quickly.
- Win 8 matches — This naturally overlaps with the Play 7 task. Once you hit 7 matches played, you only need one more win to close out.
- Score in 14 separate matches — The only real time investment. At roughly one match every 5–10 minutes in Squad Battles, this takes about 70–140 minutes total.
- Claim the group reward (5/6 done).
Token total (Path A): 50 Tokens (Score 1) + 25 Tokens (Play 7) + 100 Tokens (group) = 175 FUTTIES Tokens. Plus 4× 86+ Rare Gold Players Packs (from Win 8 and Score in 14).
Time estimate: 90–120 minutes in Squad Battles on Semi-Pro. Score in the first minute of each match to lock the "Score in 14" progress, then either quit or finish — both count toward "Play 7."
Path B — With a FUTTIES Player (All 6 Challenges)
If you own any FUTTIES card from Team 1 or Team 2 (including ones bought from the market or earned through SBCs), you can complete all six challenges for the full reward set:
- All four Path A challenges (+175 Tokens + 4 packs)
- Assist in 5 matches with the FUTTIES player → Evo Unlock
- Score in 7 matches with the FUTTIES player → Evo Unlock
The two Evo Unlocks are the bonus here. Given that the current FUTTIES Countdown Evolution board includes strong options for 95–96 OVR boosts, those consumables have real value — especially as the end-of-cycle window shrinks.
To get a FUTTIES player without a big coin spend: check the market for the cheapest FUTTIES Squad Battle or Rivals reward players (often sub-100k). Team 1 objective players may still be listed. Alternatively, a freshly earned FUTTIES card from any active SBC works.
How to Complete the Score in 14 Matches Challenge
The "Score in 14 separate matches" challenge is the only one requiring significant time. A few tips to grind it without losing your mind:
Use Squad Battles on Semi-Pro. Semi-Pro difficulty is quick enough to score within the first two minutes of every match. Load in, score, and the match still counts for the challenge progress. Higher difficulties earn more Battle Points toward your weekly Squad Battles leaderboard position — killing two birds with one stone.
Build around striker finishing. Put your highest-rated ST with good Finishing in the starting lineup. Set your custom tactics to Full Attack before kick-off, score fast, then hold possession or finish the match normally.
Overlap with the Win 8 task. Every win in Squad Battles also counts toward "Win 8," so you are completing both challenges simultaneously. By the time you hit the 14th scored match, you should already have your 8 wins.
Use your Play 7 matches as a warmup. The "Play 7" challenge does not require goals or wins — every match counts. Start your session, and the first 7 matches will tick that challenge off automatically.
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The Group Reward: Your Team 2 Player Pick
Completing 5 of 6 challenges earns you a 1-of-4 FUTTIES Team 2 Player Pick — a one-time, untradeable item that lets you select one player from a pool of four FUTTIES Team 2 cards.
FUTTIES Team 2 went live on July 31, 2026, replacing Team 1 in packs. The two headline pack toppers from Team 2 are:
- Luka Modrić — 99 OVR CDM/CM — elite passing, vision, and dribbling; arguably the most complete midfield card in FC 26 right now. The kind of player who runs your team's tempo single-handedly.
- Florian Wirtz — 99 OVR CAM — top-tier pace, creativity, and attacking stats; the go-to option for an attack-minded central midfielder or second striker role.
Other notable Team 2 players include Joshua Kimmich (98 CDM), Gabriel (98 CB), Ewa Pajor (98 ST), and Benzema (97 ST).
Which to take from the pick pool? Check your current squad gaps before choosing. General priority order for most squads:
- Modrić or Wirtz if either is available — both 99-rated, both meta in their positions, and both expensive to chase on the market. A free copy is a significant squad upgrade.
- Kimmich if you need a defensive mid who can also play as a CB.
- Gabriel if your defensive line needs a top-end CB.
- Pajor or Benzema if your attack is the weakest link.
Check the live pick pool on fut.gg or futbin at the time you claim — the exact four options in your pick are confirmed in-game when you open the reward.
Token Math: How Third Time Lucky Fits Your Season 9 Strategy
The 175 FUTTIES Tokens from a 5/6 clear is a meaningful chunk of your weekly earning budget. Here is how it stacks up:
- Weekly Token earn cap: 1,000 Tokens per week (resets every Friday at store refresh).
- Third Time Lucky contribution: 175 Tokens (roughly 17.5% of your weekly cap) from a one-time event.
- Combined with Rivals/Squad Battles: grind Rivals to Division 5 or higher for the bulk Token earnings, then add the 175 from this event on top.
Remember that the FUTTIES Token Store refreshes every Friday. If you are saving toward a specific Token Store player or a weekly Evolution slot, this event pushes you meaningfully closer to the threshold in a single session.
Also worth noting: both Evo Unlocks from Path B (the FUTTIES-player challenges) let you run an additional Evolution for free, which can translate to a free upgrade path on a card you already own — especially relevant with the FUTTIES Countdown Evolution window closing around August 8.
How to Get EA FC 26 Coins to Buy a FUTTIES Player
If you want to run Path B (get the Evo Unlocks too) but do not yet own a FUTTIES card, the fastest route is buying one from the Transfer Market. FUTTIES Team 1 and 2 cards rotate in availability, and some lower-rated Team 2 members will be listed at accessible prices.
Need coins fast during FUTTIES? timesaver.gg offers EA FC 26 Coins with no ban risk — the fastest way to fund your squad during the Season 9 endgame window.
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FAQ
Can I complete Third Time Lucky in any game mode? Yes. The event runs in Squad Battles (Minimum Semi-Pro), Division Rivals, and FUT Champions (Champions and Challengers). Squad Battles is recommended for the fastest solo grind due to AI consistency and match speed.
Do I need to complete all 6 challenges to get the Team 2 Player Pick? No. The group reward — 1 of 4 FUTTIES Team 2 Player Pick + 100 Tokens — unlocks when you complete any 5 of the 6 challenges. You can skip whichever one is hardest for your squad.
Are the Third Time Lucky rewards tradeable? No. All individual challenge rewards and the group reward are untradeable. You cannot sell the Player Pick or the Evo Unlocks on the Transfer Market.
Which FUTTIES player should I use for the FUTTIES-required challenges? Any FUTTIES-rated card works — including cheap Team 1 objective players still available on the market. You do not need a 99-rated Modrić to tick the "FUTTIES player" box; any FUTTIES-rarity card in your starting lineup satisfies the requirement.
How many tokens do I earn in total if I do all 6 challenges? Individual Token rewards total 75 Tokens (50 from Score 1 + 25 from Play 7). The group reward adds another 100 Tokens. Grand total: 175 FUTTIES Tokens for a full 5/6 or 6/6 run. The two Evo Unlocks are non-Token rewards on top of this.
When does Third Time Lucky expire? EA has not published an exact end date in the objective description. Based on the typical 7-to-10-day live event window, expect Third Time Lucky to expire around August 7–10, 2026. Check the in-game objectives screen for the live countdown timer.
