Top Mistakes That Lose You Coins in FIFA 26

Every FIFA release comes with the same story: some players rise quickly with strong squads, while others stay broke and frustrated despite playing for hours. The difference often comes down to how well you manage your coins.In FIFA 26, the economy is more punishing than ever. Promos arrive earlier, fodder prices spike constantly, and Weekend League competition demands meta squads from the very start. If you waste coins, even a single bad decision can set you back weeks.

This article breaks down the top mistakes that cost players thousands of coins — and shows you smarter alternatives to avoid them.

Why Players Lose Coins in FIFA 26

Coins are precious. They decide which players you can buy, which SBCs you complete, and how competitive your squad is. Yet most players still fall into the same traps:

Opening packs with coins “for fun.”
Completing every SBC without checking value.
Buying overpriced hype cards on release day.
Ignoring the transfer market.
Overspending too early on a dream team.

Let’s look at each mistake in detail.

1. Wasting Coins on Packs

The Mistake
Many players spend their coins on packs, hoping to pull a top-tier card. The animation and excitement make it feel rewarding, but the reality is harsh: the odds of getting a meta player are extremely low. Opening packs with coins is one of the fastest ways to drain your FUT balance without meaningful returns.

Why It’s a Problem

Poor return on investment. A 25k Rare Gold Pack usually brings back less than 5k in tradeable value. Even if you hit an 84–85 rated card, it often sells for less than the cost of the pack.
Market oversupply. During promos, the market gets flooded with average cards. Most of them are worth close to discard price, which makes your packs even less valuable.
Gambling loop. The pack-opening experience is designed to feel addictive. One bad pull often leads to “just one more,” and before you notice, you’ve lost hundreds of thousands of coins.
Long-term damage. Every coin you waste on packs is a coin you could have invested in trading, building your squad, or completing valuable SBCs. Over time, this creates a massive gap between you and players who spend wisely.

Smarter Alternative

Save packs from rewards. Complete objectives, Division Rivals, and Squad Battles to collect packs without spending coins. These free packs can be saved for special events.
Use FIFA Points if you want the pack experience. Points are designed for opening packs, while coins are your most important resource for building squads and investing. Keep them separate.
Open only during high-value promos. TOTY, TOTS, and Black Friday are the few times when packs are actually worth opening. Fodder prices rise significantly, and the chance of pulling a valuable special card is higher.
Focus on guaranteed value. Instead of relying on chance, use your coins for players, fodder, or trading methods that guarantee growth instead of gambling.

Example

If you open 10 Rare Gold Packs for 250k coins, the expected return is about 40–60k in cards. In the same time, investing that 250k in fodder before a major SBC could double your balance. The difference between pack gambling and strategic investing is the difference between being broke mid-season and competing with a full meta squad.

2. Completing the Wrong SBCs

The Mistake
Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) are designed to look tempting. Many FUT players rush to complete every new release out of fear of missing out. But not all SBCs provide real value. Some end up costing more than the reward is worth, and many special cards lose relevance within weeks. The result: wasted coins with little long-term benefit.

Why It’s a Problem

Coins are permanently locked. Once you submit players, you can’t get them back. If the reward isn’t worth the investment, those coins are effectively burned.
Short-lived rewards. Many SBC cards lose value quickly. A card that costs 200k to unlock may be worth half that on the market a month later.
Market alternatives. In many cases, you could simply buy the same player cheaper on the transfer market and even resell him later.
Opportunity cost. Every coin spent on a poor SBC is a coin you could have invested in trading, upgrades, or future promos that offer better value.

Smarter Alternative

Focus on value SBCs. Prioritize upgrade packs, Icon SBCs that truly fit your squad, or meta players with long-term usability.
Always check before you submit. Use tools like FUTBIN to compare SBC costs with the current market price of the reward. If it’s cheaper to buy the card, skip the SBC.
Stock up on fodder early. Buy high-rated cards (83–87) when they’re cheap so you can complete valuable SBCs later without overspending when demand spikes.
Build with purpose. Only complete SBCs that directly benefit your squad or playstyle. Avoid doing them “just because they’re available.”

Example
A player spends 400k completing an Icon SBC and pulls a Mid Icon worth only 250k on the market. Not only did they overspend, but the card doesn’t fit their team. The same 400k could have been invested into trading fodder during a promo cycle, turning into 600k coins while keeping flexibility for future upgrades.

3. Falling for Hype Cards

The Mistake
Whenever a new promo drops in FIFA 26, flashy special cards hit the market at sky-high prices. Many players panic-buy within the first 24–48 hours, afraid they’ll miss out. In reality, this is when cards are at their most expensive, and prices often drop by 40–50% within days. Buying during the hype is one of the most common coin-draining mistakes.

Why It’s a Problem

The hype tax. Early buyers pay massively inflated prices compared to what the same card will cost a week later.
Rapid price drops. As packs flood the market, supply increases and prices naturally crash.
Guaranteed coin loss. If you try to resell, you’ll almost always lose tens or even hundreds of thousands of coins.
Misleading perception. Many of these cards aren’t much better than cheaper alternatives, yet the hype makes them look essential.

Smarter Alternative

Wait for stabilization. Give the market at least 3–4 days to settle after a promo release. Prices almost always drop once the initial rush fades.
Invest in fodder instead. Promo hype spikes demand for high-rated cards in SBCs. Buying fodder before or during a promo is far safer and often doubles your investment.
Buy after Weekend League. Prices tend to dip on Sunday and Monday after FUT Champs when players sell off squads, making it the best time to pick up cards.
Focus on proven meta players. Instead of chasing hype, buy players with consistent performance who hold value longer.

Example
A promo striker releases at 700k. Excited players rush to buy, only to see his price fall to 400k by the next week. Early buyers lose 300k for no real benefit, while patient players can buy the same card later and still keep extra coins for other upgrades.

4. Ignoring Trading Opportunities

The Mistake
Many FUT players focus only on grinding matches for rewards and completely ignore the transfer market. While gameplay rewards are steady, they’re far too slow compared to what can be earned through trading. By skipping trading altogether, you miss one of the most reliable and scalable ways to grow your coin balance.

Why It’s a Problem

Limited coin growth. Division Rivals and Squad Battles offer predictable but small payouts. Even FUT Champs rewards are inconsistent and can leave you disappointed.
Missed market cycles. Prices of players, fodder, and meta cards constantly rise and fall with promos, SBCs, and Weekend League demand. Ignoring these fluctuations means missing easy profit.
Falling behind competitors. Players who trade consistently accumulate coins faster and can afford stronger squads much earlier in the season.

Smarter Alternative

Sniping undervalued players. Search for popular cards listed below their usual price and flip them instantly for profit. Works well with meta defenders, wingers, or chemistry-linked players.
Flipping meta cards. Buy top cards on Sunday or Monday after Weekend League when prices dip, then resell midweek when demand rises again.
Investing in fodder. Buy 83–87 rated high-demand cards when supply is high and prices are low. Sell during SBC drops when their value spikes.
Consistency over time. You don’t need hours of trading. Even 15 minutes daily can generate thousands of coins, which snowballs into hundreds of thousands across a season.

Example
A player with 100k coins buys 20 fodder cards at 5k each during low demand. Two days later, EA drops a new Icon SBC, and each card sells for 8k. In under 48 hours, that’s a 60k profit with minimal effort — far more than playing a full set of Squad Battles matches.

5. Over-Upgrading Too Early

The Mistake
At the start of FIFA 26, many players rush to build their “dream team” and spend their entire balance on expensive starter squads. While it feels good to have a strong lineup early, the transfer market is extremely unstable in the first weeks. Prices inevitably crash after the first Weekend League, leaving early spenders with squads worth only half of what they paid.

Why It’s a Problem

Market crashes hit hard. Cards that cost 200k during the first week can easily drop to 100k or less after Weekend League sell-offs and promo pack releases.
Zero flexibility. By pouring every coin into one squad, you’re left with no balance for trading, investing, or adapting to new promos.
Missed opportunities. While your expensive team loses value, smarter players use their reserves to trade, complete value SBCs, or grab meta players once prices settle.

Smarter Alternative

Start with balance. Build a solid but affordable starter team that can compete in Rivals and early Weekend League without draining your account.
Keep a reserve. Always save a portion of your coins for trading and quick upgrades. A reserve lets you capitalize on market dips and promo-driven opportunities.
Upgrade step by step. Wait until the market stabilizes before committing to big purchases. Gradual upgrades mean you avoid heavy losses and keep improving your squad throughout the season.
Think long term. Instead of chasing the most expensive players right away, target reliable meta cards that hold value longer and fit into future team upgrades.

Example
A player spends 1 million coins on a starter squad during week one. By week three, the same team is worth 600k, and their balance is empty. Meanwhile, another player builds a 300k starter team, keeps 700k for trading, and grows that reserve to over 1.2 million by week three — ending up with both profit and flexibility for new promos.

The Safer Path: Smart Coin Management

The best FUT players don’t rely on luck — they manage coins with discipline and consistency. Instead of wasting their balance on short-term excitement, they follow a set of habits that keep them financially secure throughout the season.

Avoid packs with coins. Packs are designed for gambling, not guaranteed progress. Coins are too valuable to risk on poor pack weight.
Be selective with SBCs. Complete only the challenges that provide lasting value, whether that’s a meta player, an Icon, or high-return upgrade packs.
Time your purchases. Prices fluctuate heavily around promos and Weekend League. Buying at the right time saves thousands, while rushing in costs you extra.
Commit to trading. Even a short daily trading session — sniping, flipping, or fodder investing — compounds into huge profits over the season.
Always keep reserves. Never spend your balance down to zero. A coin buffer gives you flexibility to react to market crashes, promo opportunities, and urgent squad needs.

Following these principles removes randomness from the equation. Instead of being at the mercy of bad pack luck or market hype, you stay in control of your growth. Over the course of FIFA 26, this consistency is what separates top players from those stuck rebuilding their balance every week.

Real Scenarios: When Mistakes Hurt Most

It’s one thing to talk about coin management in theory, but the impact becomes much clearer with real in-game situations. These are the mistakes that drain balances the fastest and leave players scrambling to recover:

Weekend League Prep
A player spends 300k on newly released promo cards just before FUT Champs. Within days, those cards crash to 180k as supply increases. Instead of gaining an edge, the player is left with weaker returns and no reserves.

ICON SBCs
Submitting 500k worth of high-rated fodder into an Icon SBC feels like progress. But when the reward is a Mid Icon worth 200k on the market and doesn’t fit the squad, the result is permanent loss with no resale value.

Pack Addiction
Opening 10 packs “for fun” costs 250k coins. The pulls are low-rated fodder and discard cards worth less than 40k in total. That’s a quarter of a million coins gone in one night with nothing to show for it.

Over-Upgrading
A player builds a flashy 1M starter team in week one. By week three, the same squad is valued at 500k after the first Weekend League crash and promo releases. Half the investment is gone, leaving no flexibility for upgrades.

Each of these scenarios shows how quickly careless decisions can destroy weeks of grinding. One or two mistakes might not seem critical at the moment, but together they create setbacks that can take months to recover from.

Final Thoughts on Coin Management

Managing coins in FIFA 26 is not just about avoiding mistakes — it’s about building habits that secure long-term success. Overspending on packs, completing poor-value SBCs, panic-buying hype cards, or ignoring the market will drain your balance and limit your progress.

The smartest FUT players treat their coins as strategic investments. They plan their purchases, time the market, and use trading to multiply their balance instead of chasing luck.

If you adopt this mindset, you’ll always stay competitive, adapt quickly to promos, and maintain the flexibility to create the squad you really want — without falling into the traps that keep others broke.

FAQ – Losing and Managing Coins in FIFA 26

Q: What’s the fastest way to lose coins?
A: Opening packs with coins. The return rate is extremely poor, with most packs giving back only 20–30% of their cost. Coins should be reserved for trading or direct player purchases, not gambling on pack luck.

Q: Are SBCs worth completing?
A: Only when the reward outweighs the cost of the squad. Some challenges offer excellent long-term value, while others drain your balance for minimal return. Always compare the SBC cost against the current market price of the reward player before committing.

Q: When should I buy promo players?
A: Avoid buying within the first 48 hours of release. Early prices are inflated because of hype. Wait two or three days until supply increases and prices stabilize. In most cases, patience saves you 30–50 percent of the cost.

Q: How much time should I spend trading?
A: Even 15 to 20 minutes per day can generate steady profit if you use beginner-friendly methods like sniping meta players, flipping during peak hours, or investing in fodder cards before major SBC drops.

Q: Should I build my dream team right away?
A: No. Building an expensive squad too early is risky because prices crash after the first Weekend League. Start with a solid budget team, keep coins in reserve, and upgrade step by step once the market settles.

Q: Is it possible to play without trading?
A: Yes, but progress will be much slower. Trading is the most consistent way to grow your balance and stay competitive. Without it, you rely only on match rewards and objectives, which are limited.

Q: Do coins hold value across the season?
A: Not always. Market crashes happen after major promos such as TOTY, TOTS or Black Friday. Timing your purchases and sales is essential. Holding coins is safer than holding players before big promos.

Q: What’s the safest beginner trading method?
A: Focus on buying and reselling cheap but in-demand cards such as pacey defenders, meta midfielders, or fodder during low demand. These cards move quickly and carry minimal risk.

Q: How do I protect myself from market crashes?
A: Keep part of your balance in liquid coins instead of locking everything into players. Sell risky cards before big promos and re-buy them later at lower prices.