By Pulse Sports
Copyright pulsesports
EA FC 26 soundtrack is a major snub to Afrobeats stars for the second time in five years.
The EA SPORTS FC 26 Soundtrack has been released.
The playlist celebrates diversity with artists from across the globe.
But one of the biggest talking points is who did not make the cut.
This year’s playlist appears to lean heavily on pop, indie, and electronic.
Meanwhile, Afrobeats, one of the most popular genres in the world, is not represented this year.
What’s the gossip?
The soundtrack released by EA SPORTS FC includes major names.
Ed Sheeran makes an appearance as JENNIE from BLACKPINK adds K Pop flair. Young Miko also returns to the lineup after a breakthrough year.
Meanwhile, Fiorentina and Italy striker Moise Kean becomes the first footballer to even feature on EA’s sounds, debuting with his rap song BOMBAY, on FC’s Soundtrack.
The project reaches into many regions. Sampa The Great brings the sound of Southern Africa.
DJ Woodcamp offers electronic beats from the Netherlands.
Koffee brings her Jamaican roots, and French newcomer Sheng represents the hyperpop scene.
The list also includes Fred Again, Joy Crookes, Labrinth and Good Neighbours.
New releases from Ácido Pantera, Artemas, cheapcuts, Falle Nioke and Weval also appear on the playlist.
The collection is described by EA SPORTS as both ‘genre defying and genre defining’.
No Afrobeats stars for the second time in five years
The decision not to include Afrobeats global stars makes it the second time in five years.
The genre has been part of FIFA and EA FC since FIFA 20.
Maleek Berry was one of the first Nigerian names to be featured.
Burna Boy, Rema and Fireboy DML later appeared on the VOLTA Football playlist in FIFA 21.
The presence grew bigger in FIFA 23 with Seun Kuti, Pheelz, BNXN, Olamide and Bad Boy Timz.
EA SPORTS FC 25 gave space to stars like Rema, Shallipopi and Omah Lay.
The momentum showed how far the genre had travelled.
However, this year it has come to a halt.
Obongjayar is the only Nigerian born artist featured.
He has now been included five times across four different editions.
For some fans, his name alone is not enough to represent the wave of Afrobeats superstars dominating charts worldwide.
Listen to the full EA SPORTS FC™ 26 soundtrack on Spotify here, and across most streaming platforms.
When is the EA FC 26 release date?
EA SPORTS FC 26 will be released on 22 September 2025 worldwide.
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala have already been unveiled as the cover stars of the FC 26 Standard Edition.
While Swedish football legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic graces the cover of the Ultimate Edition.
