The screen froze mid-match, my star striker about to bury the game-winning goal. A notification blinked: server maintenance. Frustration simmered as I realized my evening of FC 26 was on hold. But knowing exactly when the game returns is half the battle, so here’s what to expect.
EA Sports has announced server maintenance for FC 26 today across all platforms, impacting online connectivity. This is the first major maintenance of the year, arriving just before the Team of the Year (TOTY) celebrations. Here’s the schedule so you can plan around the downtime.
FC 26 Maintenance: The January 14th Schedule
Ever notice how maintenance always seems to strike at the worst time? The servers will go offline before the maintenance officially begins. Today’s maintenance starts at 11pm ET/1am CT/2am ET/7am UTC across all platforms. Older titles like FC 25 will also be affected. Matchmaking will be disabled 30 minutes beforehand.
The maintenance is scheduled to last five hours. Barring any setbacks, services should be restored by 4am ET/6am CT/7am ET/12am UTC. However, delays can happen. I’ll update this guide with any changes.
We have a maintenance coming up on January 14, 07:00 to 12:00 UTC.
During this time, you may be disconnected or unable to access online services.
Match creation will be disabled 30 min before the maintenance.
Titles impacted: EA SPORTS FC 26, EA SPORTS FC 25 and EA SPORTS FC…
— EA SPORTS FC Direct Communication (@EASFCDirect) January 14, 2026
Once matchmaking is disabled, all online game modes will be unavailable. Ultimate Team will also be inaccessible. The Web and Companion apps should still function, but logging in via PC or console might be disabled. Even if you get in, starting a match will likely result in an error. Think of it as a forced timeout; time to grab a drink.
What happens if maintenance overruns?
Server maintenance can sometimes feel like watching paint dry, especially when it drags on. If delays occur, EA Sports usually communicates updates via their social channels. Keep an eye on the EA Sports FC Direct Communication Twitter feed for real-time announcements. Patience is a virtue, especially when TOTY is nearly here.
It will be interesting to see if EA Sports implements any live tuning adjustments during the maintenance. The last major patch, Title Update 1.4.0, arrived earlier in January and significantly altered AI-defending and player movement. These updates are like a mechanic under the hood, tweaking performance for better gameplay.
Will this maintenance affect the TOTY promo?
The timing of this maintenance is certainly raising eyebrows, given its proximity to the TOTY promo. We already have confirmed dates for the promo’s start and the expected player lineups. Could this maintenance be fine-tuning the servers to handle the anticipated surge in traffic when everyone tries to pack those coveted TOTY cards?
What kind of updates typically happen during FC maintenance?
Maintenance periods are often used to implement a range of updates, from minor bug fixes to significant server-side adjustments. These updates might include database tweaks, security patches, or even preparations for upcoming content releases. Essentially, it’s about keeping the digital engine running smoothly. Usually, the only visible change is improved stability.
Of course, this maintenance could be in preparation for the upcoming TOTY promo. We have confirmed dates for the promo and which players will feature in the starting lineups. Will these server tweaks deliver a smoother TOTY experience, or will it be business as usual?