Big news for EA FC 26 authenticity lovers: EA SPORTS FC is moving to re-license Brazilian clubs from Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, and the first confirmed partners are Bahia and Botafogo.
That means real players, real crests, and potentially real stadiums making their way into EA FC 26 via future updates.
EA FC 26 Licenses
Bahia: The Revolution Begins
Bahia has officially announced their partnership with EA SPORTS FC. This means that for the first time in years, we will see the club as a fully licensed entity.
Authentic Stars: While the full roster update for PC and consoles is expected in a future EA FC 26 Title Update, several players are already live in FC Mobile.
Database Clues: Veterans like Willian José are already present in the console database files, and fans are eager to see Jean Lucas return with his authentic face scan.
The Stadium: Bahia plays at the historic Arena Fonte Nova. Since this stadium appeared in the FIFA 14 World Cup update, there is a strong possibility we could see its return as a fully licensed venue in future titles.
Botafogo: A Star-Studded Return
Botafogo followed suit with their own landmark announcement. The Rio de Janeiro giants are bringing a roster packed with names that European football fans will recognize instantly.
Familiar Faces: The Botafogo squad in the EA FC 26 database is already looking incredibly strong. We are expecting to see fully authentic versions of:
- Alex Telles (available in the database files of FC 26)
- Alexander Barboza (available in the database files of FC 26)
- Arthur Cabral (available in the database files of FC 26)
- Joaquín Correa (available in the database files of FC 26)
- Neto (available in the database files of FC 26)
- Santiago Rodríguez (available in the database files of FC 26)
- Vitinho (available in the database files of FC 26)
- Allan (available in the database files of previous EA FC/FIFA video games)
The Stadium: Fans are already speculating that the Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos, with its 46,931 capacity, could be the next major stadium scan for the series.
What’s next?
The “Série A” license has been a complex legal puzzle for years, but these individual club deals suggest that EA is finding a new way to bring the league back.
By signing partnerships club-by-club, they can bypass previous collective bargaining issues and give fans the authentic “Brasileirão” experience they’ve been craving.
Why this matters?
Real Faces & Accurate Rosters: Licensed clubs bring authentic player names, faces and facescans — a big quality-of-life plus for Career Mode and Kick Off.
Club Identity: Licensed crests, kits and stadiums make matches feel real. If Arena Fonte Nova and Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos are added, Brazilian matchday atmosphere improves dramatically.
Career Mode & Transfers: Managers building squads now have proper Brazilian-market choices and realistic transfer flows to and from South America.
Collectible Value (UT & Content): New licenses open the door for themed SBCs, promo items and localized content that resonate with South American fans.
Final Whistle
After an 11-year gap, Brazilian club licensing is finally coming back to EA SPORTS FC — and that’s huge.
Bahia and Botafogo leading the return is great news for Career Mode builders, Kick Off players, and anyone who wants their virtual football to feel more authentic.
We expect more announcements from other top-flight Brazilian clubs in the coming weeks. ReFIFA will be tracking every new player addition and stadium scan as they happen.
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