Career Mode is football without the noise. No flashing promos. No card packs. Just you, a squad that probably needs work, and a calendar full of fixtures that will slowly take over your life. It’s the part of EAFC 26 that doesn’t need hype to matter. You load in, pick a club, and within half an hour, you’re scouting a 17-year-old left-back from Denmark like your job depends on it.
It’s always been like that. Every year, Career Mode offers that quiet kind of satisfaction.
The grind of the lower leagues, the thrill of a tight title race, the heartbreak of losing a key player in January, it’s football at its most personal. Ultimate Team might be the loud, cash-rich cousin, but this is where the stories live.
EAFC 26 doesn’t reinvent the experience, but it sharpens it. The menus move quicker, transfers make more sense, and player growth feels less random. Yet what really keeps you coming back is that feeling of control, the believe that you can fix what’s broken. That you can be the one to do it right this time.
And that starts with one decision: who you choose. Every save begins with that pause on the team select screen. Do you go safe and chase instant trophies, or take on something that might eat up weeks of your life?
Be it you’re planning to dominate Europe or crawl your way out of League Two, the beauty of Career Mode is how every journey feels different.
To make it easier, we’ve listed ten clubs that fit different skill levels. From the richest and most powerful to the most desperate and broken. No gimmicks, no “hipster picks,” just pure football projects, each one with its own story, structure, and dream.
Easiest Career Mode Clubs
Paris Saint-Germain
League: Ligue 1
Rating: 5 stars
Transfer Budget: £199.83m
Club Worth: £3.41bn
Main Challenge: Dominate Europe
Paris Saint-Germain are almost too good to ignore. They’ve finally shaken the weight of expectation in real life, lifting their first Champions League trophy and proving they’re more than a marketing machine. In Career Mode, that sets you up for something new, not chasing the club’s first European crown, but building an era.
You’re walking into a dressing room stacked with world-class talent. Ousmane Dembélé, now a 90 overall, gives you pace and flair out wide. Kylian Mbappé remains the superstar, still at the peak of his powers. Behind them, Vitinha and Warren Zaïre-Emery give you a midfield built for both control and chaos.
Your biggest decision isn’t how to win Ligue 1, that’s almost guaranteed. It’s how to stay hungry. The board expects dominance, but real satisfaction comes from what happens in Europe. Can you turn PSG into the kind of side that wins the Champions League three, four, or five times in a decade? Can you become the next Real Madrid?
If you want an easy but satisfying experience, PSG are perfect. It’s a sandbox for tactics, formations, and world-class rotation. You can experiment, develop youth, or simply buy anyone you want. The challenge is to keep winning when there’s nothing left to prove.
Tip: Use that budget to build for the long term. The first few seasons can be your “era of excess.” Later on, shift focus toward French talents and academy growth — that’s how you keep it interesting when trophies become routine.
Napoli
League: Serie A
Rating: 4.5 stars
Transfer Budget: £53.82m
Club Worth: £483.82m
Main Challenge: Retain the Serie A title and make history in Europe
Napoli enter EAFC 26 as champions of Italy, but history shows they’ve never been great at defending titles. That becomes your test. Can you sustain success in a league that’s unpredictable, competitive, and always ready for new champions?
The squad remains strong. Victor Osimhen still leads the line, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gives you the kind of flair that lights up any match. There’s enough depth to stay competitive, and with a solid £50m-plus budget, you can make smart additions without gutting the squad.
Your short-term aim is simple: keep the title in Naples. The long-term one is bigger: bring the Champions League to southern Italy for the first time.
This is one of those saves that feels emotional. Napoli’s city, fans, and stadium all have a certain heartbeat. When you start stringing wins together at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, you feel that energy through the screen.
Kevin De Bruyne’s arrival adds something special, even if he’s past his prime. Build around him for a season or two, and then transition toward a younger midfield core.
Tip: Prioritise depth early. Serie A is relentless, and fixture congestion can crush morale. A versatile backup striker and an energetic defensive midfielder should be your first targets.
Chelsea FC Women
League: WSL
Rating: 5 stars
Transfer Budget: £1.23m
Club Worth: £103.2m
Main Challenge: Win the Women’s Champions League
Chelsea Women are a powerhouse in England, with six consecutive WSL titles, yet there’s one trophy missing: the Women’s Champions League. It’s the white whale.
You’re stepping into a team that has been near-perfect domestically, with attacking power all over the pitch. Sam Kerr, Lauren James, and Guro Reiten offer the kind of fluid front line that can score from anywhere. Behind them, Erin Cuthbert runs everything with the engine of a player who never tires.
The challenge isn’t building a squad, it’s conquering Europe. You’ll almost certainly dominate the WSL again, so you need to rotate smartly to keep legs fresh for continental nights.
Aggie Beever-Jones and Maika Hamano are your future. Their potential makes them perfect long-term pieces, and if you develop them properly, you’ll have a team that doesn’t just win now, but keeps winning years down the line.
The transfer budget might look small, but the WSL’s market is scaled differently. You’ll still be able to strengthen key areas, especially full-back and goalkeeper, without stretching the finances.
Tip: Use your depth wisely. Rotate early in the league to give younger players time, then unleash your strongest XI in Europe. It keeps morale balanced and legs fresh for the big nights.
Most Challenging Career Mode Clubs
Sunderland
League: Premier League
Rating: 4 stars
Transfer Budget: £42.7m
Club Worth: £612m
Main Challenge: Stay up, stabilise, and rebuild for Europe
Sunderland’s return to the Premier League feels long overdue. Years in the wilderness, two straight relegations, League One football, heartbreak, and rebuilds, they’ve finally made it back. But survival is only step one.
This is a club with history, noise, and pressure. The Stadium of Light fills up even when results dip, and that atmosphere gives you energy on the touchline. In EAFC 26, Sunderland’s squad sits in that awkward middle ground, good enough to stay up, not yet built to compete with Europe’s elite.
Your challenge is to make them belong again. Forget clinging on; the aim should be to stay up comfortably, then push toward mid-table stability before looking beyond. There’s money to work with, but not enough to throw around. Every signing has to fit.
With Jobe Bellingham now in Dortmund, you’ll be missing that young, home-grown star around whom everything revolved last season. That leaves space for someone new to step up. Granit Xhaka is now the creative heartbeat of the midfield. He’s the player who can change games, and your task is to build around him. Add a ball-playing midfielder who can link transitions and a quick striker to make those wide breaks count.
There’s something about this save that feels honest. Sunderland aren’t glamorous, but they’re passionate, gritty, and grounded. You see the way they humbled Chelsea on Saturday with an emphatic 2-1 win, that’s the kind of club where every win feels earned. Keeping them in the league is one story; turning them into a consistent top-half side is another.
Tip: Focus on physicality and pace in recruitment. The Premier League is demanding, and Sunderland’s style works best when you can transition quickly.
London City Lionesses
League: WSL
Rating: 4.5 stars
Transfer Budget: £372k
Club Worth: £22.19m
Main Challenge: Win the WSL and conquer Europe
London City Lionesses are the new force in English football, a modern project with serious ambition. Michele Kang’s backing gives them financial security and a global network, with ties to Lyon and Washington Spirit, that feels built for the future.
Your job is to turn potential into silverware. The squad already has a strong base with Grace Geyoro anchoring the midfield, but it’s not enough to match Chelsea right away. You’ll need to recruit smartly, relying on free transfers and loans before big spending becomes realistic.
The dream scenario is clear: turn London City into the WSL’s next dynasty. With careful planning, you could create a side that rivals Chelsea and Arsenal within three seasons. Then comes Europe.
The beauty of this save lies in its balance, not too easy, not brutally hard. It rewards patience, planning, and good recruitment.
Tip: Scout the French league early. There are undervalued young players there who fit the Lionesses’ DNA perfectly: athletic, technical, and affordable.
Montpellier
League: Ligue 2
Rating: 3 stars
Transfer Budget: £4.35m
Club Worth: £38.7m
Main Challenge: Return to Ligue 1 and win the title again
Thirteen years ago, Montpellier were champions of France. It was one of football’s great underdog stories, led by Olivier Giroud and Younès Belhanda. Now, they’re in Ligue 2.
That fall makes them a fascinating Career Mode challenge. You start with a squad that’s still got some technical quality but lacks the consistency and spark needed to dominate. Teji Savanier, once their heartbeat, is still there but he’s 33 and fading fast. Lucas Mincarelli’s 82 potential gives you a glimpse of what’s possible if you develop him right.
Your task is to rebuild. Get them back to Ligue 1 in year one if possible, then slowly turn them into a modern version of their 2012 side. It’s a project that rewards patience and clever transfers.
Because Ligue 2 has smaller budgets and a slower pace, your tactical setup matters more than your spending. Control games with shape, not stars.
Tip: Focus on developing academy prospects from the start. Ligue 2’s slower tempo means young players can handle more minutes without being overwhelmed.
Kaiserslautern
League: 2. Bundesliga
Rating: 3 stars
Transfer Budget: £4.01m
Club Worth: £23.05m
Main Challenge: Return to Bundesliga glory
Kaiserslautern are a name that still means something in German football. Four Bundesliga titles. One of the few clubs to ever win the top division as a newly promoted side. But it’s been a long time since 1998, and they’ve spent the past decade wandering the second tier.
This save feels like a throwback; big stands, proud fans, a fallen giant waiting for someone to lift them again.
Your journey starts in the 2. Bundesliga. The aim is simple: get promoted. But don’t rush. Build the spine first. You’ll have to find value in free agents and young players from the Bundesliga’s fringe.
Kaiserslautern don’t have stars at the start. You’ll be crafting them. That’s the fun part. There’s real satisfaction in taking a 67-rated midfielder and turning him into a captain who leads you to Europe five seasons later.
Tip: Look to loan players from bigger German clubs in your first year. Bayern, Dortmund, and Leipzig all have youngsters who can change your season without breaking the budget.
Most Difficult Career Modes Clubs
Sheffield Wednesday
League: Championship
Rating: 2.5 stars
Transfer Budget: £2.41m
Club Worth: £11.61m
Main Challenge: Survive, then rise
Sheffield Wednesday is one of those clubs that always seem caught between their history and their reality. Big stadium, loyal fanbase, proud identity, but on the pitch, chaos.
In EAFC 26, that chaos makes them one of the toughest saves you can try. A shallow squad, limited funds, and a board that expects more than you can give right away. You’ll need to scrap for every point just to stay up in the Championship.
The fun comes later. Once you’ve stabilised the team, you can start building for promotion. The ultimate dream is to bring Premier League football back to Hillsborough, and eventually, to go even further.
Harry Amass has promise, but he’s only on loan, so don’t get too attached. You’ll be relying heavily on the loan market until your finances improve. That means constant rotation, tactical flexibility, and a bit of risk-taking.
Tip: Prioritise defensive stability early. You can’t afford to get into shootouts. A compact 4-2-3-1 with overlapping full-backs works well in the Championship’s rough pace.
FC Andorra
League: La Liga Hypermotion (Spain’s second tier)
Rating: 2 stars
Transfer Budget: £1.27m
Club Worth: £2.15m
Main Challenge: Take Andorra to La Liga and beyond
This is the dreamer’s save. FC Andorra, the pride of a tiny country, is trying to make it on Spain’s grand stage. Owned by Gerard Piqué, the club has ambition and character, but very little in the way of resources.
You start with a thin squad and a lot of loans. Money is tight, so every signing counts. The first goal is to survive, then push for promotion. But the real challenge, the one that makes this save special, is to take them all the way to the Champions League.
It’s not impossible, but it’s close. You’ll need patience, scouting, and a bit of luck. The satisfaction when you finally reach La Liga, though, is unmatched.
Tip: Free agents and youth development will be your lifeline. Use the Youth Academy aggressively — invest early and scout regions like South America for affordable, high-potential players.
Oldham Athletic
League: League Two
Rating: 1 star
Transfer Budget: £878k
Club Worth: £1.81m
Main Challenge: Rise from League Two to the Premier League
Oldham Athletic are pure nostalgia. Founding members of the Premier League, they’ve fallen all the way down to non-league football and are only just finding their feet again.
In EAFC 26, they’re back in League Two — broke, fragile, and clinging to hope. It’s the toughest start you can pick, because there’s almost nothing to work with. The squad lacks quality, the finances are tight, and your best players are on loan.
That’s what makes it so rewarding. Every goal, every promotion, every cup run feels earned. You’re not managing a superclub, you’re rebuilding one from rubble.
This is the long-term save that makes Career Mode what it is. You’ll start by fighting for mid-table stability, then grind your way toward promotion. The real fun begins once you reach the Championship and start signing players who might actually remember the Premier League.
There’s a romance in bringing Oldham back. You’re not just chasing trophies; you’re restoring pride to a club that’s been written off.
Tip: Focus on youth scouting immediately. Set up an academy in England and one in Ireland or Scotland, and players from those regions are often cheap, develop quickly, and fit the lower-league grind perfectly.
Build Your Legacy
Career Mode has evolved, but at its heart, it’s still about legacy. Each club offers a different way to write that story. PSG gives you the thrill of dominance. Napoli gives you the weight of expectation. Oldham gives you the grind, the heartbreak, and the eventual payoff that only comes after seasons of struggle.
No matter which path you choose, the beauty lies in how you shape it. Maybe you turn Montpellier into a modern dynasty, or maybe you push FC Andorra to La Liga glory and make them a cult favourite across the gaming world. Every decision builds something unique.
You can play with realism, or throw that out the window and build squads your way. You can bring back legends through free agency or build new ones through the academy. Career Mode gives you both control and chaos, and the joy comes from balancing the two.
EAFC 26 doesn’t reinvent the formula, but it polishes it. The gameplay feels sharper, the management systems run deeper, and the connection between pitch and backroom feels more natural.
In the end, the “best” club isn’t about budget or star ratings. It’s about what kind of story you want to tell. Do you want the pressure of immediate success or the slow satisfaction of a rebuild that takes years?
Whatever you pick, you’re not just managing a team. You’re living out football’s greatest fantasy, turning potential into greatness, one save at a time.
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