Unlike the popular saying, the best defence in EA Sports FC 26 is still defence. So to make sure you’re always ready to steal possession back from your opponent, making use of the most overpowered defensive PlayStyles is imperative; that’s where Anticipate comes in.
With the increased emphasis on manual defending in FC 26’s Ultimate Team, attempts to perform tackles can easily lead to a mess, with your players possibly fouling the opponent or leaving themselves stranded out of position.
Fortunately, those with the Anticipate PlayStyle face far less risk, as they can easily win the ball back from a simple standing tackle. This improved ability to stop the ball and win possession during a standing tackle will set you up for an easy counter-attack, giving you a chance to practice your low-driven shots or finesse shots for some easy goals.
Here, you’ll find the best Anticipate+ players in EA Sports FC 26, along with the best silver Anticipate players that can bolster your defence on a budget.
What does the Anticipate Playstyle do in FC 26?
With the Anticipate PlayStyle, your defenders will have a much easier time winning the ball back in standing tackles. To initiate a standing tackle, you need to press circle or B on your controller while near an opposing player who is in possession of the ball. This will make any player perform a standing tackle, but those with the Anticipate PlayStyle will snatch the ball back more easily.
If you pack a player with Anticipate+, you’ll find that they will win these challenges even more consistently, helping even to cover for a lack of pace or strength.
This also comes with a massive benefit – not only are you winning possession with ease, but standing tackles are also far less risky than going to ground with an explosive slide tackle. This helps you avoid committing fouls and losing to defensive overloads, while also ensuring that you can win possession fairly and take advantage of the counterattacking opportunity to score easy goals.
Top FC 26 Anticipate Players
| Name: | Team: | Position: | Overall: | Anticipate+? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leah Williamson | Arsenal Women | CB | 87 | Anticipate+ |
| William Saliba | Arsenal | CB | 87 | Anticipate+ |
| Jonathan Tah | Bayern Munich | CB | 87 | Anticipate+ |
| Wendie Renard | Lyon Women | CB | 85 | Anticipate+ |
| Lena Oberdorf | Bayern Munich Women | CDM | 84 | Anticipate+ |
| Vanessa Gilles | Bayern Munich Women | CB | 83 | Anticipate+ |
| Matthias Ginter | SC Freiburg | CB | 82 | Anticipate+ |
| Virgil van Dijk | Liverpool | CB | 90 | Anticipate |
| Achraf Hakimi | PSG | RB | 89 | Anticipate |
| Joshua Kimmich | Bayern Munich | CDM | 89 | Anticipate |
| Moisés Caicedo | Chelsea | CDM | 87 | Anticipate |
| Marquinhos | PSG | CB | 87 | Anticipate |
| Millie Bright | Chelsea Women | CB | 87 | Anticipate |
| Nuno Mendes | PSG | LB | 86 | Anticipate |
| Grace Geyoro | London City | CM | 86 | Anticipate |
| Willian Pacho | PSG | CB | 86 | Anticipate |
| Selma Bacha | Lyon Women | LB | 85 | Anticipate |
| Erin Cuthbert | Chelsea Women | CDM | 85 | Anticipate |
| Svenja Huth | VfL Wolfsburg Women | CM | 85 | Anticipate |
| Nico Schlotterbeck | Borussia Dortmund | CB | 85 | Anticipate |
| Theo Hernández | Al Hilal | LB | 84 | Anticipate |
| Géraldine Reuteler | Frankfurt Women | ST | 84 | Anticipate |
| Giulia Gwinn | Bayern Munich Women | RB | 84 | Anticipate |
| Giada Greggi | Roma Women | CM | 84 | Anticipate |
| Aurélien Tchouaméni | Real Madrid | CDM | 84 | Anticipate |
To make the most of every opportunity while in possession, make sure to check out these FC 26 Tactics Codes for the best formations.
If you prefer Career Mode, take a look at our list of the best FC 26 Wonderkids.