FC 28 TOTY Guide — Team of the Year Event, Predictions & Trading Tips

What Is TOTY?

Team of the Year celebrates the best real-world performers with massively upgraded special cards. TOTY Mbappé, TOTY Haaland, TOTY Bellingham — these are some of the best cards in the entire game, with 95-99 ratings and maxed-out stats.

Why TOTY Matters

• Best cards released all year (often 97-99 overall)
• Biggest market crash — prices drop 20-40% across the board
• Free TOTY nominee cards from objectives
• Special SBCs with great rewards
• Peak trading opportunity for smart investors

Typical TOTY Timeline

Market Crash Strategy

Before TOTY (2 Weeks Prior)

• Sell your squad — Everything drops during TOTY
• Sell fodder — Pre-TOTY SBCs drive prices up before the crash
• Hold liquid coins — Cash is king during TOTY

During TOTY

• Buy on the final weekend — Market bottom usually hits when full team is in packs
• Target Meta players — Gold Mbappé at crash price = incredible value
• Don't rush — Prices continue falling throughout, be patient

After TOTY

• Prices recover 10-20% in the first week after TOTY ends
• Sell if you bought during crash — Quick profit opportunity
• TOTY cards themselves slowly drop as better cards release later

TOTY Trading Tips

• Sell fodder BEFORE TOTY — Pre-TOTY SBCs spike fodder prices
• Buy fodder DURING TOTY — Cheapest prices of the year
• Invest in TOTY nominees — If they make the team, their nominee card rises
• Snipe TOTY cards during the first hour — Sellers undercut each other at release
• Buy Icons during TOTY — Icons crash hard, recover well after

Pack Strategy

• Save packs from objectives/rewards for weeks before TOTY
• Open during full team phase — All 11 TOTY cards available
• Don't buy FIFA Points — Pack weight is awful, coins are more efficient
• Do the free TOTY SBCs — Always complete objective and SBC content

TOTY Market Phases Explained

The TOTY market follows a predictable cycle that repeats every year. Understanding these phases lets you time your buys and sells for maximum profit. The first phase is the pre-TOTY crash, which typically begins seven to ten days before the event launches. During this window, high-rated fodder players and popular meta cards drop significantly as the community panic-sells in anticipation of the promo. This is actually one of the best buying windows of the entire year for non-TOTY cards because prices are at their lowest point since Black Friday.

The second phase is TOTY release week. When attackers drop first, the market dips further because everyone opens saved packs simultaneously, flooding the transfer market with supply. Midfielders and defenders follow in subsequent days, and each release triggers another small dip. The absolute lowest point for most cards is during the full TOTY period when all eleven cards plus twelfth man are in packs together, because pack opening reaches its peak volume during this window.

The third phase is the post-TOTY recovery. Once the event ends and TOTY cards leave packs, the general market rebounds sharply within forty-eight to seventy-two hours. Icon prices recover first, followed by high-rated gold cards, and then mid-tier meta players. Players who bought during the crash can see fifteen to thirty percent returns simply by holding through the recovery period without any active trading required.

Building Your TOTY Squad on a Budget

Not everyone can afford full TOTY cards, but EA always releases budget-friendly alternatives during the event. TOTY Honourable Mentions are special cards given to players who narrowly missed the main team selection. These cards receive significant stat boosts at a fraction of the cost of actual TOTY items. In previous years, Honourable Mention cards have been some of the best value-for-coins options in the entire game because they offer ninety percent of the performance at twenty percent of the price.

Another strategy is pairing one or two TOTY cards with cheaper meta options from your existing squad. Focus your coins on the position that makes the biggest difference. A TOTY goalkeeper or centre-back will transform your defense for the rest of the game cycle, while a TOTY midfielder controls the tempo of every match you play. Avoid splurging on TOTY attackers early because attacker prices drop the most over time as newer promo cards with similar stats get released throughout February and March, making patience the smartest approach for strikers and wingers during this event window.