With Christmas just around the corner and EA FC 26 entering a critical phase of the Ultimate Team cycle, EA has dropped one of the most nostalgic defensive SBCs of the year: Joe Gomez's Path to Glory card. For longtime FIFA fans, this release feels almost surreal. Two years ago, Joe Gomez was one of those cards-low-rated on paper, completely broken in-game FC 26 Coins, and a staple in competitive squads well above his rating.

Now, he's back. And after extensive Elite Rivals testing across multiple matches, one thing is clear: Joe Gomez is once again built differently.

But is he worth the fodder? Does he compete with the ever-growing power of Evolutions? And where exactly should you play him? Let's break everything down.

SBC Overview and Card Basics

Joe Gomez's Path to Glory SBC requires four squads, including a couple of 87-rated segments, putting his total cost at roughly 190k coins at launch. That price point already tells you EA sees this card as more than just SBC filler.

Here's what stands out immediately:

Height: 6'2"
Body Type: Unique
AcceleRATE: Lengthy
Weak Foot / Skills: 4★ / 4★
Primary Positions: CB, RB
Alternate Positions: LB, RM

On paper, the versatility is impressive, but as we'll get into later, this card has one clear identity.

PlayStyles and Traits: Not Perfect, But Promising

Joe Gomez comes equipped with Anticipate+, one of the most impactful defensive PlayStyle Pluses in EA FC 26. While last year Anticipate was arguably the gold standard for center backs, this year it competes with Intercept, Jockey, and Bruiser depending on your defending style.

He also features:

Base Intercept
Block
Aerial
Pinged Pass
Relentless+

However, he's missing two notable defensive staples:

Jockey
Bruiser

At first glance, that's disappointing. But it's important not to write him off immediately. EA has clearly been designing recent cards with PlayStyle evolution flexibility in mind, especially with Season Pass upgrades and tournament rewards on the horizon. This is very similar to what we've seen with cards like Llorente and Guerrero-limited base PlayStyles, but massive upgrade potential.

Chemistry Style and Roles

For testing, Joe Gomez was used with a Shadow chemistry style, and honestly, it feels like the perfect fit.

With Shadow applied:

Pace becomes elite-tier for a center back
Defensive awareness and tackling hit top levels
Physicals remain strong enough despite the lack of Bruiser

In terms of roles, Defender+ feels like the natural choice. Gomez excels when asked to stay home, step into tackles, and dominate space rather than roam forward.

In-Game Performance: Elite Rivals Test

Pace and Recovery Speed

One of the first things you notice is how confident you feel when dragged out of position. Whether chasing down players like Rafael Leão or recovering from a high defensive line, Gomez's Lengthy acceleration and sprint speed consistently bail you out.

Even without Jockey, his lateral movement feels serviceable, especially if you manually defend and position well.

Tackling and Anticipate+

This is where Gomez truly shines.

Anticipate+ activates constantly:

Clean standing tackles
Quick recoveries after ricochets
Automatic ball retention after challenges

Aside from one overly aggressive slide tackle that resulted in a yellow card (entirely user error), Gomez won nearly every meaningful duel across multiple matches.

If you're someone who manually defends rather than relying on AI containment, this card feels incredibly rewarding.

Physical Presence

Despite lacking Bruiser, Gomez doesn't feel weak. Shoulder-to-shoulder duels are generally favorable, though you'll notice the absence of Bruiser against elite strength merchants.

That said, his body type and reach do a lot of heavy lifting here. He doesn't get bullied easily, and his aerial presence is reliable both defensively and on corners.

Passing and Ball Use

Pinged Pass is arguably one of the most underrated PlayStyles for center backs, and Gomez uses it well.

Simple build-up passes feel clean
Switching play is reliable
No panic when pressed

You're not playing through him like a midfielder, but he's absolutely comfortable doing the basics under pressure.

Positioning Breakdown: CB vs RB

Center Back-Elite

This is where Joe Gomez belongs.

At CB, he:

Feels quick and composed
Wins tackles consistently
Covers space intelligently
Activates Anticipate+ constantly

After two full Elite Rivals matches, it was clear: this is one of the best SBC center backs available right now.

Right Back-Not Recommended

A brief 15-minute test at right back confirmed what many suspected.

Defensively? Solid.

Offensively? Very limited.

You sacrifice:

Overlapping runs
Creative passing
Dribbling fluidityIn a meta where fullbacks are expected to contribute going forward, Gomez simply doesn't offer enough. Players like Guerrero, who costs significantly less, outperform him massively in wide roles.

Verdict: Do not play him at fullback unless absolutely necessary.

Comparison to Evolutions Meta

This is the big debate in EA FC 26: SBCs vs Evolutions.

Evolutions often provide:

Better PlayStyle combinations
Lower long-term cost
More customization

If you already have top-tier CB evolutions like Califiori or Mosquera, you're probably fine. Gomez is not a mandatory upgrade.

However, if:

You're short on elite CBs
You want a Premier League / England link monster
You enjoy manual defending

Then Joe Gomez absolutely earns his place.

Value for Coins: Is He Worth 190k?

At around 190k, Joe Gomez is not cheap-but the price makes sense.

You're paying for:

Premier League links
England links
Unique body type
Anticipate+
Proven in-game performance

Is he a must-complete SBC? No.

Is he a very strong and reliable center-back option? Absolutely.

Final Verdict

Joe Gomez's Path to Glory SBC feels like a respectful nod to FIFA history-and a genuinely strong card in the current EA FC 26 meta.

Pros:
Elite recovery speed
Anticipate+ is excellent
Unique body type matters
Strong links
Reliable manual defending

Cons:
No Jockey or Bruiser
Expensive SBC
Limited positional flexibility EAFC 26 Coins
Overall Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)

If you have the fodder and need a center back you can trust in Elite Rivals or Champs, Joe Gomez is a fantastic addition. He's not flashy, he's not meta-breaking-but he's dependable, consistent, and feels right every time you step into a tackle.