FC 26 Journey of Nations: North America Objective Guide for Season 8
The Journey of Nations: North America objective set is now active in EA SPORTS FC 26 Ultimate Team, and it represents one of the most valuable free progression paths in Season 8. Completing the full set before the season ends grants access to a 97-rated Maradona at no cost, which makes the North America chapter a priority for anyone building a competitive squad. The objective is part of a multi-region series, so the North America tasks sit inside a larger Journey of Nations structure rather than functioning as a standalone challenge. The full run takes roughly 12 to 14 matches, and the most efficient approach is to divide the work into three phases, each with a different squad setup.
Objective Overview and Why It Matters
The Journey of Nations: North America chapter contributes directly toward the 97-rated Maradona pick in Season 8. Completing all regional chapters in the set unlocks access to that selection, and skipping North America locks players out of the pick regardless of progress elsewhere. The chapter therefore functions as a mandatory component for anyone chasing the Maradona reward.
The objective also delivers a strong stack of Ultimate Team currency and several high-rated special cards. The 60,000 coins alone justify the effort, even for players who already have strong North American players in their club. The structure is designed around three phases, and switching lineups between phases is the key to completing tasks in parallel rather than chasing them one at a time.
Phase One: Mexico, USA, and Brazil Squad
The first six matches require a squad built around a specific nationality split. The recommended setup is:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Mexico players | 3 |
| USA players | 6 |
| Brazil players | 1 |
| Formation | 4-4-2 (2) |
A useful adjustment is to swap in Hero Marquez after the first clean sheet is secured. This lineup allows players to chip away at multiple tasks simultaneously across the six matches.
The phase one tasks include:
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✅ Keep 1 clean sheet
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✅ Win 6 matches
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✅ Get 3 wins in Rivals, Champs, or Live Events
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✅ Score a free kick with a Mexican player
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✅ Score 6 Low Driven goals with a USA player
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✅ Score 1 Low Driven goal with Dempsey
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✅ Score a header with Marquez
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✅ Assist 3 goals with a through ball
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✅ Score 7 goals total
⚠️ Low Driven shots require deliberate input. Players who are not already landing them consistently should practice the mechanic in Kick Off before entering Rivals. Missing six Low Driven goals in live matches will drag the phase out significantly. Dempsey and Marquez should remain in the starting eleven for all of phase one, not only in games where their tasks are actively being chased, because opportunities appear unexpectedly.
Phase Two: Canadian Squad
The next five matches require a lineup with at least 6 players from Canada. The phase two tasks are:
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✅ Get 3 wins in Rivals, Champs, or Live Events
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✅ Assist at least 2 goals in a single match
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✅ Score 2 goals with a Finesse Shot
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✅ Assist 3 goals with a lobbed through ball
The double-assist task and the lobbed through ball assists can overlap in the same game. Canadian midfielders should be placed in positions where they naturally feed the strikers, and the assists will stack without forcing unnatural play. Lobbed through balls are easier to land when the striker makes a run in behind, so timed attacking runs are more reliable than waiting for open play chances.
Phase Three: Rush and Team Totals
The final phase is the lightest workload of the three. The tasks are:
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✅ Play in Rush using a North American player
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✅ Win 1 game by at least 2 goals
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✅ Score 7 goals as a team
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✅ Assist 5 goals as a team
Rush matches count toward the team goal and assist totals, so these tasks can stack across multiple Rush sessions if the numbers are not hit in one go. The Rush format tends to generate goals and assists quickly because of the smaller pitch and fewer defenders. One or two Rush sessions can clear the team goal and assist tasks entirely.
Rewards and Broader Journey of Nations Context
Finishing every phase earns a solid stack of Ultimate Team currency and some high-rated special cards. The reward highlights include:
| Reward | Value |
|---|---|
| Coins | 60,000 |
| Special cards | High-rated selections |
| Maradona progress | Contribution toward the 97-rated pick |
The North America objective is one piece of the larger Journey of Nations set. Completing all regional chapters in the set unlocks access to pick the 97-rated Maradona during Season 8. Skipping North America means being locked out of that pick regardless of how many other chapters are finished. Players working through the broader Season 8 pass at the same time may also find value in the FC 26 Ultimate Gauntlet 13 rewards guide, which covers additional promo cards and evolution consumables. Squad Building Challenges can help offload duplicate cards earned from Player Picks, and the FC 26 SBC guide offers ways to turn extras into useful resources.
Efficiency Tips for the North America Objective
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🎯 Play Live Events over Rivals when possible during phases one and two. The opposition is often lighter, and the three wins in competitive modes count across both.
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🧠 Keep Dempsey and Marquez in the starting eleven for all of phase one. Their tasks can be completed incidentally during normal attacking play.
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⚽ Use timed attacking runs for lobbed through balls in phase two. A striker moving in behind creates a cleaner assist opportunity than a static forward line.
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🏆 Use Rush in phase three to generate goals and assists quickly. The smaller pitch and fewer defenders accelerate team totals.
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⚠️ Practice Low Driven shots in Kick Off before starting phase one. Consistent input is essential for the six USA Low Driven goals.
The North America chapter is a non-negotiable part of the Journey of Nations set for anyone targeting the 97-rated Maradona. The 12-to-14-match commitment is manageable when the run is split into three phases, and the 60,000 coins alone make the objective worth completing. For a broader look at building an Ultimate Team from the ground up, the FC 26 complete starter guide covers coin-making strategies and squad building that pair well with objective grinding. More guides for every mode in the game are available in the full EA SPORTS FC 26 guide collection.
Industry insights are provided by Entertainment Software Association (ESA), whose market analysis and player-engagement reporting help explain why limited-time Ultimate Team objectives like Journey of Nations are designed around steady progression, reward layering, and repeat match participation. In the context of FC 26's North America chapter, that broader industry perspective supports the value of a phased approach, where players maximize coins, special cards, and marquee rewards such as the 97-rated Maradona by combining multiple objectives into the same run.