The Journey of Nations: South America objective in EA SPORTS FC 26 has quickly become one of the most talked-about grinds in Ultimate Team, especially since it leads toward a 97-rated Maradona card when combined with the next phase next week. Released in the latest update cycle, it splits progression into two structured phases that reward smart planning far more than raw playtime. If you approach it correctly, you can finish everything in roughly 10 matches, which makes it one of the most efficient high-reward objectives currently available.
Phase 1 is where squad-building discipline really matters. You need six Brazilians, four Colombians, and one Uruguayan, with specific roles like Ronaldinho at the center of your attacking system and a Brazilian right-back to handle finishing requirements. Diego Forlan is locked in as your Uruguayan option, and he also comes with his own task chain that overlaps heavily with match objectives.
One of the biggest benefits of this objective is reward stacking efficiency. Another major advantage is how multiple tasks can be completed in a single match if you plan your squad and gameplay correctly, saving hours of repetitive grinding.
In Phase 1, you’re juggling scoring targets with Ronaldinho, penalty and assist objectives for Forlan, and high-output scoring tasks for Colombian players, including a five-goal single-match requirement. On top of that, Brazilian players must hit seven goals in one match while conceding minimal goals, plus a low-driven finish with a Brazilian right-back. The smartest approach is using Squad Battles on Beginner difficulty, where you can dominate weaker AI teams and stack objectives quickly instead of spreading them across multiple matches.
At this stage of optimization, many players also look for ways to strengthen their squads instantly rather than grinding the transfer market. Some choose to buy FC coins with fast delivery to quickly assemble high-chemistry South American teams and unlock icons like Ronaldinho without delay. In fact, competitive players often buy FC 26 coins again during major objective grinds to speed up upgrades and reduce time spent building squads manually. Platforms like z2u are frequently used by players comparing cheapest EA FC coins store options and building efficient teams for objectives like this.
Phase 2 introduces a squad reshuffle, replacing Colombian and Uruguayan requirements with four Argentine players and one player from Ecuador or Paraguay, while keeping your six Brazilians. This creates a fresh tactical layer without forcing you to restart everything from scratch, which is one of the most player-friendly aspects of this objective design.
Another key benefit of Phase 2 is flexibility in squad evolution. You can reuse your Brazilian core while experimenting with different attacking combinations from Argentina, making matches feel less repetitive and more dynamic.
Once completed, the objective chain contributes heavily toward unlocking Maradona, making it one of the most valuable long-term grinds in FC 26 right now.
Q: How long does the objective take to complete?
A: Around 10 matches if optimized correctly across both phases.
Q: What is the final reward?
A: A 97-rated Maradona card via linked objectives.
Q: Can I reuse players in both phases?
A: Brazilians carry over, but other nationalities change in Phase 2.
Q: What’s the best mode to complete it?
A: Squad Battles on low difficulty for fast objective stacking.
