How to easily win the EA Sports FC 26 'A Star Is Born' live event penalty shootout

You earn some easy and fantastic rewards in EA Sports FC 26 right now in the ‘A Star is Born’ Live Event, and you don’t even have to play a full standard match.

Every week, new challenges come to EA Sports FC 26 that grant players rewards for playing matches in Ultimate Team, whether it's Champions, Rivals, Rush, Squad Battles, and more. Players can earn rewards such as packs to open, in-game currency, and exclusive player cards, as well as make some Season Pass progression.

Some rewards are certainly easier to obtain than others, but this week's Live Event, ‘A Star is Born’ tournament, is probably the easiest yet in the entirety of EA Sports FC 26 so far. Sure, there are better rewards for winning tournaments, but you’ll also earn a ton of rewards simply by participating in this event.

First things first, as explained by EA Sports FC content creator, Kimpembro, who’s part of Futwiz, they reveal their tactics that should give you the best chance of winning a penalty shootout in the ‘A Star is Born’ tournament.

As the goalkeeper

Opposing players will most likely shoot in the top left and top right corners on the first penalty. Often on the side where the player is most naturally footed. So a left footer might shoot top left and a right footer top right. This pattern is likely to be repeated for the first three penalties taken against you.

So by having your keeper dive in those top corners for the first three penalties, perhaps twice in the same direction, you should have a good chance of saving at least one shot.

If a player misses a penalty, on the next attempt, they’re very likely to shoot on the exact opposite side. On the final penalty, there is a good chance that they may get overconfident by showboating, by shooting straight down the middle, perhaps using a Panenka chip (pressing L1/LB and shoot). So, just have your keeper stand in the middle, and you’ll probably save it.

Taking penalities

For the order of taking your five standard penalty shots, Kimpembro recommends bottom right for the first two shots. As a goalkeeper, most players won’t expect you to go for the same shot on the first two penalties.

For the third shot, go top right, because players won’t expect you to go to the same side three times in a row. The fourth shot, now that players are thinking you’re always going to the right side, do a Panenka to the bottom left corner. On the fifth and final penalty (assuming it doesn't go into sudden death), the opposing player will likely expect you to go straight down the middle, so blast your shot in the top left corner.

From my own experience, another pattern that I’ve found that works for me while playing is if you use a Panenka chip, whether it's to a side or down the middle, the opposing player will very likely do the same to you on their next shot.

Of course, this isn't a guaranteed success; however, after testing Kimpembro’s formula out for myself, if I don't win the three-round penalty knockout tournament, I’ve at least stood a good chance of getting to the final, which, of course, increases the chances of earning rewards.

Manuel Neuer in EA Sports FC 26, Electronic Arts

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Other tips to consider

Rather than using your standard Squad Battles starting 11, make a unique squad specifically for this live event tournament. By having your first 11 players with high shooting and penalty stats, it will increase your chances of winning, rather than having a central defender step up for the final and decisive penalty. In this instance, it's ok to have strikers in midfield and defence, because you’re not playing a typical game, it's strictly penalties.

What’s more, if you have any players currently on an evo chain, one penalty shootout works the same as playing a full match. So, this is a very fast way to max out a current player's evo chain with ease.

What rewards can you win in A Star is Born Cup?

There are two different, but linked, separate objective rewards. The first is the standard ‘A Star is Born Cup’ rewards. Here’s what you can win, and these are super easy to acquire:

• Play 5: Just play five penalty shootouts in the tournament. If you make it to the final, you’ll have three of the five done straight away. This will earn you 500 SP (Season Pass XP)
• Play 10: Same as above, but this time, take part in 10 penalty shootouts in the ‘A Star is Born’ tournament. This will earn you 250 SP and a 2x85 Rare Gold Players Pack (Untradable).
• Play 15: Again, same as above. But this time, you’ll earn a ‘Mime Pull’ celebration emote and a 2x87 Rare Gold Players Pack (Untradable).
• Win 1: Just win one penalty shootout in the tournament, and you’ll earn an exclusive player evolution.
• Win 3: Win three shootouts, and earn a 5x85 Rare Gold Players Pack (Untradable).
• Win 5: Win five shootouts, and earn a 5x86 Rare Gold Players Pack (Untradable).
• Score 25: Score 25 penalties and earn another exclusive player evolution.

By completing all of these easy objectives, you’ll receive an additional 250 Futties Tokens to spend in the in-game Ultimate Team store.

The second set of objective rewards isn't quite as easy to achieve, as it will require you to win tournaments, rather than just participating.

• Debut Triumph: Win ‘A Star is Born Cup’ once to earn a 5x85 Rare Gold Players Pack (Untradable).
• Triumph 2: Win ‘A Star is Born Cup’ twice to earn a 5x86 Rare Gold Players Pack (Untradable).
• Triumph 3: Win ‘A Star is Born Cup’ three times to earn a 7x87 Rare Gold Players Pack (Untradable).
• Triumph 4: W ‘A Star is Born Cup’ four times to earn 8x88 Rare Gold Players Pack (Untradable).

Once you’ve won the ‘A Star is Born Cup’ four times, you will also receive the ‘Phenom Rising’ player evo that can be applied to any outfield player born after January 1, 2001, with a maximum of 10 standard PlayStyles, three PlayStyle +’s, and a max overall card of 94.

The ‘Phenom Rising’ card boosts any player to a 95 overall, gives them a big boost in attacking stats, and once the evo is activated on your chosen player, you’ll need to use them in four Squad Battle matches, and that includes four quick penalty shootouts in the ‘A Star is Born’ tournament.

The ‘A Star is Born’ objectives end this Friday at 6 pm BST/1 pm ET.