One of the biggest early-game grinds is unlocking all of the Silver Icons as efficiently as possible. Many players approach these objectives individually, which leads to unnecessary matches and wasted time. The reality is that almost every Silver Icon objective can be completed simultaneously if you build your squad correctly and follow a structured plan, and for players who want to speed up squad construction, choosing to buy FUT 26 Coins can help secure the right nationalities early. This guide breaks down the exact team setup and in-game approach that allows you to unlock every Silver Icon in roughly 40 matches.

The Core Strategy: One Squad, All Objectives

The key to efficiency in FC 26 objectives is overlap. Many Silver Icon requirements are based on nations, leagues, or win conditions. By stacking the right nationalities and leagues into one starting eleven, you can progress multiple icons at the same time instead of grinding each one separately.

This approach focuses on:

· Germans for long-term match-based objectives

· Dutch players for power shots and wins

· Italians for defensive clean-sheet objectives

· A Romanian super-sub for a one-time scoring requirement

· Strategic league coverage (La Liga, Serie A, Premier League)

You do not need exact players-only the correct nations and leagues.

Position-by-Position Objective Breakdown

Kohler (Germany)
Kohler is one of the quickest unlocks. You only need to play 10 matches and either score or concede one goal or fewer with a German defender. Slot a German center back like Tah into your back line and play naturally. This will complete itself early.

Barnes (Premier League)
Barnes can be completed by winning 20 matches with two Premier League players. This is far more efficient than the alternative English-player requirement. Simply keep two Premier League attackers in your squad and let the wins stack over time.

Lineker (La Liga)
Lineker offers two paths, but the fastest is using three La Liga players and playing matches. Including La Liga players who are also German is ideal, as this contributes toward later German-based objectives. Expect this to finish around the 25-game mark.

Baggio (Italy / Serie A)
Baggio looks intimidating, but there is a shortcut. Instead of assisting across 35 matches, start one Italian midfielder and focus on wins. Thirty wins with an Italian midfielder in the starting eleven completes the objective without any special gameplay adjustments.

Matthäus (Germany)
This is the longest grind. You can either assist in 65 matches with a German or win 40 matches by scoring two or more goals with six German players in your squad. This is why German-heavy lineups are mandatory. With six Germans starting, this objective naturally finishes around match 40.

Koeman (Netherlands)
Koeman can be unlocked via direct free-kick goals, but that is inconsistent. The safer route is winning matches with two Dutch players in your squad. One Dutch attacker and one Dutch midfielder is more than sufficient.

Gullit (Netherlands / Power Shots)
Gullit is best completed using power shots. You need to score 20 power-shot goals with a Dutch player. This is easily farmed in Squad Battles on Semi-Pro difficulty. Power shots do not live-track, so do not panic mid-match—check progress after the final whistle.

Völler (Germany)
Völler overlaps perfectly with the German setup. Winning 20 matches with two Germans or scoring across 30 matches with a German will complete this naturally while working on Matthäus.

Maldini (Italy)
Maldini requires defensive discipline. Either concede one goal or fewer with an Italian center back, or win 30 matches with four Italians. Using an Italian center back ensures this progresses without changing your playstyle.

Match Mode and Difficulty Settings

Squad Battles is the fastest and safest way to complete all objectives. Select:

· Play vs AI

· Semi-Pro difficulty

· Lowest chemistry opponent available

This minimizes risk, accelerates wins, and allows you to farm power shots comfortably.

In-Game Execution Plan

At kickoff, immediately sub on your Romanian player and score one goal. This satisfies the Romanian scoring objective instantly. From there, focus exclusively on power shots using a Dutch player. To perform a power shot, hold L1 + R1 while shooting.

After the Romanian goal, prioritize:

· Power-shot goals

· Maintaining a clean sheet

· Winning the match

Do not worry if objectives do not update mid-game. Many only register after completion.

Final Results and Timeline

With this setup, you will complete:

· Most Silver Icons between 20–30 matches

· All remaining objectives by approximately 40 matches

As long as you stay disciplined, avoid unnecessary concessions, and consistently use power shots, every Silver Icon will unlock smoothly, allowing you to progress efficiently without wasting matches or objectives. This is the most time-efficient method available in FC 26, and for players looking to accelerate squad building alongside this grind, having access to cheap FC 26 Coins can make it even easier to assemble the required nations quickly. Stick to the nations, not the exact players, and the grind becomes straightforward and manageable.