The Ultimate Gauntlet 3 challenge in FC 26 Ultimate Team is back, and at first glance, the goals can look pretty intimidating – but the rewards are definitely worth the effort. To grab all of them, brute force alone will not cut it; you will need a bit of strategy. If your squad depth is lacking, progress can feel painfully slow. This is where having some FC 26 Coins on hand to strengthen your team can make all the difference. In reality, this challenge is EA’s way of testing your patience and squad management skills – so do not panic, let’s break it down step by step.
Breaking Down the Ultimate Gauntlet 3 Objectives
This trial is split into several stages, and you have to complete them in order. Usually, the objectives mix together match requirements, goals, assists, and defensive targets. Here are some of the most common types you are likely to see – and how to deal with them.
1. Match Count Objectives
These are the easiest but also the most time-consuming. Something like “Play 15 matches in any UT mode” is straightforward – it is just a grind. If you want to tick them off quickly, head into Squad Battles, pick the lowest difficulty, score an early goal, then pass the ball to your defenders or goalkeeper and let the game run. It is boring, sure, but it is efficient. Of course, you can also play normally in Rivals or Weekend League and work on other objectives at the same time.
2. Goals and Assists Objectives
This is where the real challenge lies. You will often see requirements like “Score 10 goals with Premier League players” or “Assist 5 times with midfielders.” The smart move is to combine these where possible. For example, build a squad focused on Premier League players and make sure your midfielders are the ones setting up the goals. I like running a 4-3-2-1 formation, with one of the centre forwards dropping deep to collect the ball – this gives midfielders plenty of chances to push forward and provide assists. And do not forget those loan cards gathering dust in your club – someone like Mbappé or Henry can make these objectives a walk in the park.
3. Clean Sheet Objectives
“Keep three clean sheets” – this one is a nightmare for a lot of players. There is nothing worse than being ahead only for the AI to score a wonder goal in the 90th minute. The safest way to get this done is in Squad Battles on Professional or Semi-Pro difficulty. Once you are ahead, ease off the attack and just keep possession at the back. Pass the ball between your centre-backs – the AI usually will not press too hard. It might not be the most sporting approach, but for the sake of the rewards, it is worth it.
Tips for Getting Through the Challenge Efficiently
To make the Ultimate Gauntlet less of a grind, knowing the objectives is not enough – you need to work smart. Planning is key. Before you start, read through all the targets and see which ones can be done at the same time. For example, if one task is to win with Ligue 1 players and another is to score with forwards, you can set up a Ligue 1 attack and work on both in the same match.
Next, pick the right game mode. If you just want to grind through the tasks, Squad Battles is your best friend – it is stable, predictable, and you control the difficulty. If you want to keep up with weekly Rivals rewards, you can do them there, but be aware that the varying skill levels of opponents can slow down progress on certain objectives, like clean sheets. My advice: do the easier goals and assists in Rivals, and save the more awkward ones – like specific pass types or clean sheets – for Squad Battles.
Finally, do not let frustration get to you. If you have a few bad matches in a row and nothing is going right, take a break. UT is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep a relaxed mindset, and treat these challenges as part of the game rather than a chore – you will often find that goals and wins come more naturally when you are not forcing them.
In short, Ultimate Gauntlet 3 is all about patience and strategy rather than how much you spend. Of course, having a stronger squad will make things far easier. Take your time and do not rush. If your team depth really is lacking and you do not fancy spending hours trading or grinding matches to earn coins, picking up some buy fut 26 coins could be a quick way to build a competitive side and make the challenge much more straightforward.
