FIFA 21 Winter Refresh countdown: start time, predictions, leaks
EA SPORTS may well be on the verge of unveiling the next Winter Refresh event, which will see FIFA 21 cards upgraded thanks to real-life performances from players. Here’s everything we know about the 2021 promo event so far.
Ultimate Team this year has been flooded with new and returning promos. These limited-time events are what Ultimate Team club owners look forward to, with new packs being made available with special cards each time. Most recently, we’ve had events likePlayer Days, the live-card“What If” promo, and of course flash-forward eventFuture Stars. Next week, we should be celebrating FUT with FIFA’s yearly Birthday promo. Before that, however, there’s a good chance EA whips out the “refresh” event to bridge the gap. The annual roster overhaul sees FIFA 21 players bumped up (and sometimes down) in ratings based on live performances. Here’s everything we know about the returning event so far.
When does FIFA 21 Winter Refresh start?
If EA SPORTS decides to pull the trigger, we should see the Winter Refresh promo begin onMarch 12. FIFA 21 events have been starting around 6pm GMT (5am AET, 10am PT, 1pm ET) in Ultimate Team, so if the “refresh” promo begins, we will start seeing player cards, updates, and of course pack specials start around that time in-game.
This is not an official timeline as EA has not yet confirmed the event, though it’s likely accurate – give or take a few days – based on FIFA 20’s schedule.
Winter Refresh card design
The card design for a number of new promo cards have been very similar to that of FIFA 20, so we don’t expect the FIFA 21 event to change too much. Examples of this would be the Road to the Final cards, which barely altered. Here’s how they looked last year, with a cool blue color.
What’s included in Winter Refresh?
There’s a number of changes players can expect to see as part of the Winter Refresh promo, based on last year’s event. This includes the following:
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Predictions for Winter Refresh 2021 – Ratings Upgrades
The Winter Refresh promotion celebrates players who performed well in the first half of the season. Last year, EA SPORTS released a proper Winter Refresh promotion team instead of Winter OTW Squads. It helped the cards have a longer shelf-life, which was lacking in the older system.Fortunately, it will be the same this year, too. A minimum of 50 players will receive upgrades between +1 and +3. However, they will only apply to new base items found in packs.
Below, we have included a handful of predictions – based on performances throughout the calendar year of 2020.
FIFA 21 Winter Refresh Leaks
As of June 24, 2025, nothing has been leaked for the event. Should any leaks surface, we’ll be the first to let you know.
