Sawa 91: Japan's hidden gem or just hype?

94 short passing. 92 finishing. 93 composure. 92 stamina. All packed into a 165cm Icon midfielder at 835K. On paper, Homare Sawa looks like the complete box-to-box player FC 26 needs. But her 69 strength and controlled AcceleRATE tell a different story—one that makes this card far more interesting than just another generic Icon midfielder.

In-game feel & playstyle

Homare Sawa feels unlike any midfielder in this price bracket. Her 88 agility and 82 balance combine with that tiny 165cm body type to create a player who glides through tight spaces with genuine elegance. The controlled AcceleRATE means she's not winning sprint races against Camavinga or Valverde, but her 91 reactions and 92 ball control make her exceptional at receiving under pressure and turning defenders. What stands out most is her football IQ—her 91 positioning means she's always available for the pass, always finding pockets of space in a way that feels almost telepathic. The 4-star skills and 4-star weak foot give her enough versatility to operate in multiple midfield roles, though you'll notice the lack of 5-star skills when trying to chain skill moves against aggressive press. Her shooting is genuinely elite for a CM—92 finishing and 89 long shots mean she converts chances at a rate you'd expect from a secondary striker, not a central midfielder. The main concern is physicality. That 69 strength is very noticeable when elite defenders body her off the ball. She won't win 50-50s against Vieira, Gullit, or even standard meta CDMs like Tchouaméni.

Strengths

• Elite passing range (94 short, 93 long, 91 vision) - She threads passes through the smallest gaps and rarely misplaces simple balls. Her vision stat means she sees passes before you do, making her perfect for possession-heavy tactics in 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formations.
• Clinical finishing for a CM (92 finishing, 89 long shots) - Genuinely one of the best shooting CMs in the game. She finishes one-on-ones like a striker and her long shot power (79 shot power) is enough to score from outside the box when given space.
• Outstanding stamina and work rate (92 stamina) - Runs for 90 minutes without fatigue. Perfect for box-to-box roles where you need constant movement in attack and defense. She'll still be sprinting in extra time when everyone else is gassed.
• Exceptional composure under pressure (93 composure) - Never panics when closed down. Makes the right decision even in high-pressure Weekend League moments. This stat is criminally underrated—it's the difference between bottling and clutching key games.
• Small body type with elite agility (88 agility, 165cm) - Weaves through congested midfields with ease. Her low center of gravity makes her very difficult to dispossess when shielding the ball in tight areas.
• Versatile positioning (CM/CAM) - Can play as a deep-lying playmaker, box-to-box CM, or even CAM in a 4-2-3-1. Her defensive stats (83 interceptions, 86 standing tackle) are good enough to contribute defensively without being a liability.
• Icon links solve chemistry issues - Being an Icon means she green-links to everyone, making it easy to build hybrid squads around Japanese players, Serie A teams, or random meta cards without chemistry headaches.
• 87 heading accuracy is surprisingly good - Despite being 165cm, she wins headers in midfield surprisingly often due to her 78 jumping and positioning. Obviously not a target for corners, but she can compete aerially better than you'd expect.

Weaknesses

• Pathetic strength (69) gets bullied by meta midfielders - Gullit, Vieira, Zidane, even standard meta CMs like Tchouaméni will push her off the ball easily. In physical midfield battles, she's at a serious disadvantage, especially against 4-2-3-1 wide formations that play aggressive press.
• Controlled AcceleRATE limits pace effectiveness - She's not slow (88 acceleration, 81 sprint speed), but controlled AcceleRATE means she won't burst past defenders like explosive players. You feel the difference when trying to break on counters against recovery pace defenders.
• 835K price tag is steep for a CM without elite meta traits - You're paying Icon tax heavily here. For 835K, you could get Bellingham (better physicality), Seedorf (better all-around), or save coins and get Barella TOTW who offers 80% of Sawa's performance for a fraction of the price.
• 68 sliding tackle is a liability in aggressive tactics - If you rely on sliding tackles to recover possession, she's not your player. Her defensive contributions come from positioning and interceptions, not aggressive challenges. She'll give away fouls and miss tackles regularly.
• 4-star skills limit creative dribbling options - You can't spam elasticos or other 5-star moves to beat press. Against elite Division 1 and 2 players who know how to defend, that missing star becomes very noticeable.
• Small player model gets outmuscled in transition - When turning defense to attack, she gets bodied easily by taller midfielders who press aggressively. You need to shield the ball constantly or pass quickly before contact.

Best position, chemistry style & squads

Position: Best as a box-to-box CM in a 4-3-3 (2) or 4-1-2-1-2 (2) where she has defensive support and freedom to roam. She can play CAM in a 4-2-3-1, but her defensive stats (83 defending face stat) are too good to waste in a pure attacking role. Pair her with a physical CDM like Vieira, Makelele, or even budget options like Tchouaméni who can cover for her lack of strength.

Chemistry Style: Engine is the best choice. It boosts her pace (important for controlled AcceleRATE players), dribbling, and passing to genuinely elite levels. The pace boost pushes her acceleration to 93 and sprint speed to 86, making her much more viable in transition. Shadow is tempting for defensive boosts, but her strength will still be poor, so you're better off maximizing her technical strengths. Hawk is an option if you want to boost her shooting even further and add some physicality, but you lose the dribbling smoothness that makes her special.

Squad Fits: Icon links make squad building easy. She's perfect for hybrid squads combining Serie A (links to any Italian players), Japanese national team builds (obviously), or as a bridge between leagues. Pair her with someone like Nakamura Icon for a full Japanese midfield duo, or use her to link meta players from different leagues without chemistry issues. Best in possession-heavy tactics (65+ passing in tactics) rather than direct, counter-attacking styles.

Community opinion & what FUT players are saying

The FUT community is split on Homare Sawa. Elite Division players praise her technical excellence and unique feel, with many comparing her passing ability to Modric or Pirlo-level playmakers. Her finishing from midfield gets consistent praise—players regularly mention scoring late winners with her long shots or perfectly-timed runs into the box. However, the criticism centers on value and physicality. Many Weekend League grinders argue that 835K is simply too much for a midfielder who gets bullied by Vieira and other meta enforcers. There's a vocal group who swear by her in possession-based tactics, claiming she controls games better than more expensive Icons like Gullit or Zidane in specific roles. The main complaint is that you need to build your tactics around her rather than just slot her into any midfield, which limits flexibility. Japanese team builders obviously love her for the links and cultural significance, but competitive players question whether she's worth the coins over cheaper alternatives like Barella, De Bruyne, or even lower-tier Icons with better physical presence.

Final verdict & ratings

Homare Sawa is a technical masterclass wrapped in a physically-challenged body at an Icon-taxed price.

Who should buy:

• Players who prioritize passing, vision, and football IQ over raw physicality in midfield
• Possession-focused tacticians who play 60%+ possession styles and need a playmaker who never gives the ball away
• Japanese team builders or Icon collectors who value unique cards over pure meta effectiveness
• Midfield shooters who want a CM that converts chances like a secondary striker

Who should skip:

• Counter-attacking players who need pace and strength to win transition battles
• Budget-conscious players—835K buys you Bellingham + Barella with coins left over
• Players who rely on aggressive press tactics and need physical presence in midfield duels
• Anyone expecting a complete, do-it-all midfielder like Gullit or Vieira—she's specialist, not generalist

Our ratings:

• Meta rating: 13.5/20 - Good but not elite. Her lack of strength and controlled AcceleRATE hold her back from being a top-tier competitive option. She works in specific systems but isn't universally effective like Gullit or Vieira.
• Fun rating: 17.0/20 - Genuinely enjoyable to play with. Her passing range and clinical finishing make her satisfying to use, especially for players who appreciate technical football over pace abuse.
• Value for coins: 11.0/20 - Overpriced. You're paying 835K for a card that performs like a 400-500K midfielder with Icon links. The Icon tax is brutal here—similar performance available much cheaper.

Conclusion