FC's The Grounds is Here – An Open World Built for Clubs and Community

Welcome to The Grounds. 

An open-world football playground built for up to 100 players spread across three authentic districts, each representing a cultural hub of the sport: the United Kingdom, France, and Argentina. 

Set in the streets just outside every Club's Clubhouse and stadium within EA SPORTS FC 27, The Grounds gives players new ways to grow, new opportunities to connect with a growing global community, and of course, spend their best time playing their favorite game with their favorite people.

Let’s get into it.

"The Grounds is a football playground where the streets meet the stadium, and feel greater control in every mode as community-driven innovations deliver more true-to-football gameplay."

More ways to play with your club

Everything in The Grounds is designed to be played with Clubmates and friends, and all of it contributes to a player's Pro progress. Alongside the traditional Clubs experience, The Grounds introduces a full slate of small-sided formats:

• 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3 matches
• Rush
• Kickabouts that blend football with other sports, including dodgeball, basketball, and bocce ball

Each format is a new way to link up with Clubmates, and each earns players Grounds Coins and Archetype XP toward their Pro's progress. Every kickabout was tested with Clubs players to ensure it felt fun and rewarding, and the roster of kickabouts will evolve over time to keep The Grounds feeling fresh and to mirror moments happening in the real world of football.

The update also adds more stadium experiences for entire Clubs, including new 11v11 tournaments and Live Events. As with kickabouts, themed tournaments and Live Events will rotate throughout the year, giving Clubs new ways to compete beyond Seasons and Playoffs. 

A Club's on-pitch reputation will also be reflected back in The Grounds itself: more fans will wear a Club's kits, Clubhouses will improve, stadiums will level up, and Club banners will take over the district when Clubmates team up in 2v2, 3v3, or Rush.

"The Grounds is designed to remain the most social space in FC."

Always something to do

The Grounds is designed to remain the most social space in FC even when the rest of a player's Club is offline. Players can run it back with a fun Rush squad, add a strong 2v2 partner as a friend, or scout potential recruits for their Club — every match visible from the sidelines is live, so players can spectate friends or scout future Clubmates in real time.

That means players no longer need a handful of online Clubmates to enjoy Clubs, and no longer need to wait for a final teammate to log on before getting started. 

There is always someone to team up with, and always a game to join while waiting. Players can also drop in to Stadium Rush or 11v11 through stadium access points scattered throughout The Grounds.

"There is always someone to team up with, and always a game to join while waiting."

Deeper personalization

Archetypes are also expanding with two new systems, Amps and Masteries, giving players more ways to build unique, one-of-a-kind Pros. 

Each Amp adds a signature ability to an Archetype, even abilities not typically associated with that position, such as a left back gaining a Roberto Carlos–style Powershot. Higher-tier Amps are inspired by real players and performances, letting players channel other world-class talent as they build their own Pro, with new Amps arriving regularly to celebrate marquee performances and FC campaigns.

Masteries push players to grow other parts of their game: fully mastering a given Archetype now requires leveling up complementary Archetypes as well. A player chasing an incisive pass for a striker build, for example, will need to spend time developing in midfield first, mirroring the way real footballers round out their games. 

Personalization extends beyond gameplay throughout The Grounds, with new ways for players to express themselves on and off the pitch, from experimenting with streetwear and favorite brands to repping their Club and personal style at once.

"The Grounds is built to be as social or as competitive as each player wants."

A game for every player

The Grounds is built to be as social or as competitive as each player wants. Even players who don't typically play Clubs, FUT, or Career will find something to do such as drop-kick targets, casual kickabouts, exploring the three districts, or simply watching and connecting with others.

Mentors are scattered throughout The Grounds to guide new players along the way, with one stationed in each district, Paulo Dybala, Chloe Kelly, and Kylian Mbappé, each representing football's classic journey from street to stadium.

"This is one of the biggest innovations EA SPORTS FC has ever released."

What’s next?

The Grounds is one of the biggest innovations EA SPORTS FC has ever released — a new social hub for Clubs and a football playground built to help players progress their Pro and meet new people. Full details on The Grounds are available now in the FC 27 Pitch Notes, with more to come on FC 27 in upcoming Deep Dives and on social.

Players who pre-order the EA SPORTS FC™ 27 Ultimate Plus Edition will receive:

• An ICON Pick today in EA SPORTS FC 26
• An international ICON in EA SPORTS FC 27
• A new Hall of FUT Player Pick at launch
• Up to 10,000 FC Points
• An extra active Evo slot

Check out other amazing EA stories on ea.com/news.