EA FC 27 brand-new open-world mode, The Grounds, brings small-sided football, character progression, social interaction, and free exploration into one shared space. This mode presents a direction that feels different from traditional 11v11 matches.
However, FUT 27 Beta also revealed a few issues, particularly with navigation, certain aspects of the controls, and some AI behavior that still need further refinement.
So, what can you actually do in The Grounds? How do you create your character? Here’s a look at how this new open-world mode in FC 27 currently performs.
Getting Started
When you first enter FC 27 The Grounds, you need to create your own Avatar. You can choose a male or female character and adjust their appearance. Alex Hunter will initially guide you through the area, share some of his career experiences, and ask you to find a familiar friend.
This process includes a tutorial where you encounter Mbappé and learn the basics of FUT 27 The Grounds through a 2v2 Street Football match.
The mini-game feels very close to Volta from previous FIFA titles. The matches are fast-paced and clearly lean toward an arcade-style experience. There is no offside rule, the playing area is relatively small, and the focus is more on quick attacks and individual skill.
After completing the tutorial, you can receive some basic rewards, including 1,000 FC coins, a Reaction Boost, and a Tier 2 AMP that improves Dribbling and Sprint Speed.
Character Customization
After completing the introductory tutorial in FC 27 The Grounds, you need to choose your Archetype. At the moment, three main directions are available: Defender, Midfielder, and Attacker. You can choose one based on your preferred style of play.
Once you select your Archetype, you can further customize your Pro. In terms of appearance, you can set separate Streetwear and Match Day outfits, as well as adjust your footwear, equipment, Emotes, Running Style, Match Intro, and more. FIFA 27 even offers a face-scanning feature for creating an Avatar, allowing the character to look more like you.
After creating your character, you receive 100 points, which can be used to develop your attributes and abilities. More importantly, Pro you develop in FUT 27 The Grounds will also be used in Clubs later on.
Gameplay Overview
When you officially enter EA FC 27 The Grounds, the first area you see is The Plaza, which serves as the central Hub of the open world. Here, you can see other players’ Pros and travel to different areas. Alex Hunter introduces the overall layout and explains that you can explore different districts.
The map also contains football murals, statues, info points, and various shooting targets. You can complete objectives while exploring. The Grounds also include an entrance to Football Ultimate Team, allowing you to enter FUT, play official matches, and earn FC 27 coins.
The main activities in The Grounds revolve around Street Kickabouts, Street Football Rush, and Stadium Live Events. Different areas offer different types of FUT 27 gameplay, so you can choose activities based on your interests.
You can participate in 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, and 4v4 matches, as well as activities such as 4v4 Rush, Ranked Rush, and Classic Tournament. The Grounds even features a proper stadium, where you can take part in more formal Rush activities and play Ranked Rush with your Club members.
Mini-Game Experience
In addition to regular Rush matches and small-sided football, The Grounds introduces several special-rule FIFA 27 mini-games, including Bucket Ball, Balloon Ball, and Attack Scenario.
Bucket Ball requires you to kick the ball into designated target areas, while Balloon Ball uses a completely different format. These modes are not simply scaled-down versions of traditional FUT 27 11v11 matches. Their playing areas are smaller, and they rely more heavily on individual skill. Players who enjoy Volta or Rush should find these activities relatively easy to adapt to.
Taking 1v1 Mini-Game as an example, the matches are extremely fast-paced, and fouls are part of the experience. After a foul, the game enters a free kick sequence, and you can also call the goalkeeper during matches.
IGGM.com found that goalkeeper in FC 27 Beta still has some noticeable bugs. For example, AI keepers can make strange clearances and even score own goals. Jockey controls also feel different from those in regular matches, especially when your character has not invested many points into the relevant attributes.
One interesting feature is that other players can watch from the sidelines during FUT 27 Mini-Game matches, and you can interact with them using Emotes. This makes a 1v1 feel like more than just a simple match; it becomes a live showdown taking place inside The Grounds.
After completing a mini-game, you can earn XP and additional points, as well as progress toward Season Pass. Some activities also provide rewards such as AMPs. FIFA 27 also displays the current number of players waiting in the queue.
Shop
The Grounds also includes a shop, although the selection is currently limited during FC 27 Beta. Shops in different areas appear to offer largely the same items, mainly basic clothing, accessories, emotes, and consumables.
These items are primarily intended for character customization and gameplay experiences. You can manage your streetwear and match day outfits in Closet, allowing your Pro to have different looks while exploring the open world and playing matches.
IGGM.com haven’t seen much branded content like Nike or Puma in The Grounds yet; it remains to be seen if more licensed merchandise will be added to the shop after the official launch of FUT 27.
The Grounds Shop also has an economy system that is separate from Football Ultimate Team. Clothing, accessories, and consumables here are exchanged with Grounds Coins, mainly serving character customization and gameplay within The Grounds.
If you want to collect players faster and build your own team in Ultimate Team, you can buy FC 27 Coins from IGGM.com after the official launch. We provide reliable service and competitive prices to help you build your squad more efficiently.
Navigation Issues
The biggest problem with The Grounds is navigation. You can open World Map to view different areas, but when actually moving around, the screen lacks a sufficiently clear Mini-Map.
In many situations, you know you want to visit Clubhouse or a particular Mini-Game, but you are not sure which direction to take. You often have to pause the game, open the map, and check your location repeatedly. During its experience, IGGM.com also noticed that some location markers were not accurate enough. Certain activities may already be nearby, but their locations are not displayed promptly.
If FIFA 27 adds a clearer Mini-Map after its official release and makes Waypoints more visible directly on the gameplay screen, moving around the world should become much more comfortable.
Based on this FC 27 Beta experience, The Grounds adds a freer space focused more on social and casual gameplay. However, it has not yet completely escaped the roughness of Beta stage. If EA can further optimize the mode for the full release, The Grounds could become a worthwhile long-term activity in FIFA 27, rather than simply a new area that players briefly explore after entering the game.