Preview FC 27’s The Grounds game mode

As EA guided me through a deep dive into FC 27’s new online open world mode, The Grounds, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the long-dead PlayStation Home. I still hold a soft spot for the online social hub space, launched back in 2008 for the PS3, but let’s face it, it was nothing more than a nice idea that never came close to fulfilling its ambition. 

So, that begs the question of whether The Grounds will have a better time of it and become the festival of football culture that EA Sports intends, or if it will end up serving as a glorified set of 3D menus that act as gateways to game modes found elsewhere. We likely won’t know for sure until months after FC 27’s release, but for now, let’s take a look at everything The Grounds will offer at launch. 

According to FC 27 line producer Karthik Venkateshan, The Grounds is “perhaps one of our biggest reinventions in recent history.” An online hub designed to immerse players even deeper into football culture both on and off the pitch, it aims to blend familiar game modes with more unexpected street-level action, all while acting as a soccer social space. We’ve seen 2K create something similar with The City and The Neighborhood in previous NBA games, as well as The Island in WWE, but this is the first time EA Sports has attempted such a thing for the world’s most popular sport. 

The Grounds itself comprises three distinct districts, each of which is modeled on a real location: Montclair echoes Parisian streets, Zeiza is a reflection of Buenos Aires, and Parkside reimagines suburban Britain. Each area is an opportunity to “experience football through the lens of the local communities,” says game design director Jean-Francois Guastalla, adding that the most important thing was to make the districts feel “as authentic as possible.” 

I’m British, so that lends me a certain amount of authority when it comes to judging if EA Sports managed to achieve that desired authenticity with Parkside. A huge Alan Shearer mural looms over a five-a-side pitch flanked by a housing estate. The developers have definitely taken more than a little from Ted Lasso’s depiction of friendly football energy here, with cheery onlookers crowded around the pitch, rather than the blare of distant police sirens and recently emptied crisp packets being taken by the wind, as is far more commonplace in reality. 

I’m fully aware that artistic license is allowed, though, with EA having chosen to see these locations through a more idyllic lens. This means a scattering of enjoyable quirks, such as a cafe called Nutmeg (a lovely punny touch) and many other little places of interest ready to be stumbled upon. Each district acts as a mini football museum, as you walk up to interactable icons that give you context about certain players or areas synonymous with the piece of football culture you’re looking at. This may not offer anything truly enlightening to those fully versed in football history, but for those more casual enjoyers looking to bolster their knowledge, it’s a neat addition. 

When taken as a whole, the map echoes the layout of a Disneyland theme park, with different attraction-like game modes to be found in each district. Central to it all is the Terrace, a zone where you and 99 other players spawn for a session. From there, you can enter your own customized clubhouse to meet up with your squadmates, or venture out onto the streets to get stuck into some football action. There’s nice variation in The Grounds’ architecture, which smartly reflects the style of game mode housed within each building. For example, an old-school red-brick football ground is where you’ll head for classic 11v11, whereas a modern, metallic building is where the futuristic Rush can be found. 

Aside from these more established modes, there are many other opportunities to take part in. At launch, four distinct, small-sided world-based experiences will be available: 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, and standard 5v5 Rush. Want something a little more out of the ordinary? You can engage with any of the “Kickabouts” scattered around the map, casual, party-game-esque, football-adjacent experiences. Four of these will also be included at release, with new ones promised throughout the year. Here’s what’s in the first batch: 

Moving back onto the streets, Drop Kick Targets are littered throughout the world as FC breaks out of the confines of the pitch — positioned in council flat windows, under wooden park fences, or just floating in the air, they all act as potential scoring opportunities as you wander around and try to collect them all. It all looks fun, but I have my concerns over just how long this will keep me entertained, with the fun at risk of becoming incredibly fleeting once you’ve played each Kickabout once and drop-kicked a ball through a glowing circle for the tenth time. 

What looks more engaging is the slightly more narrative-led moments on offer. You’ll also bump into world-famous stars who act as mentors and help guide you through what The Grounds has to offer. These include Kylian Mbappe, who will regale you with tales of playing on the streets of Paris, and invite you to take on challenges that reflect how he acquired his now world-class skills. Paulo Dybala, Chloe Kelly, and former FIFA The Journey legend, Alex Hunter, round out the roster. They look to be smart ways of introducing you to how to best progress through The Grounds and get your character started on the road to glory. 

It all builds the fantasy of creating your footballer, exploring the culture, and playing football, all of which will reward you with new skills and cosmetics to show off while doing so. You’ll gain permanent stat progression through mastering archetypes and completing challenges, which you can respec for the generous fee of free. If you fancy a more significant short-term boost to your player’s ability, you can get involved with Amps, a new consumable introduced in The Grounds, which game design director Jean-Francois Guastalla says, “gives you more control over how your character performs on the pitch.” 

You’re able to equip up to three Amps at a time, with both standard and signature variants available to be earned — the latter based on real-world players and their traits. These grant temporary boosts to attributes, as well as access to bonus perks and playstyles. For example, the Mbappe Amp could give you a +4 shooting and strength increase as well as the Acrobatic playstyle and 1v1 finishing perk for the duration of five matches. Primarily earned through completing objectives, live events, campaigns, and season progression, Amps are, of course, also able to be purchased from the store, as is the EA FC way. 

The store is also where you’ll find a lot of cosmetic items ready to be modeled by your character. The ranges of clothing offered will be familiar to anyone who has got stuck into Rush over the past couple of years, with a combination of casual and sportswear available. There are District Collections inspired by football communities around the world, matchday streetwear including replica team shirts, and branded apparel from the likes of Nike, Adidas, Puma and New Balance. 

The world of The Grounds will change, too, with 10 seasons scheduled throughout the year, which EA Sports promises will refresh the open world. In October, European Nights will focus on the Champions League, whereas the Screaming Grounds will incorporate a Halloween theme. November brings Thunder Struck, which is based on Black Friday (who knows what that will look like). Frozen Grounds in December will bring snow, and January will focus on players who make it into 2026’s Team of the Year. 

I did get a sneak peek of what the European Nights campaign will look like, which reskins all of the bunting, balloons, and flags around The Grounds with UEFA Champions League branding. Objectives and the rewards that come from completing them will also be themed. It’s not the most exciting transformation, I’ll admit, but at least it should keep things feeling a bit fresh as the months tick on. 

There’s certainly enough going on in The Grounds to make it feel more than a minimal experiment, with multiple modes, new progression systems, and narrative-led Mentor moments all thrown into the mix. But it’s hard not to be a little skeptical about its staying power. Arguably, no other EA Sports football game addition of note has had staying power since Ultimate Team was introduced all the way back in FIFA 09. The likes of Volta came and went, with Rush still clinging on to relevancy. Granted, FUT is still incredibly popular, despite consistent complaints over its monetization, but with the likes of Career Mode and Clubs often feeling like an afterthought when it comes round to each yearly release, a breath of fresh air such as The Grounds could be what’s needed. 

Only time will tell if it’s successful enough to be made into a feature that will return as an annual staple in the FC series, or if it will fall by the wayside, like so many modes before it, and other social spaces like Sony’s PlayStation Home.