FC 27 The Grounds Explained: Districts, Modes and Mentors
November 9, 2026 · 7 min read
On this page
- The Grounds at a glance
- The map: Terrace, Clubhouse and the three districts
- The mentors
- Ways to play
- Small-sided matches
- Clubs
- Stadium Drop In
- Kickabouts: every mini-game
- Building your Pro
- Archetypes
- Masteries
- Amps
- Known issues and changes since launch
- Tips for The Grounds
- Frequently asked questions
- What is The Grounds in FC 27?
- Is The Grounds on PS4 or Nintendo Switch?
- Is Clubs still in FC 27?
- How do you reset your Archetype in FC 27?
- What are Amps in FC 27?
- Who are the mentors in The Grounds?
The Grounds is the new social hub in FC 27. It's a shared football world for up to 100 players where you walk around with your Pro, join small-sided matches and party games, and enter Clubs, Rush and 11v11 matches from one place. This guide explains the districts, every way to play and how your Pro progresses, based on EA's The Grounds Deep Dive and the updates since launch.
Last checked: November 9, 2026.
The Grounds at a glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Platforms | PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2 only |
| Players per world | Up to 100 |
| Areas | The Terrace hub, the Clubhouse, three districts and two stadium entrances |
| Clubs | Clubs now lives inside The Grounds, with Leagues and Playoffs |
| Progression | AXP for your Archetypes, plus Grounds Coins |
| Rewards track | A free and Premium Season Pass |
The Grounds, including Clubs, isn't available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One or the original Nintendo Switch. If you own the PS4 or Xbox One version, EA's Dual Entitlement lets you play the PS5 or Xbox Series X|S version at no extra cost on the newer console. Our FC 27 editions guide covers how the upgrade works. On PC, check the FC 27 PC requirements.
The map: Terrace, Clubhouse and the three districts
Every session starts on The Terrace, the central area that connects everything. From here you can walk to the Clubhouse, read information kiosks and visit The Grounds Store.
- The Clubhouse is where Clubs lives. Its entrance and stadium change to match your club's customization.
- Montclair is based on French urban football, with cage pitches in a city setting.
- Zeiza is inspired by Argentina's potrero street football, mixing European and Latin American architecture.
- Parkside reflects working-class football culture in the UK.
- The 11v11 Stadium hosts 11v11 Drop-in matches.
- The Rush Stadium hosts drop-in Rush, including Ranked Rush and Rush Tournaments.
The mentors
Four football mentors guide you through different parts of the mode:
| Mentor | Focus |
|---|---|
| Alex Hunter | Player improvement challenges. He returns from FIFA's The Journey story mode. |
| Kylian Mbappé | Small-sided play, agility and creativity |
| Chloe Kelly | Kickabouts and grassroots-style activities |
| Paulo Dybala | Clubs and stadium events built around teamwork |
Ways to play
Small-sided matches
Small-sided games are 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 and an in-world version of Rush, played on pitches around the districts. Matches last three minutes.
- 1v1: each side has one outfield player and a CPU goalkeeper.
- 2v2 and 3v3: smaller goals and no goalkeepers.
- Settings: shooting assistance is Manual and passing is Fully Assisted. Everything else matches regular 11v11 gameplay.
- Fouls: the fouled player must shoot from the spot of the foul, or from the penalty spot if it happened in the box. Passing and dribbling are disabled on these free kicks.
Clubs
Leagues and Playoffs return inside the Clubhouse. The big addition is Club Tournaments, 11v11 Live Events with their own rounds, rules and rewards. They can use House Rules such as Mystery Ball, King of the Hill, No Rules, Headers and Volleys, Survival and Long Range.
Stadium Drop In
Stadium Drop In takes you out of the open world into normal matchmaking for Stadium Rush, Rush Live Tournaments and 11v11 Drop In. You're matched against players of a similar skill level.
Kickabouts: every mini-game
Kickabouts mix football with other sports and party-game rules.
| Kickabout | Players | How you win |
|---|---|---|
| Bocce Ball | 3, free-for-all | Land balls in targets that shrink over three one-minute rounds; most points wins |
| Team Keepaway | 3v3 | Keep possession for points; a 1,000-point lead wins instantly |
| The Big Race | 4, free-for-all | Dribble through obstacle tracks over three races; 9, 6, 3 and 1 points by finishing place |
| Attacking Scenarios | 2v2 | Score goals that meet the round's random rule across four one-minute rounds |
| Bucket Ball | 2v2 | Lob, head or spike the ball through the other team's hoop in three minutes |
| Balloon Ball | 4, free-for-all | Pop rivals' three balloons with shots; last player standing wins each round |
| Goal Control | 1v1 | Score to take control of eight goals and earn points each second you hold them |
You can also hunt Drop Kick Targets around the world. Spawn a ball, time your kick and hit circles, rings and pentagons, often for weekly Objectives.
Building your Pro
Archetypes
All Archetypes are unlocked from the start in FC 27. Resetting a build no longer costs coins or a consumable, and you can adjust single attributes instead of resetting everything. You can change your build from the in-world menu, the Clubhouse, or Clubs and Rush lobbies.
On October 22, EA reset Attribute Points for every Archetype after fixing incorrect upgrade costs, and removed Attacking Positioning as a requirement for Archetype Specializations. Your level and total points didn't change, but you have to spend them again. Players who had already created a Pro got 5,000 Club Coins and a 1.75x AXP multiplier for six matches.
Masteries
Leveling an Archetype unlocks permanent boosts that apply to every build you use. For example, reaching Level 10 with Finisher gives +1 Finishing and +1 Composure to all of your Archetypes.
| Archetype | Mastery attributes |
|---|---|
| Shot Stopper | GK Positioning, GK Reflexes |
| Sweeper Keeper | GK Handling, GK Diving |
| Progressor | Long Passing, Standing Tackle |
| Boss | Aggression, Strength |
| Marauder | Sliding Tackle, Sprint Speed |
| Disruptor | Stamina, Interceptions |
| Recycler | Defensive Awareness, Short Passing |
| Maestro | Reactions, Ball Control |
| Creator | Free Kick Accuracy, Vision |
| Spark | Crossing, Dribbling |
| Magician | Curve, Acceleration |
| Finisher | Composure, Finishing |
| Target | Balance, Jumping |
Amps
Amps are temporary boosts you equip to your active Archetype for a set number of matches. Tiers 1 and 2 are Standard Amps with attribute boosts. Tiers 3 and 4 are Signature Amps based on famous players, adding PlayStyles and perks. You can equip two Standard Amps and one Signature Amp at once. They work in stadium matches and in-world Rush. EA said that at launch, Amps don't give PlayStyle+.
Known issues and changes since launch
- Kickabouts can be hard to start. Small-sided matches are so popular that some Kickabouts struggle to fill. EA said it's working on ways to fix matchmaking.
- Long-term fatigue is back in Clubs 11v11. EA reintroduced it in Title Update 1.0.1 after feedback that infinite stamina favored bigger clubs.
- Title Update 1.1 fixed a batch of Grounds and Clubs bugs, including crashes and Clubs tournament bracket errors.
Tips for The Grounds
- Play small-sided first. It's the busiest part of the mode, so it's where you'll find games fastest.
- Experiment with builds freely. Resets are free, so try other Archetypes to unlock Masteries for your main one.
- Save Signature Amps for big matches. Each Amp lasts a set number of games, and EA says limited-time experiences such as Club Tournaments and Playoffs give bigger rewards.
- Join a Club early. Club Objectives track combined progress, so you contribute even when you play alone.
- Check Live Events. Seasonal events often start in the districts and lead to bigger 11v11 tournaments.
Frequently asked questions
What is The Grounds in FC 27?
The Grounds is FC 27's social open-world hub for up to 100 players. You explore three districts with your Pro, play small-sided matches and Kickabouts, and enter Clubs, Rush and 11v11 matches from inside the world.
Is The Grounds on PS4 or Nintendo Switch?
No. The Grounds and Clubs are only on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2. PS4, Xbox One and original Switch players don't get the mode.
Is Clubs still in FC 27?
Yes. Clubs now lives inside The Grounds, through the Clubhouse, with Leagues and Playoffs plus new Club Tournaments. That means Clubs is only available on the platforms that have The Grounds.
How do you reset your Archetype in FC 27?
Resets are free in FC 27, and you can change single attributes from the in-world menu, the Clubhouse or a Clubs or Rush lobby. EA also reset everyone's Attribute Points on October 22, 2026, so check your builds if you haven't played since.
What are Amps in FC 27?
Amps are temporary boosts for your Pro's Archetype that last a set number of matches. You can equip two Standard Amps and one Signature Amp at a time. At launch, they don't give PlayStyle+.
Who are the mentors in The Grounds?
The mentors are Alex Hunter, Kylian Mbappé, Chloe Kelly and Paulo Dybala. Each one guides a different part of the mode, from player training to Clubs.
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