If you’re jumping into EA FC 27 (available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and the brand-new Nintendo Switch 2), you’re going to spend a lot of time in The Grounds.
Think of The Grounds as a massive, vibrant social playground where street football culture crashes headfirst into stadium glory.
It’s the new beating heart of the Clubs experience—a place to meet up, show off your streetwear, recruit new teammates, and grind across everything from chaotic 2v2 street matches to massive 11v11 stadium tournaments.
Instead of a traditional, dry walkthrough, we’re going to break this guide down into actionable advice.
Here are the essential, numbered learning tips you need to master The Grounds, build your ultimate Club, and become a true football Icon.
Table of Contents
EA FC 27 The Grounds
1. Kick Things Off in Mbappé’s Boots
When you boot up FC 27 for the very first time, you aren’t just thrown into a menu; you step directly into the boots of cover athlete Kylian Mbappé.
You’ll play through an 11v11 warm-up for a blockbuster UEFA Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Manchester City.
Don’t skip this! It acts as your gateway into the game. Playing through this warm-up is what officially introduces you to The Grounds and your very first mentor, Alex Hunter.
On subsequent log-ins, you can bypass this and jump straight into The Grounds from the main menu.
2. Get Comfortable with the “Pro” Camera and Emotes
Moving around The Grounds isn’t like navigating a traditional static menu. Once you drop into the hub, you have full, free-roaming control of your player.
The movement and sprinting controls are exactly the same as they are during an actual match, and the camera is locked right behind your player (very similar to the in-game “Pro” camera setting).
Take a few minutes to just run around, get a feel for the space, and check out the Emote wheel. It’s a fantastic way to communicate, celebrate, or playfully trash-talk the other footballers hanging out in the hub.
3. Lean on Your Mentors (Especially Hunter and Mbappé)
If you remember Alex Hunter from “The Journey” nearly a decade ago, you’ll be thrilled to see him back. After your intro kickabout, you’ll automatically bump into him.
Hunter acts as your guide for general progression, offering challenges inspired by his own rise from academy prospect to champion.
Hunter’s first task for you? Go find Kylian Mbappé. Walk (or sprint) over to Mbappé and interact with him to trigger your first 2v2 Street Football tutorial match with the cover athlete as your teammate.
Mbappé is your go-to mentor for small-sided competitions, focusing his objectives on 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3 matches.
4. Treat Archetypes Like a Buffet, Not a Life Sentence
One of the best quality-of-life changes in FC 27 is how Archetypes are handled. When you first enter The Grounds, you’ll pick a position and an Archetype to start leveling up via Archetype XP.
But here’s the best part: you are never locked in. All Archetypes are unlocked by default. You can swap your Archetype at any time—whether you’re chilling in the Clubhouse or waiting in a lobby queue—completely for free.
It won’t cost you Coins, and it won’t reset your consumables. Experiment wildly to find your perfect PlayStyle! Just keep in mind that making it a long-term goal to “Master” an Archetype will reward you with permanent attribute boosts that carry over to all your other builds.
5. Hunt Down Kelly and Dybala for Specialized Training
Mbappé and Hunter are just the beginning. The Grounds features two other incredible mentors who specialize in very different areas of the game:
- Chloe Kelly: Head over to the Parkside district to find Kelly. Her mentorship path is entirely dedicated to “Kickabouts”—fast-paced, unique street-football activities that test your individual flair and creativity.
- Paulo Dybala: You’ll find Dybala hanging out right at the Clubhouse. His objectives are all about teamwork, Club identity, loyalty, and stadium events.
6. Make the Clubhouse Your Home Base
Clubs are now accessed directly through The Grounds, making the hub your new starting line for team play. Look for the house iconography on your map to find the Clubhouse (where you’ll also meet Paulo Dybala).
From here, you can create your own Club, join an existing one, or accept invites from friends. The Clubhouse is your gateway to Leagues, Playoffs, and brand-new Tournaments featuring rotating rulesets and rewards.
If you’re looking for specific modes, head to Zeiza for Stadium Rush, or over to Parkside to queue up for the classic 11v11 Stadium Drop-Ins.
7. “Stack” Your Objectives to Grind Smarter
While your Mentors will guide you through the core experience, The Grounds is packed with Daily, Weekly, Seasonal, and limited-time event objectives.
These are your ticket to earning Archetype XP, Season Pass XP, consumables, and fresh streetwear/matchday cosmetic fits.
8. Remember: It’s a Social Playground (Bring the Squad!)
It’s easy to get lost in the grind of leveling up your Amps and Masteries, but don’t forget what The Grounds was built for. This is a social hub first and foremost.
Whether you are sweating it out in a 2v2 street match, messing around in a Kickabout, or pushing for promotion in Clubs Leagues, everything is simply better with friends.
Use the hub to recruit new members, invite your real-life friends to your Club, and experience the new social features together.
Final Whistle
The Grounds completely reimagines how we interact with EA SPORTS FC outside of the traditional Ultimate Team or Career Mode menus.
By following your mentors, experimenting with your player builds, and stacking your objectives, you’ll be dominating the streets and the stadiums in no time. Lace up your boots, head to the Clubhouse, and we’ll see you on the pitch!
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