Kylian Mbappé takes the lead again on EA’s football simulation. EA SPORTS FC 27 is set to release on September 25, 2026 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, with Real Madrid forward on the covers of the Standard and Ultimate editions. The Ultimate Plus edition will team up Mbappé and Jude Bellingham, also a Madrid player. Pre-orders are already open, while early access to the Ultimate and Ultimate Plus editions begins on September 18, 2026.
The trailer unveiled on July 23, 2026 highlights several new features in this edition, including The Grounds, a new social space dedicated to football, the Football Ultimate Team Gallery, and a fully redesigned Transfer Market in Career mode.
The game's marketing also centers on Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham. The English star graces the cover for the third time on an EA SPORTS FC title and this year shares top billing on the Ultimate Plus edition with the French striker. The two Real Madrid players have thus become the leading faces of the new season.
The game is the new annual edition of EA SPORTS’ football simulation series, packing over 21,000 players, 800 clubs and national teams, 130 stadiums and 35 leagues announced. Several licensed competitions are featured, including the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League, the Premier League, the Bundesliga, LALIGA EA SPORTS and the Arkema Première Ligue.
Among the headline additions is The Grounds, arriving on PS5, Xbox Series, PC and Nintendo Switch 2. This mode extends the Club experience with fast-paced matches, competitions and three neighborhoods inspired by football cultures from around the world. Players can create and advance their avatar, customize its appearance and receive guidance from mentors such as Kylian Mbappé, Chloe Kelly, Paulo Dybala and Alex Hunter.
The Career mode, for its part, benefits from a more dynamic Transfer Market, with player values influenced by clubs’ financial health, their potential, rating, and form. Bidding wars and new negotiation tactics are also on the horizon. In Ultimate Team, the FUT Gallery lets players build up collections, evaluate them, and unlock rewards as the season unfolds.
The French international steps back into the spotlight four years after first representing the franchise. In a statement, he says: "Figuring on the cover of an EA SPORTS FC game is a very special moment for me. It’s an honor to continue my long-standing relationship with the franchise, alongside the players who have left their mark on its history". He continues: "I’m very proud to be on the three editions of EA SPORTS FC 27 and to share the cover of the Ultimate Plus edition with my Real Madrid teammate, Jude Bellingham. Each season brings its share of new challenges and opportunities. I can’t wait to see fans write their own stories in FC 27."
Jude Bellingham adds: "Coming back for a third cover alongside Kylian is a special moment. I can’t wait for fans to dive into FC 27, discover all the game has to offer, and make a ton of new memories".
For his part, Jeff Sharma, vice-president of Franchise Strategy and Marketing at EA SPORTS FC, says: "We’re thrilled to welcome Kylian back into the franchise as the cover star of EA SPORTS FC 27. His performances, both at club and international level, have made him one of the standout talents of his generation. He embodies the ambition, creativity and global presence that define EA SPORTS FC today, and we’re proud to extend our partnership with him." He adds that this edition has been crafted to offer more ways to play. He highlights the new gameplay, the FUT Gallery, the redesigned Transfer Market and The Grounds, envisioned as a social space that extends the Clubs experience.
Across all modes, Electronic Arts is rolling out a slate of gameplay tweaks drawn from player feedback. Corners are now more dynamic, the offensive AI has evolved, and the AI-controlled defense has been rebalanced to give players more control.
Pre-orders finally unlock a bundle of bonuses, depending on the edition you pick. The Ultimate Plus Edition—available for pre-order until August 31—includes, among other things, up to 10,000 FC Points spread over five months, Premium Passes for Seasons 1 to 5, a choice among several Hall of FUT players, and up to seven days of early access. EA Play subscribers will, meanwhile, enjoy a 10-hour trial starting September 18, 2026.
The gameplay reveal lays out EA SPORTS FC 27’s direction more clearly, with more social features, greater customization, and tweaks to the core game modes. The big question now is how these innovations will feel when you actually pick up the controller, with the game due to launch on September 25, 2026.
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