EA has announced the kickoff of the FC Pro 27 competitive season, starting on 21 September. This season boasts over $2.5 million in total prize money, including a hefty $1 million prize pool for the FC Pro World Championship.
Just a quick note, EA FC 27 will actually be available on 25th September, with early access set for 17th September. Take note of those dates.
Notable Changes to the EA SPORTS FC 27 Pro Format
The season commences with the FC Pro Open Ladder, running from 21 September to 3 October in EA SPORTS FC 27 Ultimate Team. Players at Division 5 or higher in Division Rivals can join directly through the FC Pro tab, without needing external registration. So, pre-ordering the biggest bundle may give you a head start, especially with the bonuses that come with the pre-order and premium editions.
The Ladder will be active 24 hours a day, with the top 1,376 PlayStation 5 players across 10 regions progressing to the Regional Qualifiers. Xbox Series X|S players can compete for in-game rewards but cannot advance to the competitive qualifiers. Take note of this difference.
The Regional Qualifiers are scheduled for 10-11 October, utilizing a Swiss stage followed by a double-elimination bracket conducted online.
Exciting Global Invitations and Format Adjustments
Following the Regional Qualifiers, 52 players will head to London for the FC Pro Open Global Qualifier. This event will bring together 64 players, including 52 regional qualifiers and 12 direct invitations. The invites go to players who placed fifth to 16th in the previous season’s FC Pro Open.
A significant change this season is the absence of a Last Chance Qualifier at the Global Qualifier, making every stage more crucial. The competition kicks off with a five-round Swiss stage before the top 32 move into four double-elimination brackets, ultimately advancing 16 players to the FC Pro Open.
The FC Pro Open will feature 24 players, with the 16 Global Qualifier players joining eight returning invited stars from the last season’s Open and World Championship.
The group stage will adopt a double round-robin format. Winners of each group secure immediate qualification for the World Championship, while second and third place advance to the Finals. Fourth-place players receive invites to next season’s Global Qualifier, while fifth and sixth must restart their journey.
Expanded Paths to the World Championship
Players will have multiple chances to reach the season finale through three FC Pro Open Cups, FC Pro Leagues, and the World Championship Last Chance Qualifier.
The Open Cups will offer Circuit Points, with 28 players eventually qualifying for the World Championship Play-Ins. The Play-Ins will feature 64 players competing across Swiss, double-elimination, and single-elimination stages for the remaining World Championship spots.
The 36-player World Championship will maintain last season’s League Stage format before transitioning to a 24-player knockout bracket. Eight players from the FC Pro Open will join competitors qualifying through Leagues and the Play-Ins.
The tournament is also expanding to more competitors in the Middle East, with Bahrain, Jordan, Libya, and Oman joining the Middle-East region for the first time. This inclusion follows EA’s partial acquisition by Saudi investment funds.
For further details, you can refer to the full rules and information here.