FC 27 Ultimate Team Starter Guide

Starting a new Ultimate Team club in EA SPORTS FC 27 is about more than putting together your first squad. FC 27 introduces several new systems designed to give players more ways to build and progress their clubs, including the new FUT Gallery, streamlined Squad Building Challenges (SBCs), Single Player Live Events and a more flexible rewards structure.

For new players, the early stages are mainly about understanding how these systems work and making the most of the rewards available to you. From earning your first FUT Coins and building a starter squad to unlocking the Transfer Market and deciding when to move into competitive modes, this guide covers the key steps for starting your FC 27 Ultimate Team journey.

Quick facts:

• FUT Gallery adds Sets, Gallery Levels and rewards

• Streamlined SBCs make certain Challenges faster to complete

• Single Player Live Events add new AI-based challenges

• More immediate rewards include Match Coins and tradeable packs

• Graduated Access affects Transfer Market and Champions access

How to start building your FC 27 Ultimate Team club

Start by checking the Players, Packs and other Items already available in your Club before deciding where to spend your resources. FC 27's progression system is built around gradually improving your Club through matches, rewards, SBCs, Objectives, Evolutions and the Transfer Market.

In Ultimate Team, your Club is the collection of all the Items you own, including Player Items, Packs, consumables and other rewards. Player Items are the cards that represent the Players you can use in your squad, while Packs contain a selection of Items that you can add to your Club. Use the Players you already have to build your starter squad, then replace weaker positions as you earn better Items through matches and rewards.

Your Player Items can also have a purpose beyond your squad. Most eligible Player Items can contribute to the new FUT Gallery, allowing you to make progress towards Gallery Sets and Gallery Level rewards as you build your Club.

How to earn FUT Coins in FC 27

FUT Coins are the main currency used to buy eligible Items on the Transfer Market, making them an important resource when building and upgrading your Club.

The main way to earn FUT Coins is by playing Ultimate Team matches. In FC 27, EA has increased post-match Coin rewards in modes including Division Rivals, Champions and Squad Battles, giving matches a more direct role in your Club's progression.

You can also earn Coins by selling tradeable Items on the Transfer Market. EA recommends acquiring and selling Items at fair Transfer Market prices, while buying Coins from third parties or transferring Coins between accounts is against the rules.

Ways to earn FUT Coins:

• Play Ultimate Team matches: earn Coins after eligible matches, with rewards varying by mode and performance

• Sell tradeable Items: list unwanted tradeable Player Items and other eligible Items on the Transfer Market

• Complete Ultimate Team content: certain rewards from modes and activities can include Coins, while Objectives, SBCs and other content can provide Items that may help you build your Club or sell tradeable rewards

For a new Club, focus on playing matches and building your squad with the Items you already own before spending Coins on upgrades. Save your Coins for positions where a new Player can make a noticeable difference.

How rewards work in FC 27 Ultimate Team

FC 27 changes how rewards are distributed across Ultimate Team. EA says a portion of rewards that were previously concentrated in weekly mode rewards and Live Event Objectives will move into End of Match Rewards, including Match Coins and Seasonal Points in selected modes. This means more progression can come directly from playing matches while you continue working toward weekly rewards.

EA is also increasing the share of rewards delivered through direct FUT Coins and tradeable packs. This gives players more flexibility in how they develop their clubs, whether they prefer playing matches, completing SBCs or using the Transfer Market.

For a new club, this creates a straightforward progression loop:

Play matches → Earn immediate rewards → Improve your squad → Complete more content → Progress toward weekly rewards → Keep developing your club

The exact rewards available can vary depending on the mode and current content, so check the relevant in-game reward information before deciding where to spend your time.

How to build your first FC 27 starter squad

Your first squad in FC 27 is simply a starting point. You can use the Players you already have in your Club and gradually replace weaker positions as you earn new Player Items from matches, rewards, Packs, Objectives, and other Ultimate Team content. You may also receive Loan Player Items, which let you use certain Players in your squad for a limited number of matches before they expire.

You can also improve some of the Players you already own through Evolutions. FC 27 introduces branching Pathways and Evolution Chain Previews, allowing you to see how a Player can develop through different Evolution options before choosing an upgrade.

Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) provide another way to turn unwanted or eligible Player Items from your Club into rewards. For certain SBCs, FC 27 introduces a simplified system where you select eligible Items to reach a required Item Score instead of building a full squad around traditional requirements.

Together, these options give you different ways to improve your squad as your Club develops.

Booster tips:

1. Save your FUT Coins. Use the Players and Loan Items already in your Club before spending Coins on upgrades.

2. Check Evolutions first. Look at the available Pathways before choosing a Player to upgrade.

3. Be careful with SBCs. Don't submit Players you may still need for your squad, Evolutions or Objectives.

4. Build a balanced squad. Choose Players based on how well they fit your team, not just their individual rating.

How to spend your first FUT Coins

Start by identifying the positions that need the most improvement, then use your FUT Coins where they can make the biggest difference.

As you play more matches and earn new Items, your squad will naturally change. A Player who fits your team at the start may later be replaced by a better option from a Pack, Objective, Evolution or other reward.

Keep your early upgrades focused and practical:

• Start with your strongest available Players

• Identify the positions that need the most improvement

• Use Loan Players when they can strengthen your squad

• Replace Players gradually as better options become available

• Keep your squad flexible as your Club grows

Your spending should depend on how many Coins you have and how much of your squad still needs improvement.

• Very low budget: keep using your Club Players and Loan Items. Save your Coins until you find an upgrade that makes a clear difference

• Small budget: target one or two positions that need improvement instead of making several small purchases

• Larger budget: invest in key positions while keeping enough Coins for future upgrades as your squad develops

FC 27 Ultimate Team features to know

These new features add more ways to build your Club, earn rewards and use your Player Items.

FUT Gallery

The new FUT Gallery turns your Player Items into part of a longer-term collection. Certain Player Items can contribute to themed Sets based on Clubs, Leagues, Nations, and Campaigns.

You do not need to keep the Item in your Club for it to remain part of your Gallery history.

Completing and upgrading Sets increases your Gallery Level, which can unlock additional rewards such as Gallery Tokens and cosmetic Items.

This means that some Player Items can have value for your Club beyond simply being used in your active squad. Once an Item has contributed to your Gallery progress, that progress can remain even if you later sell or submit the Player Item.

Streamlined SBCs

Some Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) have been redesigned to make them easier to complete. Instead of always building a full squad around requirements such as Chemistry, which measures how well the Players in your squad work together, or Team Rating, the overall rating of your starting squad, certain SBCs allow you to select eligible Items directly from your Club.

Each Item contributes to a required Item Score based on factors such as its OVR (Overall Rating), Rarity and Holographic status. Duplicate Player Items can also be submitted towards the required score. Once you reach the required score, you can complete the SBC and claim its reward.

Single Player Live Events

Single Player Live Events add temporary, themed challenges that you can play against AI-controlled opponents. Unlike a standard match against the AI, these events can introduce specific squad requirements, custom rules, themed opponents, or other conditions that change how you approach each match.

They can also include Objectives linked to the event, giving you additional rewards for completing specific tasks as you progress. This gives you another way to play Ultimate Team and earn rewards without competing against other players online.

What should you know about the Transfer Market?

The Transfer Market can become an important part of building your Club, but new players may not have full access immediately.

For new FC players, EA requires completion of the Graduated Access Objective Groups before full Transfer Market access becomes available.

After completing Rising Through the Ranks, access can take up to 48 hours on PC or 24 hours on other platforms. During this period, players can list Items, but cannot search the Transfer Market or use Bid/Buy Now actions until access is fully granted.

Web and Companion App Transfer Market access is separate from in-game access. Returning players may receive access based on their previous Ultimate Team activity, while players who do not qualify automatically need to earn access by playing Ultimate Team. EA says an active day for this purpose requires playing three full Ultimate Team matches and logging into the Web or Companion App during the same calendar day. For a full breakdown of Web App and Companion App access, including Transfer Market requirements, see our FC 27 Web App & Companion App Guide.

The exact time required can vary depending on account history and how many Ultimate Team accounts are used on the same device, so new players should not assume that Web App Transfer Market access will be available immediately.

When should you start playing FUT Champions?

FUT Champions does not need to be the first objective of a new Ultimate Team club. Before entering competitive content, it makes sense to become familiar with your squad, tactics and gameplay through the other available Ultimate Team modes.

If you are a new FC player, EA also uses Graduated Access for certain Ultimate Team features. New players need to complete the Objective Groups: The Journey Begins, First Team Dreams and Rising Through the Ranks, to unlock access to the Transfer Market and Champions.

Once Graduated Access is complete, you still need to meet the other Champions entry requirements, including earning 1000 Champions Qualification Points (CQP).

For the complete FC 27 Champions qualification process, Finals format and rewards, see our dedicated FC 27 FUT Champions Qualification & Rewards Guide.

Start your FC 27 journey with OGEdge

Building a new Ultimate Team club is a gradual process. Start with the squad and Items you already have, use matches and available content to build your resources, and take advantage of FC 27's new progression systems as your Club develops.

Whether you are building your first squad, working toward the Transfer Market or preparing for competitive Ultimate Team modes, OGEdge offers EA FC services designed to support your FC 27 journey.