- Primary Subject: How to access and play EA Sports FC 27.
- Key Update: EA Sports has confirmed early access periods and subscription trial dates, letting players jump into The Grounds and Ultimate Team starting mid-September.
- Status: Confirmed; early access kicks off on September 18, 2026.
- Last Verified: July 27, 2026.
- Quick Answer: You can play FC 27 early by purchasing the Ultimate ($99) or Ultimate Plus ($150) editions for a 7-day head start, or by utilizing a 10-hour EA Play trial starting September 18.
The pre-release marketing kicked off with the FC 27 reveal trailer last week.
The headline this time is The Grounds, which brings the Pro Clubs experience to the open world.
EA will promise plenty of changes across gameplay, Career, and many other modes as well.
Whether the game lives up to those or how long these "community-driven" innovations last after launch remains to be seen.
The first few weeks are generally unfiltered with balancing changes. It can be either good or absolutely chaotic.
If you want to step into the pitch as soon as possible, here's how to play FC 27 before the full release.
How to Play FC 27 Early
There are two ways to play FC 27 early. The first is by pre-ordering the $100 Ultimate Edition or the even more expensive $150 Ultimate Plus Edition.
Both editions will grant you access to the game seven days before the full release, starting September 18, 2026.
The Ultimate Plus Edition is available only for a limited time, until August 31, 2026.
Each edition has other perks, including FC Points, Evolution slots, Hall of FUT player pick, and many more.
For more details on what's included with each edition outside of early access, check out our breakdown on the editions.
We admit paying even $100 for an annual sports franchise that hasn't, based on early looks, made any sweeping changes from the previous installment sounds steep.
The second and cheaper method to play FC 27 early is through the EA Play trial.
If you have the subscription on PlayStation, PC, or Xbox (via Game Pass Ultimate), you can play the game early for 10 hours through the trial.
Your progress will carry over if you choose to purchase the game later. PC players can also purchase the EA Play Pro and get full access to FC 27 from the early release period.
EA Play Pro is not available for console players, as the premium subscription is exclusive to PC platforms.
That's everything you need to know about the early access for FC 27.
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