EA FC The Grounds Trademark Signals a Major Shift for FC 27

EA Sports appears to be taking a major step forward with its football franchise, and the FC the Grounds trademark might be the clearest sign yet. A new trademark filing suggests that EA is preparing to introduce a full open-world or social hub experience in EA Sports FC 27, something fans have been speculating about for more than a year.

This trademark was filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on January 23, 2026, and has been seen by many sources, including the popular leakers.

What the FC The Grounds Trademark Reveals

Based on the information provided through the trademark application, the logo for this particular franchise would show the letters “FC” inside a triangle. It has been rotated at an angle, which is then included with the phrase “THE GROUNDS” written out in a specially designed font.

While the description focuses on branding rather than gameplay, trademark registrations of this nature are rarely filed without a clear internal roadmap. In past EA releases, similar trademarks have appeared months before official reveals. However, this mode looks like a part of the overall planning for FC 27 rather than being another failed experiment.

How FC 27’s Open World Mode Could Work

There are rumors that EA has already held a closed beta test on this new mode. However, there was an exclusive behind-closed-doors event offered by EA to give members of the media an early look at the game.

The FC 27 Open World mode will be split up into districts, each resembling a country well known for producing quality soccer players, from Argentina to Germany. Players will register for the different playing types from within each district instead of using a typical game menu. This approach closely mirrors NBA 2K’s The City and WWE 2K’s The Island, though this would be EA Sports’ first attempt at such a system.

There are further rumors surrounding the mode that it will contain cosmetic features, such as large-scale reward tracks similar to the “Battle Pass” utilized in Call of Duty. Additionally, there will be various licensed soccer events tied into the overall world feature.

When Will EA Reveal FC The Grounds?

EA has not yet officially announced EA FC The Grounds yet, but if they follow the usual timeline for releases for their franchise, they will be releasing it right at the end of August 2026, with FC27 coming out in September 2026.

There have been many leaks, and for this reason, EA will likely announce FC The Grounds several months before it is released to generate excitement. Therefore, FC The Grounds will be the first sign that EA is really moving towards developing an open-world game with FC27. Along with this mode, there is another exciting update for FC 27.