This is a player guide to help you prepare for and take part in the FC Pro 27 Open Regional Qualifiers on Battlefy. Please consult your region's tournament page, the EA SPORTS FC Pro 27 Official Rules and the FC Pro 27 Open Regional Qualifier Event Rules for the official rules. If anything in this guide differs from the official rules, the official rules apply.
A few helpful things to note before you start:
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Overview
Who can play
Before game day
Schedule and format
On game day
Setting up your match in FC Pro Live Events
Day 2: two-leg matches
Reporting scores
If you have a problem with your match
Who Can Play
The Regional Qualifiers are open to the 1,376 PlayStation 5 competitors who qualified from the in-game FC Pro Open Ladder (21 September – 3 October 2026), based on each competitor's highest peak skill rating during the Ladder. To compete you will need:
EA SPORTS FC 27 on PlayStation 5
A valid EA Account with Two Factor Authentication enabled, connected to your PlayStation Network Online ID
A Battlefy account linked to your EA Account
A Discord account linked to your Battlefy account
To have reached at least Division 5 in Ultimate Team Division Rivals by 3 October 2026
To be a resident of an eligible country and physically located in your FC Pro region while competing
Players qualified from each regional ladder:
Region | Players Qualified |
Africa | 128 |
Asia North | 32 |
Asia South | 32 |
Europe West | 256 |
Europe East | 256 |
LATAM North | 64 |
LATAM South | 256 |
Middle East | 256 |
North America | 64 |
Oceania | 32 |
Total | 1,376 |
Before Game Day
Register on Battlefy
Registration for the Regional Qualifier must be completed before the event starts.
Go to battlefy.com/fc-pro and open the Regional Qualifier for your region.
Sign in to your Battlefy account.
Link your Battlefy account with your EA Account (if you haven't already).
Fill out all required registration fields.
Read and accept the Official Rules and Event Rules.
Join the Tournament Discord
You are required to join the FC Pro Discord server and stay in it for the duration of your matches so Event Officials can reach you.
Set your Discord nickname to match the Battlefy username you registered with.
Link your Discord and Battlefy accounts to receive Discord support.
Build a Legal Squad
The in-game competitive mode enforces squad restrictions automatically, but you are responsible for building a compliant squad before the event. Restrictions apply to both your starting 11 and substitutes:
Exactly 0: 92+ rated OVR items
Max 3: 88–91 rated OVR items
Max 1: Hero
Max 1: ICON
Min 7: Rare Gold items
Loan items: allowed
Squads that break these restrictions may receive a match loss, and repeated occurrences will result in removal from the tournament.
Check Your Connection
Make sure your console's NAT type is Open. Competitors who cannot get an Open NAT type may be locked out of matchmaking at the discretion of Event Officials.
Schedule and Format
Day 1: Saturday 10 October 2026 — Swiss Stage
Day 2: Sunday 11 October 2026 — Double Elimination Stage
Both days start at 12PM local time for your region:
Region | Start Time (Days 1 and 2) |
Africa | 12PM SAST (UTC+2) |
Asia North | 12PM HKT (UTC+8) |
Asia South | 12PM SGT (UTC+8) |
Europe East | 12PM CEST (UTC+2) |
Europe West | 12PM BST (UTC+1) |
LATAM North | 12PM CDT (UTC-5) |
LATAM South | 12PM BRT (UTC-3) |
Middle East | 12PM AST (UTC+3) |
North America | 12PM CDT (UTC-5) |
Oceania | 12PM AEDT (UTC+11) |
Every match is decided by the higher score at the end of the game. If the game is tied, extra time is played, followed by a penalty shootout if needed.
Day 1: Swiss Stage
You are seeded based on your finishing placement in the FC Pro Open Ladder. In Round 1, the top seed plays the lowest seed, the second seed plays the second-lowest seed, and so on.
Each round is a single one-game match. The number of rounds depends on how many players take part on Day 1.
You are eliminated after 3 losses.
Everyone who finishes the Swiss stage with 2 or fewer losses advances to Day 2.
Ties in the Swiss standings (for Day 2 seeding only) are broken by: Opponents' Match Win %, then Game Win %, then Opponents' Opponents' Match Win %.
Day 2: Double Elimination
You are seeded based on your Day 1 finishing placement (top seed vs lowest seed, and so on).
Every match is played over two legs (see "Day 2: Two-Leg Matches" below).
You are not eliminated until you lose two matches. Win and you advance in the Winners Bracket; lose and you drop to the Losers Bracket. A loss in the Losers Bracket eliminates you.
Qualifying for the Global Qualifier
The top finishers in each region qualify for the FC Pro Open Global Qualifier, an in-person event in London on 5–7 November 2026:
Region | Global Qualifier Spots |
Africa | 4 |
Asia North | 2 |
Asia South | 2 |
Europe West | 12 |
Europe East | 12 |
LATAM North | 2 |
LATAM South | 8 |
Middle East | 6 |
North America | 2 |
Oceania | 2 |
Total | 52 |
On Game Day
If you are using your mobile device to access Battlefy, you will find the sections below under the "Play" button at the bottom of the tournament page.
A) Navigate to the Tournament Page
The Tournament Page is where you should be for the duration of the tournament. You can find your region's event page at battlefy.com/fc-pro.
Alternatively:
Select your profile at the bottom left of your screen on Battlefy.
Select the Joined Tournaments tab.
Select Go to Tournament.
B) Check In
Check-in is required and opens one hour before the tournament starts (11AM local time). Check in on the tournament page and verify your registration fields are correct. If you do not check in, you will not be placed in the Swiss stage.
C) Find Your Match
Once check-in closes, admins will start the first round. Follow the notification when your match starts, or go to the Brackets tab — your current match will be highlighted. Click it to open your Match Page. This is where you should be for the duration of your match.
D) Communicate with Your Opponent
Battlefy Match Chat and the official tournament Discord channels are the only official communication channels. Once paired, use Match Chat to exchange your details and set up your invite. Messages through other channels will not be reviewed by admins.
E) Play, Report, Repeat
Play your match, report the score (see below), then wait for the next round. In the Swiss stage, admins generate the next round's pairings once all scores for the round are reported. Repeat until you are eliminated or qualified.
Setting Up Your Match in FC Pro Live Events
Who hosts? The higher-seeded competitor is the host and home team in both the Swiss and Double Elimination stages. The host sends the lobby invite and is responsible for setting up the match.
Launch EA SPORTS FC 27 on your PlayStation 5, go to Ultimate Team and open the FC Pro Live Events tab. From here, the host invites their opponent, or the away player accepts the invite.
Lobby settings:
Data Center: Direct
Start Time: 0
Home Score: 0
Away Score: 0
Leg: First
Advanced Settings
First Ball Possession: Home
Game 1 Tiebreaker Options: Extra Time
Ruleset: FC Pro Open
Default gameplay settings
Half Length: 9 minutes
Stadium: UT Stadium
Ball: FC Pro Ball
Check your opponent's squad. At the start of the match, check your opponent's squad on the Upcoming Squad screen. If it breaks the squad restrictions, immediately click Report Match Issue and upload a picture of their full squad to Match Chat. Matches that go beyond the first half are considered valid.
Pauses. Each player may pause a maximum of three times per half. Pauses only activate when the ball is out of play and must not be used for time-wasting or gamesmanship.
Day 2: Two-Leg Matches
Every Day 2 match is played over two legs, with the result decided on aggregate. The higher seed hosts Leg 1, and hosting switches for Leg 2.
Leg 1: The Leg 1 host selects Leg: First and invites their opponent. This game must have no tiebreaker set.
Leg 2: The Leg 2 host selects Leg: First again, sets the starting score to the result of Leg 1, sets the Extra Time tiebreaker, and invites their opponent.
The player receiving the invite must check the leg and aggregate score before starting. Accepting the invite means you accept the score shown.
All squad restrictions and other settings are the same as in the Swiss stage.
Reporting Scores
Once your game is finished, take a screenshot of the final score screen. Then return to your Match Page, click Report Score and enter the final score. On Day 2, report the aggregate result from Leg 2. Score reporting must be accurate at all times.
If You Have a Problem with Your Match
For any issue, select Report Match Issue on the Match Page and wait in Match Chat for an Event Official. Report rule violations immediately.
Wrong settings: If a match is played beyond the first half with incorrect settings before an admin is contacted, the final score will stand.
Can't invite each other: Click Report Match Issue, then check that your NAT type is Open and restart your modem, router (if you have one) and console.
Disconnects: Immediately take a screenshot and notify an admin in Match Chat. You must complete the steps above and reconnect within 10 minutes, or you may receive a match loss.
If a disconnect happens in the first 10 in-game minutes, the match will be restarted unless admins decide otherwise. After that, the match resumes from the existing scoreline and approximate match time, as determined by admins.
Admins may require you to use a specific data center if there are excessive connection issues. Repeated connection issues may result in penalties.
Automatic losses: If a player is given a match loss for breaking the rules, their opponent receives the win by 3 goals, or by their lead at the time the issue was reported if that is greater.
Fair play. Any form of collusion or match-fixing — including intentionally losing, "soft play", agreeing to split prizes, or letting an opponent score more or fewer goals — is strictly prohibited and may lead to removal from the competition and account suspension.
Any more questions? Be sure to join the FC Pro Battlefy Tournament Support Discord Server!