Rules & Prize Terms

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Competition Formats & Teams

• FC Grounds Competition includes 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 and Rush. The current 1v1 bracket remains separate from team events.
• 2v2 teams need two players, 3v3 teams need three, and Rush teams need four outfield players. Each team event allows at most 32 entered players; only complete teams can enter.
• Create a team, share its invitation code privately and let each teammate join using their own signed-in account, EA ID and gamertag. The captain confirms entry once the roster is complete.
• One team per account and EA ID in each event. Each player must accept the rules and be 16 or older. Rosters lock when entry is confirmed.
• Admins open entries and draw each team event separately. A random knockout draw may include first-round byes. A bye advances a team without a played result.
• For team events, both captains report a decisive score with a stream link. Results remain pending or disputed until an admin approves them; only then does the winner advance.
• Team-event kick-off times and prizes are announced separately. The £30 prize terms below apply to the existing 1v1 event, not to every team event.

Eligibility

• Free entry. No payment is ever required or collected.
• Maximum 32 players, accepted in order of registration. Extra sign-ups join the waitlist and fill free spots in order.
• One registration per person, account and EA ID. Duplicate, shared or borrowed accounts are disqualified.
• Players must be 16 or older. Players under 18 need permission from a parent or guardian to claim the prize.
• You must own a legitimate copy of EA SPORTS FC 27 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S or PC.

1v1 Format & Match Settings

• Single elimination: Round of 32, Round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals and Final. One match per round.
• Crossplay between PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Add your opponent using the EA ID on your dashboard; either player may host.
• Mode: Online Friendlies (Kick-Off). Half length 6 minutes, World Class difficulty, normal game speed.
• Squads: any real club or national team with default kits. Ultimate Team, custom or edited squads are not allowed.
• Custom tactics and formation changes are allowed at any time.
• A draw goes to extra time and penalties. If the game ends level without them, replay straight away.
• Agree a time in your private match chat and finish before the round deadline shown on the bracket.
• Streaming is mandatory: at least one of the two players must stream the match live (YouTube, Twitch, Kick or Facebook) and add the stream link on their Dashboard before kick-off. Admins can watch every stream. A match with no stream may be replayed or decided by the admin.

Disconnects & No-Shows

• A disconnect before 10 minutes of game time with no goals scored: restart the match.
• A disconnect after that: replay the remaining time with the same score, or agree the result in match chat.
• Deliberately quitting or disconnecting forfeits the match.
• A player who does not reply in match chat, or does not play by the deadline, may lose by walkover (recorded as 3–0).
• If neither player shows, the admin decides who advances based on the match chat.

Result Reporting & Disputes

• Both players report the final score from their dashboard and upload a photo or screenshot of the full-time screen.
• Matching reports are approved. Mismatched reports are marked disputed and reviewed against the screenshots and match chat.
• An AI helper may check screenshots, but the admin always has the final say.
• Winners only advance once the result is approved.
• Faking or editing a screenshot, or reporting a false score, means disqualification.

Prize Terms

• The champion receives £30 (thirty pounds sterling). There are no prizes for other places.
• The prize is paid by bank transfer or PayPal within 14 days of the Final being approved.
• To claim, the winner must reply within 7 days and may be asked to confirm their EA ID and age.
• If the winner is disqualified or does not claim in time, the prize goes to the runner-up.
• The organiser will never ask you to pay a fee to receive the prize.
• This tournament is not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by EA SPORTS.

Conduct

• No cheating, glitches, exploits, account sharing or match fixing.
• Be respectful in match chat. Abuse, racism, threats or harassment lead to removal.
• Zero tolerance for foul language: anyone who swears or uses offensive words in any chat is banned from the tournament indefinitely. Chats are checked automatically by AI and by admins. A banned player is removed, and their opponent advances.
• The organiser may remove players, award walkovers or change deadlines to keep the tournament fair and on time.
• Questions or problems: post in your match chat. Admins can read it and will reply there.