EA FC fans have some big news to look forward to, as a long-rumored feature is finally confirmed for the next game. New trademark filings suggest that EA Sports has pulled back the curtain on what open-world game mode for EA FC 27 will be called.
The open-world feature has been floating around in leaks and discussions for months, and while EA hasn’t confirmed anything directly yet, the recent trademark adds a bit of weight to those rumors. If FC 27’s open world has a name, it’s now out in the open.
What ‘FC The Grounds’ Is
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An X user by the name gamer_matheusx spotted that the latest trademark filing on January 23, 2026, shows that EA Sports registered the name “FC The Grounds”, which sounds like a suitable name for the rumored open-world mode. The registration includes a description of a stylized logo featuring the letters “FC” in a triangular shape with the words The Grounds beside it, basically explaining the logo.
This doesn’t tell us much about how the mode will play, but it does give us a proper title to attach to the open-world concept that’s been teased for months.
The community’s expectations have been building around a mode that lets players explore freely, similar to NBA 2K’s Neighborhood or Park areas. Early leaks suggest that these open areas, called Districts in some reports, could be inspired by real-world football cultures and cities
Why The Trademark Matters’
Trademark filings are usually among the earliest formal filings you need to make if you want to lock in a feature or product name; the gaming world works the same way. While the trademark doesn’t confirm gameplay details, it does confirm that EA plans to use the title FC The Grounds for something within EA FC 27.
In past years, EA has trademarked specific mode names or sub-brands ahead of launch, often before official announcements from the company. So, their trademarking FC The Grounds does mean that it’s a new mode or feature in the game.
What Comes Next
EA still hasn’t publicly confirmed any details about the open-world mode or FC The Grounds. The next big window for more concrete information will likely come as EA FC 27’s full reveal approaches, which usually happens in the months leading up to release.
