EA FC 27 Best Formations and Custom Tactics with codes

Knowing the best formations and Custom Tactics in FC 27 is worth learning so that you’re able to fully take advantage of your squad’s strengths. Whether you’re playing specific clubs or building your own, there are a vast number of options to consider alongside respective tactics you’re able to customise and implement to your liking in EA Sports FC 27.

With all this mind, let’s run through the best formations and custom tactics in FC 27 for both Ultimate Team and Career Mode, along with easy-to-use codes that let you quickly replicate the setup in your own game.

On this page:

• Best overall formation
• Best Pro Player Formations and Custom Tactics
• Best Club Formations and Custom Tactics
• Best Career Mode formations

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FC 27 Best overall formation

The best formations in FC 27 are 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-1-1. The former is great due to how it allows teams to spread out between defence and offence, whilst the latter is great for maintaining a solid defence and a cascading midfield up that supports strong attacks. Controlling a match from the midfield with the right players opens up options to switch up your approach on the fly should you need the extra defence or offence.

These formations, or even slight variations such as 4-2-1-3 or 4-1-2-1-2 are what both pro players and real life clubs utilise thanks to how they offer up a wide degree of control and flexibility. As with many formations though, it does heavily depend on team composition and their strengths, so nailing down a definitive 'best' can be challenging. That's why these and other alternate options are worth considering, several of which we’ll delve into more in the following sections.

Ultimately, there are pros and cons to every formation which is what makes niche picks more worth considering. If you're curious about how a formation might work for you, the game actually tracks how effective your squad will play based on their ratings and recommended positions when changing formations, which should give you a bit of an idea as to how impactful your decisions might make. To find what’s right for you, you’ll need to experiment, testing which players are flexible in what positions and how it all comes together in unison to support the whole squad.

Whilst we outlined the best all-round formations above, the following sections will delve deeper into the various Custom Tactics you can utilise to further improve your chosen formation, along with additional suggestions and tips for formations in both Ultimate Team and Career Mode.

FC 27 Best Pro Player Formations and Custom Tactics

One of the many places to look for how to set up your squad are custom tactics put together by pro players. There are plenty of videos and more out there covering a wide array of approaches, and here we’re outlining a few of the best we’ve seen so far.

It’s worth noting the images we’ll be including are purely to demonstrate the formation and tactics recommended, and aren’t showcased with the ideal players. That is to say, when utilising these formations and tactics in your game, you’ll need to tailor it to your squad to really get the most out of it.

Additionally, for each formation, we’ll call out its creator and give you a handy code which will let you replicate it 1-1 in your own game where you will be able to use, save, and edit it in any way you desire.

4-4-1-1 Midfield from DhTekKz (Code: GJgwMwH%QEao)

Crediting it for helping him to get to the top three in the world, pro player and YouTube creator DhTekKz recommends the 4-4-1-1 Midfield formation with the Short Passing build-up style, and a High defensive approach.

As for the player roles, it leans into covering more of the pitch whilst remaining steadfast in all areas. You’ll notice with this formation, you get a great amount of coverage on the pitch with a strong defence, balanced midfield, and offensive forwards. For example, the left and right midfield positions are taking the Inside Forward roles to keep them involved and nearby for effective passes and assists.

For the full rundown, here are the full Custom Tactics for DhTekKz’s4-4-1-1 formation:

General Info

• Creator: DhTekKz
• Code: GJgwMwH%QEao

Team Tactics

• Tactical Preset: Custom
• Formation: 4-4-1-1 Midfield
• Build-Up Style: Short Passing
• Defensive Approach: High (65)

Player Roles

• Goalkeeper: Goalkeeper / Defend
• Centre-Backs: Defender / Defend
• Left / Right-Backs: Fullback / Balanced
• Centre-Midfielders: Deep-Lying Playmaker / Build-Up
• Center-Attack Midfielder: Playmaker / Balanced
• Left / Right Midfielders: Inside Forward / Balanced
• Striker: Advanced Forward / Attack

4-1-2-1-2 from Team Gullit (Code: #xhS5?8QSG&J)

This approach from Team Gullit is focused on holding down the central lane of the pitch with its 4-1-2-1-2 Narrow formation.

Putting more players into both the defensive and offensive roles by having players in both Centre-Defence and Centre-Attack Midfield alongside two Strikers keeps the team focused and less spread out. Throw in two Box-to-Box midfielders, and you’ve got some flexibility depending on what the team needs to shift forward and back – anyone with good pace and stamina will be perfect for this mid-pitch role.

Here are the full settings and Custom Tactics for Team Gullit’s 4-1-2-1-2 formation:

General Info

• Creator: Team Gullit
• Code: #xhS5?8QSG&J

Team Tactics

• Tactical Preset: Custom
• Formation: 4-1-2-1-2 Narrow
• Build-Up Style: Balanced
• Defensive Approach: Balanced (60)

Player Roles

• Goalkeeper: Goalkeeper / Defend
• Centre-Backs: Defender / Defend
• Left / Right-Backs: Fullback / Balanced
• Centre-Defence Midfield: Deep-Lying Playmaker / Build-Up
• Centre-Midfielders: Box-to-Box / Ball-Winning
• Center-Attack Midfield: Shadow Striker / Attack
• Strikers: Advanced Forward / Attack

4-4-1-1 from Nassada (Code: FJfvM7FLPByG)

Shared by the official EA Sports FC Pro account on Twitter/X, Nassada's formation of 4-4-1-1 has led him to being able to reach the top spot in the FC Pro Open Ladder Europe East.

Whilst we have already listed a formation and tactics for 4-4-1-1, Nassada’s is slightly different with more of a defensive role overall.

Compared to the balanced, build-up and more offensive push in TekKz’s version, this one features a lot more defensive positions. For example, whilst the left and right midfield positions remain a little more offensive with Inside Forward, our centre-midfield players are split between two roles. One acts as a Ball-Winning, Box-to-Box player who will move up and down the pitch, whilst the other is a Holding, more defensive player who will aim to hold down the fort in the middle of the pitch, guarding the backline and working to prevent counter attacks.

For the full rundown, here are the full settings and Custom Tactics for Nassada’s 4-4-1-1 formation:

General Info

• Creator: Nassada
• Code: FJfvM7FLPByG

Team Tactics

• Tactical Preset: Custom
• Formation: 4-4-1-1
• Build-Up Style: Balanced
• Defensive Approach: Balanced (60)

Player Roles

• Goalkeeper: Sweeper Keeper / Balanced
• Centre-Backs: Defender / Defend
• Left / Right-Backs: Fullback / Defend
• Centre-Midfield 1: Box-to-Box / Ball-Winning
• Centre-Midfield 2: Holding / Defend
• Left and Right Midfield: Inside Forward / Balanced
• Center-Attack Midfield: Shadow Striker / Attack
• Striker: Advanced Forward / Attack

4-2-1-3 from Jamboo FC (Code: 5YV7i@r@D1H4)

Whilst he’s no longer a Pro Player, Jamboo FC covers EA Sports FC via his YouTube channel Jamboo FC, and for FC 27, he’s presenting a balanced yet effective approach with the 4-2-1-3 formation.

Headlined by Roaming Left and Right Wingers, you’re looking at an offensive lineup that’s great for pushing the opposition with a strong midfield made up of two defending players, and one attacking. With this kind of set up, you can be sure that you’re not just covering a large area of the pitch, but also ready for almost anything thrown your way, on the offensive or defensive sides of play.

Here are the full settings and Custom Tactics for Jamboo’s 4-2-1-3 formation:

General Info

• Creator: Jamboo FC
• Code: 5YV7i@r@D1H4

Team Tactics

• Tactical Preset: Custom
• Formation: 4-2-1-3
• Build-Up Style: Balanced
• Defensive Approach: Balanced (40)

Player Roles

• Goalkeeper: Ball-Playing Keeper / Build-Up
• Centre-Backs: Defender / Defend
• Left / Right-Backs: Fullback / Defend
• Centre-Defence Midfielders: Deep-Lying Playmaker / Build-Up
• Center-Attack Midfielder: Playmaker / Balanced
• Left and Right Wingers: Inside Roaming / Roaming
• Striker: Advanced Forward / Attack

FC 27 Best Club Formations and Custom Tactics

If you’d like to follow in the footsteps of real world clubs, then look no further than various formations and custom tactics you can find in-game across all of the teams. Whilst their formations and tactics are custom-built around the strength of their individual squads and player lineups, you can still take notes from the approach they take based on who’s playing and where.

Below we’ll run through a selection of three club formations and custom tactics you can take advantage of in Ultimate Team. Following this section, there will also be a couple of additional recommendations for the formations other clubs use too – feel free to use them as inspiration for your team too!

As a heads up and quick PSA before continuing however, some of formations and custom tactics used by clubs changes and evolves over time. This means that whilst the lineups below were accurate at the time of writing, this may have changed in-game.

Thankfully though, you're able to head to the team's individual pages in the game and check out what their current formation and tactics are, as well as find a newly-generated code to go alongside it. If you're looking to keep up to date and track how they're playing in the real world, they are pages worth checking out.

4-2-3-1 from Manchester City (Code: SYq8#eNaswmP)

Taking the 4-2-3-1 Wide formation, Manchester City leads with a strong defensive and midfield control while Haaland acts as the tip of the spear in the Striker position. Backed up by left and right midfielders set up with the Inside Forward role, it’s all about setting up goals via offensive pushes when the ball moves upfield. Providing additional backup is Cherki as a Centre-Attack Balanced Playmaker in the midfield who will play to the strengths of the team, but remain very central in matches.

Whenever defence is needed, the four at the back are supported by Anderson and Fernandez, two Centre-Defence Midfielders who act in Defend and Roaming positions respectively to move and act as needed based on where the ball and opposition are.

All-in-all, it’s a robust setup that doesn’t have as many up front, but flexible in a way that’s able to retain solid defence and midplay. With the right players, this can be just as effective for your own Ultimate Team.

Here are the full settings and Custom Tactics for Manchester City’s 4-2-3-1 Wide formation:

General Info

• Team: Manchester City (Premier League, England)
• Code: SYq8#eNaswmP

Team Tactics

• Tactical Preset: Standard
• Formation: 4-2-3-1 Wide
• Build-Up Style: Balanced
• Defensive Approach: Deep (25)

Player Roles

• Goalkeeper: Goalkeeper / Balanced
• Centre-Back 1: Defender / Defend
• Center-Back 2: Stopper / Balanced
• Left / Right-Backs: Fullback / Balanced
• Centre-Defence Midfield 1: Deep-Lying Playmaker / Roaming
• Centre-Defence Midfield 2: Deep-Lying Playmaker / Defend
• Center-Attack Midfield: Playmaker / Balanced
• Left and Right Wingers: Wide Midfielder / Support
• Striker: Advanced Forward / Attack

4-2-1-3 from FC Barcelona (Code: hZ9hCpTvN$2D)

Leading to much success, Barcelona implements the 4-2-1-3 formation and is more spread out, bridging the gap between the midfield and attack, with more emphasis on the latter. You see this primarily in how two midfielders play Centre-Defence, whilst the third is Centre-Attack.

However, the two defence-minded players set up with the Deep-Lying Playmaker role and Build-Up focus are positioned so that they can set up attacking players when possible. Alongside two Falseback defenders, the idea is that when the team has the ball, the defence shifts to being more attack-focused to support an upfield push. In that sense, the formation and tactics here act almost like a pendulum, swinging either direction based on what the moment calls for.

Here are the full settings and Custom Tactics for FC Barcelona’s 4-2-1-3 formation:

General Info

• Team: FC Barcelona (LaLiga, Spain)
• Code: hZ9hCpTvN$2D

Team Tactics

• Tactical Preset: Custom
• Formation: 4-2-1-3
• Build-Up Style: Short Passing
• Defensive Approach: High (65)

Player Roles

• Goalkeeper: Sweeper Keeper / Balanced
• Centre-Backs: Ball-Playing Defender / Defend
• Left / Right-Backs: Falseback / Defend
• Centre-Defence Midfielders: Deep-Lying Playmaker / Build-Up
• Center-Attack Midfield: Playmaker / Roaming
• Left and Right Wingers: Inside Forward / Balanced
• Striker: Advanced Forward / Attack

4-3-3 from PSG (Code: i57AhQz2NsAH)

PSG uses a default formation of 4-3-3 Flat, spreading players fairly equally across all areas of the pitch with heavy consolidation around the middle up when in possession of the ball.

What’s interesting about this formation in particular is that it has more of an attacking push from the Left and Right-Backs. Set up with the Attacking Wingback roles, when the ball is held by your team, they’ll move far up the left and right side of the pitch. Working alongside the midfield and wingers, they offer additional support during offensive pushes. While it may be potentially risky, with high-pace players, this can be extremely effective to overwhelm the opposition and net yourself some easy goals.

Here are the full settings and Custom Tactics for PSG’s 4-3-3 formation:

General Info

• Team: PSG (Ligue 1 McDonald’s, France)
• Code: i57AhQz2NsAH

Team Tactics

• Tactical Preset: Custom
• Formation: 4-3-3 Flat
• Build-Up Style: Short Passing
• Defensive Approach: High (90)

Player Roles

• Goalkeeper: Ball-Playing Keeper / Build-Up
• Centre-Back 1: Stopper / Balanced
• Centre-Back 2: Ball-Playing Defender / Defend
• Left / Right-Backs: Attacking Wingback / Attack
• Centre Midfield 1: Playmaker / Attack
• Centre Midfield 2: Deep-Lying Playmaker / Build-Up
• Centre Midfield 3: Box-to-Box / Balanced
• Left Winger: Inside Forward / Attack
• Right Winger: Wide Playmaker / Build-Up
• Striker: False 9 / Build-Up

FC 27 Best Career Mode formations

Picking the right formations when playing in Career Mode is a decision that’ll no doubt be somewhat club dependent.

While you’re totally free to shake up the formation entirely to your own liking and dependant on which players you sign, to be the most effective, you’ll want to play to your squad’s strengths.

For example, if we take the example of Manchester City outlined in the prior section, they are best played in a 4-2-3-1 formation, led with a strong offence by Erling Haaland who has a 92 in Shooting and 87 in Pace. They do this whilst retaining a reliable defence with four at the back and midfield spaced out with options for both defensive and offensive play. With Haaland being as reliable as he is, it allows the team to work to support him without having tons of players in attacking positions. This is to say, that's a team where the formation is really molded around their own players.

The formations mentioned in the last section are hard to argue with for use in Career Mode to be fair, so be sure to read that if you haven't. To delve a bit deeper and explore additional options for a wider selection of teams with differing ratings though, we’ve got three more detailed down below.

Specifically, we’ve covered another five-star team along with slightly lower rated teams. This is primarily for some variety in team performance, but also to showcase other formations and run through how they play.

4-2-1-3 from Real Madrid (Code: AacABmYLcKe$)

The 4-2-1-3 formation Real Madrid opts for is the same kind of baseline approach that Barcelona uses for their team, but with a few differences.

Overall it has a much more balanced approach, leaning into attacking positions when the moment calls for it with a defence that largely remains steadfast and idle in the back half of the pitch. To provide attacking support when the ball is in play, the Attacking Wingback role attached to a Right-Back brings in offensive support along that side of the pitch. This is in tandem with the wingers and single attacking midfield player, Jude Bellingham, moving up to support Mbappe in the striking position. When it comes together, it’s a fairly tight and focused playstyle that holds a few players back for defence whilst being intentional about who comes forward.

A possible downside is that it can expose the back right corner somewhat, but you still have defensive players and Right-Back who can retreat in case of emergency to protect that flank.

Here are the full settings and Custom Tactics for Real Madrid’s 4-2-1-3 formation:

General Info

• Team: Real Madrid (LaLiga, Spain)
• Code: AacABmYLcKe$

Team Tactics

• Tactical Preset: Custom
• Formation: 4-2-1-3
• Build-Up Style: Short Passing
• Defensive Approach: High (90)

Player Roles

• Goalkeeper: Ball-Playing Keeper / Build-Up
• Centre-Back 1: Ball-Playing Defender / Defend
• Centre-Back 2: Stopper / Balanced
• Left-Back: Wingback / Balanced
• Right-Back: Attacking Wingback / Attack
• Centre-Defence Midfield 1: Holding / Defend
• Centre-Defence Midfield 2: Box Crasher / Balanced
• Centre-Attack Midfield: Playmaker / Balanced
• Left Winger: Inside Forward / Balanced
• Right Winger: Wide Playmaker / Build-Up
• Striker: Advanced Forward / Attack

3-4-2-1 from Leeds United (Code: C5dup22Y%GAP)

Running with the 3-4-2-1 formation, Leeds United have a Counter-focused Build-Up Style that is designed to encourage players to flank the opposition’s defence to get a leg up.

Comparing how the team plays when the ball is and isn’t in control, there's not actually too much difference in terms of verall placements except a more centralised focus when the ball is in control where attacking becomes the priority. In moments like this, much of the team pulls back towards the centre whilst the Left and Right Midfield players hang out by the sides. Their goal is to offer support via passing and defense, but without going too far during offensive pushes. Instead, that job is left up to Centre-Attack Midfielders, one of whom (Okafor) is set up as a Shadow Striker aiming to push forward at the right time to secure goals.

To help facilitate a team that moves in unity, one Centre-Midfield player (Stach) plays Box-to-Box, involving him in both defence and offence. Along with the defensively positioned Deep-Lying Playmaker Ampadu, the two are there to secure opportunities for offensively-minded players like Okafor, Wilson, and Calvert-Lewin.

It’s perhaps the most consolidated formation we’ve discussed, but functions similarly to prior teams like Barcelona and Manchester City.

Here are the full settings and Custom Tactics for Leeds United’s 3-4-2-1 formation:

General Info

• Team: Leeds United (Premier League, England)
• Code: C5dup22Y%GAP

Team Tactics

• Tactical Preset: Custom
• Formation: 3-4-2-1
• Build-Up Style: Counter
• Defensive Approach: Deep (30)

Player Roles

• Goalkeeper: Ball-Playing Keeper / Build-Up
• Centre-Backs 1 and 3: Ball-Playing Defender / Defend
• Centre-Back 2: Defender / Defend
• Centre Midfield 1: Box-to-Box / Ball-Winning
• Centre Midfield 2:: Deep-Lying Playmaker / Defend
• Left and Right Midfield: Wide Midfielder / Build-Up
• Center-Attack Midfield 1: Shadow Striker / Attack
• Center-Attack Midfield 2: Playmaker / Roaming
• Striker: Advanced Forward / Support

4-4-2 Flat from West Brom (Code: 95XL3nNHHpZd)

The 4-4-2 formation that West Brom uses is one of the more classic formations that has become synonymous with the sport – so much so there’s even a magazine named after it!

The team opts for the 'Flat' variant of 4-4-2, evenly spaced out and pretty readable from the getgo. In terms of player roles and how they support the formation, there’s quite a bit going on.

For example, defenders are structured in ways that offer attacking support upfield – thanks to the Left-Back's Wingback role – and a more dedicated and defensive Right-Back. As you move through midfield and towards the Strikers, offensive pushes come more from the right and left sides of the pitch when the ball is in possession. This does leave a more open throughline down the middle, but in turn you get more attacking support on either side of the opposition’s box. Should the ball be lost, the defence remains largely intact however, and Centre-Midfielders have ground covered too, one of whom is dedicated to defence with the Holding role.

Here are the full settings and Custom Tactics for West Brom’s 4-4-2 formation:

General Info

• Team: West Brom (EFL Championship, England)
• Code: 95XL3nNHHpZd

Team Tactics

• Tactical Preset: Custom
• Formation: 4-4-2 Flat
• Build-Up Style: Short Passing
• Defensive Approach: Balanced (50)

Player Roles

• Goalkeeper: Goalkeeper / Balanced
• Centre-Backs: Defender / Defend
• Left-Back: Wingback / Balanced
• Right-Back: Fullback / Versatile
• Centre Midfield 1: Deep-Lying Playmaker / Build-Up
• Centre Midfield 2: Holding / Defend
• Left-Midfield: Wide Midfielder / Support
• Right-Midfield: Winger / Balanced
• Strikers: Advanced Forward / Versatile

As mentioned earlier, be aware that these club-based formations and custom tactics are subject to change over time as the game receives squad updates and more. Be sure to refer to their own in-game pages to see what formations and tactics they've most recently been using.

Best of luck building your Ultimate Team. If you're on the hunt for players, check out the best Wonderkids you can add to your shortlist.