Football Ultimate Team™ 27 - Season 1: Ones to Watch

ONES TO WATCH

With the football season well underway, Football Ultimate Team™ looks ahead at the players who will define their club’s season.

Season 1: Ones to Watch brings all the summer transfer drama, real-world football performances, and start-of-season buzz to Football Ultimate Team™, setting up the season in style with campaigns focused on players who are set to shine this year.

Earn Ones to Watch Player Items through the Season Pass, with select players also available through SBCs and Objectives from Early Access.

EARLY ACCESS

Debut International ICONs for those who pre-ordered the Ultimate and Ultimate Plus Editions will be available from Early Access. Your Debut International ICON will later upgrade into its Champion International ICON version during Black Friday. Champion International ICONs will enter the Ultimate Team player pool later in the cycle.

Early Access players will also be the first to encounter themed Objectives to receive rewards including A.F.C. Richmond vanity Items and an Evolution Consumable. Play matches, win games, and build your team with talent from the Premier League, Barclays Women’s Super League and more to celebrate The Greyhounds in Football Ultimate Team™.

Plus, Tactical Trials challenges you to formation-based Objectives where you’ll need to complete different challenges using a variety of formations to earn untradeable Packs for your Club.

ONES TO WATCH LIVE UPGRADES

Ones to Watch Items are eligible for upgrades throughout the 2026/‌27 football season. They receive +1 OVR for each Team of the Week, Star Performer or Player of the Month inclusion, plus a one-time +1 OVR if their club wins three of its next six domestic league matches starting 18 September.

Ones to Watch Player Items rated 83 OVR or higher retain their Base Item Attributes, while those below are boosted to 83. Every Ones to Watch Item is also guaranteed at least 60 Pace and have all their Role++ in Position.

PROGRESS THROUGH THE SEASON 1 LADDER

Season 1 of EA SPORTS FC™ 27 Football Ultimate Team™ brings fresh Standard and Premium Ladders stacked with rewards including up to 13 Ones to Watch Player Items from across The World’s Game, including big summer signings and talismanic figures for the season ahead.

Highlights from the Standard Ladder include Arsenal’s summer transfer Christos Tzolis and Real Madrid Midfielder Elisa Senß at Level 10, and ends with Spanish sensation Ferran Torres at Level 30.

The Premium Pass contains the London City Lionesses’ Nicole Anyomi and Chelsea Defender Maxence Lacroix at Level 7,, and ends with Real Madrid’s star signing Yan Diomandé at Level 30.

Other rewards include retro Ones to Watch Item Shells, PlayStyle-based Evolutions, and more.

ONES WE WATCHED

Season 1 kicks off with a Single Player Live Event series celebrating Ones to Watch from FUT™ seasons gone by. Choose your difficulty for the opening stage and play a selection of different Clubs from across world football. Then, face progressively higher OVR Ones We Watched inspired AI squads and take on more demanding squad-building requirements as you advance.

Alongside this, the Ones to Watch Online Exhibition rewards Chemistry Styles, Packs, and a Ones to Watch player, with additional rewards for weekly plays throughout Season 1.

TEAM OF THE WEEK 1 UPGRADES

We are adjusting the Team of the Week upgrade path for Season 1 so that they’re aligned with Ones to Watch at launch, with further updates planned throughout EA SPORTS FC™ 27. See the breakdown below.

ONES TO WATCH FAQ

How do Ones to Watch players upgrade?

• Ones to Watch player items will upgrade when a player receives a qualifying performance-based item (Team of the Week, Player of the Month, Star Performer) in EA SPORTS FC™ 27 Football Ultimate Team™.
• Ones to Watch players can also upgrade via the ‘Wins to Watch’ mechanic - based on their team’s performances. They are eligible for a one-time upgrade if their team wins 3 out of their next 6 domestic league games starting from 18th September. The OTW players do not have to feature in the games for them to count towards the upgrade.
• Ones to Watch items do not necessarily match the stats of their highest rated TOTW, POTM or Star Performer version. They get a +1 OVR upgrade at a time.

How long will Ones to Watch Players continue to receive upgrades?

• OTW items will only be upgraded based on performance in the 2026/‌27 domestic season.

What happens if a Ones to Watch Player is transferred or loaned to a different club?

• If a OTW player transfers or goes on loan during the season, the OTW item keeps the player’s latest upgrade until the player receives an upgrade at their new club. At that point, the OTW item will be updated with the player’s new club's latest boosted item
• If a player transfers to another club before they receive their 'Wins to Watch' upgrade, they will no longer be eligible for the bonus upgrade.
• If a player is no longer in the squad of the club their item is released for and does not join a new club, they will no longer be eligible to receive any future additional upgrades. This includes the 'Wins to Watch' upgrade.