FC 27 Future Stars Upgrades Explained: Starts, Goals, Clean Sheets and When Cards Upgrade
FC 27 Future Stars upgrades explained: how starts, goals, assists and clean sheets count, tracking from 9 October and upgrades on 3 February 2027.
Correct as of 12 Oct 2026, 09:45 BST (Europe/London)
How every FC 27 Future Stars card can upgrade, straight from EA's rules: what counts, what each upgrade gives, why MLS, NWSL, Liga MX and LPF players have lower targets, and when the upgrades land. For the Team 1 squad, see the Future Stars Team 1 hub. To build your own Future Star, see the Future Stars Academy guide. We don't predict individual upgrades or print prices here.
Quick answer: league starts, goals and clean sheets, paid out on 3 February
How do FC 27 Future Stars cards upgrade, and when?
Future Stars cards upgrade on their players' real domestic league performances, tracked from 9 October 2026. The upgrades go live on 3 February 2027 (EA). In most leagues, 4 starts gives +1 OVR (up to 86) and 8 starts gives another +1 OVR (up to 87). Attackers and midfielders earn a PlayStyle+ at 7 goals plus assists and 5★ weak foot at 10. Defenders and keepers earn the same at 4 and 7 clean sheets. NWSL, MLS, Liga MX and LPF players have lower targets.
| Detail | What EA says |
|---|---|
| What counts | Domestic league matches only |
| Tracking starts | 9 October 2026 |
| Upgrades go live | 3 February 2027 |
| OVR upgrades | +1 at 4 starts (max 86), +1 at 8 starts (max 87) |
| Attackers and midfielders | PlayStyle+ at 7 goals + assists, 5★ weak foot at 10 |
| Defenders and keepers | PlayStyle+ at 4 clean sheets, 5★ weak foot at 7 |
| Americas leagues | Lower targets for NWSL, MLS, Liga MX and LPF |
The upgrade paths (EA)
Most leagues (excluding the Americas)
| Target | Upgrade |
|---|---|
| 4 starts | +1 OVR (up to max 86) |
| 8 starts | +1 OVR (up to max 87) |
| ATT/MID: 7 goals and assists combined · DEF/GK: 4 clean sheets | +1 PlayStyle+ (max 1) |
| ATT/MID: 10 goals and assists combined · DEF/GK: 7 clean sheets | 5★ weak foot |
NWSL, MLS, Liga MX and LPF
| Target | Upgrade |
|---|---|
| 2 starts | +1 OVR (up to max 86) |
| 3 starts | +1 OVR (up to max 87) |
| ATT/MID: 2 goals and assists combined · DEF/GK: 2 clean sheets | +1 PlayStyle+ (max 1) |
| ATT/MID: 4 goals and assists combined · DEF/GK: 3 clean sheets | 5★ weak foot |
Which positions count as what
EA splits the cards into two groups:
- ATT/MID: CM, CAM, LW, LM, RW, RM, ST
- DEF/GK: GK, RB, LB, CB, CDM
Note that CDM is in the DEF/GK group, so a holding midfielder's PlayStyle+ and weak foot upgrades come from clean sheets, not goals and assists.
The small print
Domestic league only
EA says upgrades are based solely on domestic league match performance. Cup ties, European club games and international matches don't count towards any of the targets.
Clean sheets need the player on the pitch
A clean sheet only counts if the player features in the match (EA). A defender who sits on the bench while their team keeps a clean sheet gets nothing towards it.
Starts, not appearances
The OVR upgrades are based on starts, so coming off the bench doesn't count towards them. EA doesn't say whether goals and assists scored as a substitute count towards the goals-and-assists targets. [CONFIRM: whether league goals and assists from substitute appearances count.]
What happens if a card already has the upgrade
- A card that already has a PlayStyle+ gets +1 base PlayStyle instead (EA).
- A card that already has 5★ weak foot gets 5★ skill moves instead (EA).
The OVR caps
The two OVR upgrades stop at 86 and 87. Read as written, a card that's already 86 can't gain from the first upgrade, and a card on 87 or higher can't gain OVR at all, so its upgrades come from the PlayStyle+ and weak foot targets. [CONFIRM: how EA applies the max 86 / max 87 caps to cards already rated 86 or above.]
When upgrades arrive
EA says tracking began on 9 October and the live upgrades release on 3 February. That's after the January transfer window, so a player who moves club, or moves between an Americas league and a European one, could change which targets apply. EA doesn't cover that. [CONFIRM: how EA treats a mid-season move into or out of NWSL, MLS, Liga MX or LPF.] EA also doesn't say whether everything lands at once on 3 February or in stages. [CONFIRM: single 3 February drop or staged release.]
How to judge a Future Stars card
We don't predict upgrades, but you can weigh up the odds yourself. Here's what to look at:
- Is the player a regular league starter? Four starts is the first OVR target in most leagues. A player who starts most weekends has a real shot at both OVR upgrades by February. A player who's mostly on the bench, or out injured, doesn't.
- Which league are they in? NWSL, MLS, Liga MX and LPF players need far fewer starts and goal involvements, so they hit the targets sooner. Their league calendars also differ from European ones, so check when their seasons run.
- Which group are they in? Attackers need goals and assists; defenders, keepers and CDMs need clean sheets. A full-back on a strong defensive side may hit the clean-sheet targets faster than a winger on a struggling team hits 7 goal involvements.
- How high is the card already? Because of the 86 and 87 caps, the OVR upgrades matter most for cards rated 85 or lower. Higher cards depend on the PlayStyle+ and weak foot targets.
- Does it already have 5★ weak foot or a PlayStyle+? Then the fallback (5★ skill moves or a base PlayStyle) is what it's playing for.
You can follow the cards on FUTWIZ Players. Future Stars items come from packs, SBCs and objectives; the current SBCs are on FUTWIZ SBCs.
Future Stars vs Destined for Glory
Both promos upgrade on real-world domestic league form, so if you followed Destined for Glory, the idea will feel familiar. The targets and rewards are different, though, so don't assume a DFG rule carries over. Our Destined for Glory Team 1 guide covers that promo's rules.
Key Future Stars dates
| Date | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 9 Oct 2026 | Future Stars Team 1 live; upgrade tracking starts | EA |
| Week 1 | "Back to Basics" Exhibition (4-4-2 formation lock) | EA |
| Fri 16 Oct 2026 | Team 2 reveal expected | Community reporting [CONFIRM: Team 2 reveal date and time] |
| From Sat 17 Oct 2026 | PlayStyle+ Lab and the first UEFA Star Performers eligible for PlayStyle+ upgrades | EA |
| Week 2 | Second Ultimate Gauntlet and a new Flash Rush event | EA |
| Wed 3 Feb 2027 | Live upgrades release | EA |
The PlayStyle+ Lab and UEFA Star Performers upgrades are separate from the Future Stars upgrade paths. EA lists them under Week 2, not as part of the Future Stars tables.
FAQ
When do Future Stars upgrades come out in FC 27?
On 3 February 2027. EA says tracking started on 9 October and the live upgrades release on 3 February.
Do cup and Champions League games count?
No. EA says upgrades are based solely on domestic league match performance.
Do MLS and NWSL players upgrade faster?
They have lower targets. In NWSL, MLS, Liga MX and LPF, 2 and 3 starts give the OVR upgrades, and 2 and 4 goals plus assists (or 2 and 3 clean sheets) give the PlayStyle+ and weak foot upgrades (EA).
How many upgrades can a Future Stars card get?
Up to four: two +1 OVR upgrades (to a maximum of 87), one PlayStyle+ (or a base PlayStyle if it already has one) and 5★ weak foot (or 5★ skill moves if it already has it).
Does a CDM upgrade on goals or clean sheets?
Clean sheets. EA puts CDM in the DEF/GK group with GK, RB, LB and CB.
Does a clean sheet count if the player doesn't play?
No. EA says the player must feature in the match.
Do Future Stars Academy cards get these upgrades?
EA's tables are for Future Stars Player Items. The Academy is a separate set of Evolutions you build yourself; see the Future Stars Academy guide.
Related guides
- Future Stars Team 1 hub
- Future Stars Academy Evolution
- Destined for Glory Team 1 guide
- FUTWIZ: Players · SBCs · Evolutions
Sources
- EA: Football Ultimate Team 27 - Future Stars (9 Oct 2026): both upgrade tables, position groups, footnotes, tracking and release dates, Week 1 and Week 2 content
- EA: Football Ultimate Team 27 - Destined for Glory (25 Sep 2026): domestic-season upgrades
- FUTWIZ: SBCs (checked 12 Oct 2026, 09:15 BST)
The Team 2 reveal date comes from community reporting. We haven't predicted any individual upgrades or included ratings or prices.
