EA FC 27 is completely overhauling how corner kicks and crosses work, putting total control into the hands of the player. To help you navigate the crowded penalty box, EA has introduced a brand new mechanic called Avoidance, which works hand-in-hand with Shielding.
Holding Avoidance allows your player to become evasive, slipping through crowded areas in the box without getting blocked or bumped by the opposition. It is important to note that Avoidance can be used by both attackers and defenders to navigate the chaos.
However, Shielding is specifically for attacking players. Once you use Avoidance to navigate into open space, you can hold the Shielding button to anchor your attacker to that spot, preventing defenders from stepping in front of you before the ball arrives.
How to trigger Avoidance and Shielding
Here are the exact inputs to use the new mechanics:
- To trigger Avoidance: Hold R1 (PlayStation) or RB (Xbox) during the window before the ball is delivered.
- To trigger Shielding: Hold L2 (PlayStation) or LT (Xbox) once you are in position.
Here is a full breakdown of the massive corner kick and crossing changes coming to EA FC 27 so you can put these mechanics to use.
The New Corner Kick Camera and Free Movement
In previous games, direct corner deliveries felt heavily assisted, leading many players to just play the ball short. FC 27 is changing that by giving you a specific window of time to control the action inside the box.
When you take a direct corner, you will target your desired area as usual. However, before the ball is kicked, the camera will quickly shift toward the penalty box. During this brief window, you take full control of your attackers. You can move, switch players, make runs, and use the Avoidance and Shielding combo to fight for the best position.
This is incredibly important because free movement is now fully manual. Your players will no longer automatically shuffle into the perfect spot to head the ball. If you do not manually time your run and attack the space, the ball will simply fly past everyone.
(Note: If you take a short corner, the game skips this box camera and reverts to your normal gameplay angle.)
Crossing Rework: Less Assistance, More Skill
It is not just corners getting a rework; crossing in open play has also been heavily nerfed in terms of AI assistance.
In FC 26, crosses had very predictable flight paths because they would magically lock onto specific attackers. In FC 27, crosses are delivered into open space. Your manual aim and power input now dictate exactly where the ball lands. If your aim is sloppy, the cross will completely miss your attackers. The goal is to reward players who can accurately read the space and play the ball into a dangerous area for a teammate to run onto.
Finishing Variety and Headers
Because crosses and corners require so much more manual input, the way players finish those chances will look and feel very different.
The battle for the ball is now entirely skill based. Depending on your timing and the angle of the delivery, attackers will now stretch, dive, or contort their bodies to try and make contact.
Because of the reduced assistance, landing a clean header will happen much less frequently than in FC 26. However, there is a major tradeoff: when you do time your run perfectly and connect with a clean header, the shot will be much more accurate and rewarding.
Are you excited to have more manual control over corners, or will you stick to playing it short? Let us know in the comments below, and keep an eye on the FUT.GG News page for more FC 27 gameplay updates and deep dives!