In Pro Clubs every human controls one Virtual Pro and the AI plays the empty positions (new to the mode? Here’s how Pro Clubs works). So what if you only have three players and the AI keeps letting you down? For years the answer has been the ANY position. Here’s how it works in EA FC 27, what we could and couldn’t confirm, and the other ways to get more out of your AI teammates.
How the ANY position works
ANY has been part of Pro Clubs since long before EA SPORTS FC. This is how it has worked:
- One player picks ANY in the lobby instead of a position like ST or CB.
- In the match they control their own Pro and every player not controlled by another human, and switch between them like in Ultimate Team or Kick-Off.
- ANY needs at least one other human in the lobby. You can’t run a “club” of one person who controls all 11.
- You can pick ANY even with ten other humans, but then there’s no point: you’d only control the goalkeeper or one empty spot.
- Other clubs can choose not to face ANY teams. In earlier games there was a matchmaking option to opt out of matches against clubs using ANY, and most clubs used it.
Is ANY still in FC 27?
EA hasn’t said either way. None of EA’s FC 27 Clubs articles (The Grounds Deep Dive, the Gameplay Deep Dive or the launch update) mention ANY.
What we found:
- In FC 26 players were still asking EA to remove “ANY positions” from Pro Clubs on EA’s feedback forum, so it existed there.
- On EA’s FC 27 The Grounds & Clubs forum, players describe an “all-in-one” player who controls every AI player in 11v11, and say the option to avoid such teams doesn’t always stop you meeting them.
So our best reading is that ANY is still in FC 27 11v11 Clubs, but we couldn’t confirm the exact name of the opt-out setting in the new Clubhouse lobby. Check the position list and matchmaking options in your lobby before you build your evening around it.
Should you play as ANY?
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔ You decide what every AI player does | ✘ Many clubs opt out of playing ANY teams, so matchmaking can be slower |
| ✔ Fixes the worst AI mistakes with 2–4 humans | ✘ Hard work: you’re playing a full team while others play one player |
| ✔ Useful now that AI defenders don’t tackle on their own | ✘ Opponents tend to see it as unfair against small clubs |
FC 27 makes ANY more tempting, because AI defenders no longer auto-tackle: they hold position and support the play until a human takes over. A good ANY player can do exactly that, switching to the right defender and making the challenge. But be honest with yourself about whether you’re up for it. It’s closer to playing Ultimate Team with your friends watching than to playing Clubs.
How to make AI teammates better in Pro Clubs
If your club doesn’t use ANY, you still have control over how the AI plays. You just do it before and between matches.
All of it lives in My Club: Tactics → Edit Tactic → Player Roles sets each AI player’s role and focus, and Customize → AI Player lets you rename AI teammates and change their face, gear and animations (checked in game, October 2026). Looks don’t change how they play, but a named AI squad is easier to talk about on voice chat.
Set FC IQ roles for the AI-filled positions
Since FC 25, tactics run on FC IQ. Each position gets a Role and a Focus, which decide how the player moves and positions in and out of possession. Human Pros ignore roles; they only steer the AI. So spend your time on the positions the AI will fill.
| AI position | Safer role | More attacking role |
|---|---|---|
| Centre-back | Defender or Stopper | Ball-Playing Defender |
| Full-back | Fullback | Wingback or Attacking Wingback |
| Defensive midfield | Holding | Deep-Lying Playmaker or Box Crasher |
| Central midfield | Holding | Box-to-Box or Playmaker |
| Winger | Wide Midfielder | Inside Forward or Winger |
| Striker | Target Forward | Advanced Forward or Poacher |
In FC 25, EA said AI squadmates in Clubs had Role+ familiarity for every role, so you could play them anywhere. In FC 27 the Clubs tactics screen still shows the green + (Role+) next to every role we assigned (checked in game on 8 October 2026), so that looks unchanged.
To plan it with your club first, set roles on our tactics board: mark which positions are human and which are AI, then share the link.
Pick a formation that suits your numbers
With only a few humans, pick a shape that keeps AI players in safe positions: 4-2-3-1 or a back five such as 5-3-2. Put your humans in the spine (centre-back, central midfield, striker). Our attacking formations and defensive formations guides have setups by squad size.
Use the in-match tactics carefully
During a match, the D-pad gives quick tactical options such as Team Press and Offside Trap, plus switching between saved tactics. In older games only the club captain in the lobby could use these in Clubs. We haven’t confirmed how FC 27 handles it, so check who has the rights in your lobby. Two FC 27 changes to know:
- Team Press has no effect while the ball is in your defensive third (EA, Closed Beta Feedback Update).
- Teammate Contain (hold R1 / RB, when you control the team) now has the AI teammate mark the ball carrier from slightly further away. It delays the attacker but rarely wins the ball.
Our old advice for ANY players was “high pressure and second man press”. In FC 27 we’d change that: pressing high still works, but the AI won’t finish the job for you near your own box. You have to switch to a defender and make the tackle yourself. For full setups by squad size, see our best Pro Clubs tactics.
Drop into an AI slot mid-match
If your clubmates are already playing, you can join a match in progress and take over an AI player in any free position, if your club’s settings allow it. You can’t replace another human. EA fixed some failures with this Hot Join feature in Title Update 1.0.1.
One known issue: EA’s 2 October launch update lists the 11v11 Drop-In preferred position not being applied correctly as a bug it’s testing a fix for. If you pick a position in Drop-In and get a different one, that’s why.
How to control all players in other modes
Outside Clubs you always control the whole team. You can only control one player at a time, but you can switch freely:
| Action | PlayStation | Xbox |
|---|---|---|
| Change player | L1 | LB |
| Manual switch to a specific player | Right stick in a direction | Right stick in a direction |
| Player Lock (stay on one player) | L3 + R3 | LS + RS |
| Switch while locked | Flick the right stick | Flick the right stick |
In the controller settings you can also set Auto Switching (when the game switches for you) and Right Stick Switching. If you want full control, keep auto switching to a minimum and switch manually.
Player Lock is useful in Kick-Off or with friends: it keeps you on one player, a bit like playing as your Pro, until you flick the right stick to switch again.
Tips
- 01Agree on ANY before kick-off. Decide who plays ANY, and expect some opponents to opt out of matches against you.
- 02Use ANY to defend, not to dribble. In FC 27 the AI holds shape but won’t tackle. That’s where the ANY player makes the most difference.
- 03Set roles for the AI, not the humans. Human Pros ignore FC IQ roles. Make the AI positions safe.
- 04Watch fatigue. Long-term fatigue is back in Clubs since Title Update 1.0.1, for AI players and Pros alike.
- 05Choose your camera. The Pro camera follows you only. If you play ANY, a wider camera such as Co-Op helps. See our camera settings guide.
For camera setups, read best camera settings for Pro Clubs.
FAQ
Can you control all players in Pro Clubs?
Only by playing as ANY: one human controls every AI player plus their own Pro. Everyone else controls just their own Pro. EA hasn’t documented ANY for FC 27, but players report it’s still in 11v11 Clubs.
Can you switch players in Pro Clubs?
Not as a normal Pro. You control one player for the whole match. Only the ANY player can switch between the AI-controlled players.
How do you make AI teammates better in FC 27 Clubs?
Give the AI positions sensible FC IQ roles and Focuses, pick a formation that keeps the AI in safe positions, and put your humans in the spine of the team. Remember that FC 27’s AI defenders hold position rather than tackle, so you need a human defender in the middle.
Can you play ANY on your own?
No. In previous games ANY needed at least one other human in the lobby. For solo play, use Drop-In or Rush, or a mode like Kick-Off where you control the whole team.
Sources
Checked on 8 October 2026:
- EA SPORTS: FC 27 Gameplay Deep Dive (29 Jul 2026), FC 27 Closed Beta Feedback Update (3 Sep 2026) and The Grounds developer launch update (2 Oct 2026)
- EA SPORTS: FC 25 Clubs Deep Dive (FC IQ in Clubs, AI Role+ familiarity)
- EA Forums: Get rid of ANY positions in Pro Clubs (FC 26) and the FC 27 The Grounds & Clubs board (player reports, not EA statements)
- Altchar: How to access and play Pro Clubs in FC 27 (25 Sep 2026, joining matches in progress)
- Insider Gaming: FC 27 Title Update 1.0.1 patch notes (23 Sep 2026, Hot Join and fatigue)
- FIFPlay: FC 27 controls and FC 27 Player Roles; fifauteam: FC 27 controls (Player Lock)
- LiquidFC: FC 27 controller settings (22 Sep 2026)