Kick Off and Custom Tournaments need deeper offline customization

FC 26 has improved a lot compared to FC 24 and FC 25, especially in terms of animations, match variety and authentic gameplay. Matches feel more alive, and there are more unique situations on the pitch. However, Kick Off and Custom Tournaments still need much deeper customization for offline players.

The main issue with Kick Off is not simply whether extra time or penalties are available. The problem is that the match context is not properly defined before kick-off.

For example, if I want to play a knockout match that should go to extra time if the score is level, the game does not really treat it as a knockout match from the beginning. After 90 minutes, if the score is 1-1, the atmosphere drops and the commentary reacts as if the match has simply ended: “the match finishes 1-1.” Only after that can the player continue with extra time or penalties.

This breaks immersion. In a real cup match, quarter-final, semi-final or final, everyone knows before kick-off what will happen if the teams are level after 90 minutes. The tension should increase near the end of normal time. The commentators should react accordingly. Extra time should feel like the natural continuation of the match, not like an option added after the match is already over.

Kick Off should allow players to define the match scenario before starting: friendly match, league match, group stage match, knockout match, quarter-final, semi-final, final, two-legged tie, neutral venue, draw allowed, extra time, penalties, and so on.

The scenario system was a good idea, but it does not go far enough. A two-legged Champions League-style match is not very practical in Kick Off because most players do not want to manually play two full matches with the same teams just to create a European knockout situation. What is missing is the ability to quickly create a realistic single-match scenario with the right rules, atmosphere and presentation.

Custom Tournaments also need more flexibility. It is already possible to create direct knockout tournaments with up to 64 teams, which is good. But if we create a 64-team tournament with a group stage, we should not be locked into only 8 groups of 8. A 64-team tournament should also allow 16 groups of 4, which is a much more realistic and useful format.

Another limitation is the maximum number of teams. EA SPORTS FC includes hundreds of clubs and national teams, but Custom Tournaments only allow a much smaller part of that content to be used at once.

The current 64-team limit feels too restrictive for offline players. It would be great to have larger tournament options, such as 128-team or even 256-team knockout competitions.

This would allow players to create massive cup formats: a world club cup, a full domestic-style cup with multiple divisions, a Europe vs South America competition, or a giant all-clubs knockout tournament. It would make much better use of the hundreds of teams already available in the game.

Not every player would use these formats, but for offline players who enjoy creating their own football stories, this would add huge replay value without requiring new licenses, new teams or a completely new mode. The content is already there — Custom Tournaments just need to let us use more of it.

Match presentation should also offer more options: kick-off time, weather, stadium, neutral stadium for knockout matches when needed, and crowd attendance.

Finals already use a neutral stadium, which is good, but other knockout matches should also be more customizable. Not every knockout match should automatically be played in one team’s home stadium. Sometimes we want a neutral venue, especially for semi-finals, domestic cup matches, international-style tournaments or custom competitions.

Crowd attendance should also be customizable. A full stadium for every single match looks spectacular, but it is not always realistic. A small cup match, a group stage game, a lower-profile domestic match and a major final should not all have the same atmosphere. Being able to choose between low, medium, high and full attendance would add a lot to immersion.

Kick-off time is another important detail. Too many Custom Tournament matches feel locked into the same night-time presentation. A league match, a cup match, a group stage game and a final should not all automatically feel like they are being played at 20:00. Players should be able to choose the time of day and weather more freely, especially in offline modes.

FC 26 is better on the pitch, but offline modes still need to let players create realistic football scenarios. Kick Off and Custom Tournaments should be true sandbox modes for football fans.

These options would not require a completely new mode. They would simply allow players to make better use of the teams, stadiums, rules and presentation elements that already exist in the game.