To score from a corner in EA FC 27, aim your delivery, then use the short window before the ball arrives to take control of an attacker in the box: make your run, hold Shielding to keep your spot, or hold R1 (PlayStation) or RB (Xbox) to trigger the new Avoidance move and slip past markers. Players no longer drift automatically to where the ball will land, so you have to read the flight, time the run and make contact yourself.
Crosses changed the same way: they now go into space where you aim them rather than locking onto a teammate. Below we cover the corner control window step by step, Avoidance and Shielding, headers, crossing, how to defend corners, and which players and PlayStyles help, all verified against EA’s Gameplay Deep Dive and Closed Beta Feedback Update for EA SPORTS FC 27.
How the New Corner Window Works
EA says FC 26 already let you control a player in the box, but it assisted heavily, moving your player toward the ball’s expected landing spot. FC 27 removes that assistance. Per the Gameplay Deep Dive:
- Aim the delivery. Target the area you want to hit, as usual.
- The camera shifts to the box. After you target the delivery, the view moves toward the penalty area and gives you a brief window to control your attackers.
- Move, switch, run. In that window you can move your player, switch between attackers, make runs, shield, or use Avoidance to jostle for position.
- Meet the ball. Your player will not be moved into the right spot for you. Reach the right place at the right moment and you get the header or volley; misjudge it and the ball can evade everyone.
This only applies to crossed corners. Short corners return you to your normal gameplay camera once the ball is played.
Avoidance and Shielding
Avoidance is FC 27’s new corner mechanic. Hold R1 on PlayStation or RB on Xbox during the window before delivery, and the player you control becomes more evasive, moving through crowded areas without being blocked by opponents. EA notes it works for any attacker or defender you control.
Shielding is the partner move. Once Avoidance has found you space, shield to hold that position and stop opponents stepping in front of you. On the default layout, shielding is held on L2 (PlayStation) or LT (Xbox); check Pause > Settings > Basic Controls if you have remapped.
The pattern EA describes is simple: Avoidance to escape your marker, Shielding to hold the pocket you found, then attack the ball.
Timing Headers
Headers are harder to connect cleanly in FC 27, but EA says clean contact is more accurate than in FC 26. Three things decide whether you win the ball:
- Height and jumping. A tall player with strong Jumping can meet the ball earlier in its flight, so aim your deliveries at them.
- Momentum. EA says it is “not only about getting to the right spot, it’s also about how and when you arrive there.” Arriving at speed beats standing still.
- Angle. Expect attackers to stretch, dive or adjust their run to reach the ball, which EA says produces more varied finishes, including diving headers.
Players with the Precision Header PlayStyle head the ball with more accuracy and power; EA narrowed the gap between its PlayStyle and PlayStyle+ versions this year.
Crossing in Open Play
EA calls FC 27’s crossing a “Crossing Rework.” Crosses used to be heavily assisted with predictable trajectories. Now:
- Crosses are delivered into space more often instead of directly onto a player.
- Your aim and power have a much bigger effect on where the ball lands, so a careless cross can miss everyone.
- The goal is to play the ball in front of your runner, not at where they currently are.
Pair crosses with FC 27’s new run controls to get bodies into that space. Triggered Curved Runs (tap L1 + R1 on PlayStation, LB + RB on Xbox) bend a runner into open space; Pass and Follow Runs (L1 + R1 + X or LB + RB + A) send the passer on a curved overlap or underlap. Triggered runs now stop after a limited distance, so re-trigger them if you keep the ball near the runner. Wide players with the Whipped Pass PlayStyle cross faster and with more curve, and the PlayStyle+ adds exceptional power to driven crosses. The cards that fit are in our highest rated players list.
Defending Corners
The same window works for defenders, and the habits from our defending guide apply. Switch to a centre-back, use Avoidance to get goal-side of the attacker you are marking, and shield to hold the spot. Players with the Aerial Fortress PlayStyle jump higher and have more presence in defensive aerial duels. Attackers no longer get auto-positioned either, so the side that reads the delivery first usually wins it.
Set pieces reward practice more than ever. EA Help points to Play > Learn to Play > Practice Arena and the Training Center for rehearsing set pieces without waiting for a match, and in Career Mode the new Practice Arena on the Central Hub adds Scenarios. For tactical setups that commit players forward, see our best tactics guide, and for everything else the EA FC 27 hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What button is Avoidance in FC 27? Hold R1 on PlayStation or RB on Xbox during the window before a corner is delivered.
Why does my player not move to the ball on corners? FC 27 removed the assistance that moved your player toward the landing spot. You now have to read the trajectory and time the run yourself.
Do short corners use the new system? No. After a short corner is taken, you return to your normal gameplay camera.
Are headers weaker in FC 27? Clean headers are less frequent because contact needs more precision, but EA says clean headers are more accurate than in FC 26.
Why do my crosses miss everyone? Crosses now go into space based on your aim and power instead of locking onto a teammate. Aim in front of your runner and adjust your power.