FC 27 Custom Tactics Resetting? How to Stop Players Swapping Positions

The workaround reported most often is simple: build a brand new custom tactic from scratch and do not change its formation after saving it. A widely upvoted Reddit reply suggested the bug appears when a tactic is first created in one formation and later edited into another. Players report better results when every tactic slot is created fresh in its final formation.

If you only have time for one routine, use this order before you search for a game.

It helps to know which version you have, because the fix differs slightly. Write down what you see before changing anything.

Version one: the tactic does not save. You change a role, a focus or a team setting, back out, and the old value is still there when you return. This is a saving problem rather than a match problem, so check it in the menu without starting a game.

Version two: positions swap at kick-off. The tactic looks correct in the menu, but in the match players appear in different slots. An EA Forums post described a 4-1-4-1 where the chosen wide midfielders were moved into central midfield and the central players were pushed wide, and said the players then played those wrong roles in the game. This is the version that costs the most, because you may not notice until your shape is already wrong.

Version three: settings change during or between matches. A Steam thread described a defensive line moving back to halfway, a striker and centre-back swapping, and set-piece takers not sticking, with settings needing to be changed again after half-time. An EA community manager replied asking whether it happened in every mode, between consecutive matches, or only after restarting the game, which tells us EA was still gathering details at that point.

We do not know the exact cause, and EA has not explained it publicly in anything we found. The patterns players report do offer useful clues, though, and they shape the workarounds.

The strongest clue is formation changes inside an existing tactic. When a tactic slot is created in one shape and edited into another, the game appears to keep some memory of the old position map. Players who rebuild the tactic from scratch in its final formation report fewer swaps. That is why the first step on this page is always a fresh tactic rather than a repaired one.

A second clue is multiple tactic slots with different formations. Several players report that keeping all saved tactics in the same formation, and only varying roles, focuses and team settings between them, reduces the problem. If the game must switch formations between slots at kick-off, there seem to be more chances for the line-up to be rebuilt in the wrong order.

A third clue is imported codes. A share code brings in someone else's formation and settings, and players report that a hand-built copy can behave more reliably than the imported version. That does not mean codes are broken, only that it is worth comparing a manual rebuild if you see swaps after importing.

Set aside five minutes, do this once, and then test it in a low-stakes match such as Squad Battles or a friendly before you rely on it in Rivals or Champions.

Many players keep a base tactic, a defensive tactic to protect a lead and an attacking tactic to chase a game. That is still a good idea, but during this bug it is safer to keep all three in the same formation and change only roles, focuses, line height and build-up style between them.

For example, a 4-2-3-1 base can become more defensive by lowering line height and asking the wide midfielders to stay back, and more attacking by moving one central midfielder into a more adventurous role. You keep three clear match plans without asking the game to rebuild the entire position map each time you switch.

If you really need a different formation for one plan, rebuild that tactic from scratch in that formation and test switching to it during a friendly before using it in a match that matters. Our Ultimate Team tactics guide explains the base, protect and chase plans in more detail.

Until EA confirms a fix, a quick check saves you from conceding early with a broken shape. Open your tactic and look at three things: are the right players on the wings, is your striker actually at striker, and is your defensive line where you set it?

Then, in the first stoppage of the match, pause and check the same three points. If something is wrong, fix it immediately rather than waiting for half-time. Note what changed and whether it happened after a restart or between consecutive games, because that detail is exactly what EA support asked for in public threads, and it makes any bug report you send far more useful.

Reports with clear details help EA reproduce problems. If you post in the EA Forums FC 27 feedback area or contact EA Help, include your platform, the game mode, the formation before and after, whether the tactic was imported from a code, and whether it happens every match or only after restarting. Screenshots of the tactic screen and the in-match line-up are the most useful evidence.

Keep the report factual and short. A list such as 'PS5, Ultimate Team Rivals, 4-1-4-1, LM and RM swap with CMs at kick-off, tactic built fresh, happens every match' is easier to act on than a long complaint.

Do not keep editing the same broken tactic over and over. Players report that repeated edits to a tactic that already swaps players rarely fix it, and it is quicker to rebuild once.

Do not assume a downloaded file, mod or third-party tool can fix it. There is no official tool for this, and anything that changes game files can put your account at risk. Stick to in-game menus.

Do not blame your formation choice. The reports cover many formations, including 4-2-1-3, 4-1-4-1 and others, so changing to a different shape alone is unlikely to be the answer. If you want to learn a reliable shape while the bug is around, start with our 4-2-3-1 guide.