Football Manager 26: Every Exciting Thing You Need to Know

After nearly two years of anticipation, Sports Interactive is finally set to release a new FM installment: Football Manager 2026. While FM24 launched in late 2023, FM25 was initially expected to follow in late 2024. However, following mixed reports and unexpected delays, Sports Interactive made the bold and, at the time, controversial decision to skip FM25 entirely.

Fast forward to a year later, we’re getting FM26, and from the looks of things, taking a year to refine FM26 rather than rushing FM25 was a good idea. So, with a new Football Manager game just around the corner, what can we expect from the most extensive football simulation video game series?

What’s New in FM 26

FM26 makes some huge promises, from more vibrant match sims to better-looking pitch, stadium, and crowd animation, and even improved match physics and player animations. The game is also introducing numerous exciting new features that are sure to reignite the series and ensure that FM’s return is one to remember.

FM 26 New UI/UX  

One of the biggest changes we’re getting in FM26 is a complete overhaul of the game’s UI/UX. The layout, style, functionality, and format of every screen and setting are getting revamped. This redesign not only greatly improves the game’s aesthetic but also enhances its practical gameplay. 

The redesign is divided into two categories: tiles and cards. 

The tiles range from small amounts of information to larger cards containing more material and further detail. This is done to build a sense of exploration, revealing the depth and detail of Football Manager without having to sift through multiple screens.

More UI/UX Changes

• FM 26 is replacing the old inbox system with a new News Portal system.
• You can now bookmark important information for easy access whenever you need it.
• The search tool and FMPedia are also getting overhauled.

New Game Engine

To support the lofty goal of improved graphics, gameplay, and performance, Sports Interactive is introducing the Unity Graphics Engine to FM 26 and all future iterations. 

For a series that is more about in-depth detail and behind-the-scenes realism, the Unity engine is a huge upgrade to the kind of visuals we’ve come to expect from Football Manager games. 

The introduction of the Unity Graphics Engine is the biggest upgrade to graphics we’ve seen in an FM game in over a decade.

The new engine promises improvements to the visually immersive experience both on and off the pitch, smoother and more realistic player animations with over 7000 new animations, better lighting and shadow effects, new and unique 3D models to give male and female players a more individual feel, better match day experiences, and more detailed stadiums.

Female Football in Football Manager 26

The biggest and most exciting change to FM is the introduction of the female game to FM26. With the continued rise of women’s football, including the growing prominence of players, national teams, and leagues, the introduction of female national teams and up to 10 different women’s football leagues and competitions in FM26 will significantly expand the game’s content and challenge while enhancing its realism.

The female leagues will reportedly be tied directly with the male leagues, with managers being able to switch seamlessly from coaching male teams to coaching female teams. This addition is a major step towards the total integration of all things football into FM.

More Additions

With yearly game releases, there are always a few additions that improve on the previous release. After a year away, Sports Interactive has added a few exciting features to the game.

• The introduction of the fully licensed Premier League for the first time.
• Official licensing of the Barclays WSL and WSL 2 to coincide with the introduction of female football in the game.
• More realistic player attribute scaling.
• More realistic player injuries
• Improvements to the Player Profile screen.
• More depth to tactics and match strategies.
• New player roles and positions
• The ability to carry over your save files from previous games as far back as FM23

Release Date and Platforms

Football Manager 26 is set to launch on November 4, 2025, and will be available on PC/Mac, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and mobile devices for both Android and iOS via Netflix. The game will be available on the Nintendo Switch a month later, on December 4th. You can now pre-order FM26 for PC/Mac.