Football Manager is set to get official FIFA competitions for the first time. The studio has signed a multi-year deal with FIFA that will bring official licenses for the top FIFA football tournaments. These include the FIFA World Cup, FIFA Women’s World Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup. Upcoming Football Manager 26 will be the first game to feature these official competitions.
FIFA World Cup 26 Coming to Football Manager 26 Soon
FIFA World Cup 26 will be the first FIFA competition to feature in Football Manager 26. The 23rd edition of the men’s football World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It will be the biggest World Cup yet featuring 48 teams. The tournament will kick off on June 11, 2026, and is set to conclude on July 19, 2026.
The official announcement reveals players will see official kits for all 48 teams that will qualify for the FIFA World Cup 26. It will also feature the official branding and broadcast graphics for an authentic and immersive gameplay experience. The studio says more details will be revealed closer to the launch.
The release will coincide with the release of the revamped International Management module that will be a part of the Content Update next year. It will be available for Football Manager 26, Football Manager 26 Console, and Football Manager 26 Touch ahead of the FIFA World Cup 26 kickoff. The studio is yet to share an exact release date, but it confirmed the International Management module will be available at launch for the Football Manager 26 Mobile (Netflix) edition.
As mentioned in the beginning, this is the first time FIFA and Football Manager are teaming up for official licenses to the former’s competitions. The deal is said to be “muti-year” but exact duration has not been specified yet. Nevertheless, this is an exciting addition for Football Manager fans who are already looking forward to various other changes included in the upcoming version.
Football Manager 26 will be the first game in the franchise to feature fully-licensed Premier League. These include official club names, badges, kits, and player photos. It is also the first game to feature women’s football. The studio has also switched to Unity Engine for game development for the first time. The change helped the team incorporate over 7,000 new animations, improved lighting and shadow effects, and new 3D models for men’s and women’s players.
Football Manager 26 Release Date
The different versions of Football Manager 26 will be released on the following dates:
- Football Manager 26 on November 4
- Football Manager 26 Console on November 4
- Football Manager 26 Touch on November 4
- Football Manager 26 Mobile (Netflix) on November 4
- Football Manager 26 (Nintendo Switch) on December 4
