Football Manager 26 Launches on 4 November with Women’s Football Debut

Sports Interactive and SEGA have confirmed that Football Manager 26 will launch worldwide on November 4, introducing a landmark set of changes for the long-running series following the cancellation of FM 25.

Powered by the Unity engine for the first time, FM26 brings upgraded visuals, new volumetric animations drawn from real-life matches, and the addition of a fully licensed Premier League. According to studio director Miles Jacobson, the release represents “a landmark moment in our quest to produce football management perfection.”

Women’s Football Arrives

For the first time, women’s football will be fully integrated into Football Manager 26, uniting both the men’s and women’s games under one ecosystem.

Backed by what Sports Interactive calls the “most comprehensive database of its kind”, a range of licensed competitions will be unveiled in the coming weeks for fans to really get stuck into, and explore a new range of competitions to make their mark.

“Setting Sports Interactive up for the next 20 years and beyond was an enormous undertaking but I couldn’t be prouder of the efforts of the whole team over the past two years. FM26 represents a landmark release in our quest to produce football management perfection and the whole studio is really excited to share it with the world,” added Jacobson.

Platforms and Versions

Alongside the main PC and Mac release, Football Manager 26 Console will arrive on PlayStation 5 and Xbox consoles the same day, available through Xbox Game Pass. Football Manager 26 Mobile launches as a Netflix exclusive, while Football Manager 26 Touch returns to Nintendo Switch on December 4.

Despite the engine shift, FM26, FM26 Console, and FM26 Touch will all support save game compatibility with Football Manager 2023 and 2024. Mobile players will also gain the feature for the first time, giving them continuity.

Pre-Purchase Details

Pre-purchases are open now via approved digital retailers, with a 10% discount. Players on PC and Mac who order early can also access Advanced Access, set to begin around two weeks before launch. Saves from this period will carry over into the full release.