Football Manager 2026 Partners With FIFA to Include Official World Cup Licences

Sports Interactive has announced a landmark partnership with FIFA, marking the first time the governing body’s official tournaments and branding will appear in the Football Manager series.

Under this multi-year agreement, Football Manager 2026 (FM26) will feature officially licensed versions of the FIFA World Cup, FIFA Women’s World Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup, complete with authentic team kits, broadcast graphics, and tournament presentation.

The deal coincides with the upcoming FIFA World Cup 26, which will take place across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

A New Era for International Management

Alongside the new partnership, Sports Interactive confirmed that FM26 will introduce a fully revamped International Management system, expanding the scope and realism of managing national teams.

The updated module will arrive as part of a Content Update next year across FM26, FM26 Console, and FM26 Touch. Players will be able to lead their nations through qualifying rounds and major international tournaments using the real-world format, teams, and presentation style of FIFA competitions.

Studio Director Miles Jacobson described the deal as a “historic moment” for the franchise.

“Heading into a World Cup year, revamping international management and making it a much more feature-rich module for our players was important,” Jacobson said. “To be able to do that with FIFA’s official support is a real honour — and this is just the start of our relationship.”

Unity-Powered Evolution

Football Manager 2026 will also mark a major technical leap for the franchise, as it becomes the first entry developed on the Unity Engine. Sports Interactive says this shift will modernise the game’s visuals, interface, and performance while maintaining the depth and authenticity that define the series.

The partnership with FIFA represents a clear signal of ambition for both the studio and the long-running management sim. With official tournament licensing and a rebuilt engine, FM26 is shaping up to be one of the most transformative entries in Football Manager history.

Football Manager 2026 launches on November 4 across PC and consoles.