What changed in Football Manager 26 in 2026

All careers can be carried over from the free play period into the paid Launch Preview and full release without restarting.

The pre-purchase window for FM27 is live, offering 10% off through SEGA-approved retailers.

The FM27 Launch Preview includes Shuffle Draft, a new fast-paced multiplayer addition.

The FM27 Launch Preview is now free to play on PC/Mac until 3 November, allowing players to experience the complete FM27 game.

As a Launch Preview, players may encounter bugs and glitches that developers will address in future updates.

Participants can return or remove players from the draft pool up to five times during a Shuffle Draft event.

Hosts can select parameters to create sets of players for drafting, including preset groups and custom pools.

The Match Day experience is enhanced to support the new Shuffle Draft gameplay.

Shuffle Draft events can be created offline with AI teams filling required slots, and online spaces can be filled by AI managers.

Matches can occur simultaneously in knockout tournaments or league formats, with results and statistics available between games.

Squads can consist of 14, 16, 18, or 20 players, allowing for varied team compositions.

A new online game mode that reimagines the Fantasy Draft experience, allowing players to compete in a fast-paced, strategic environment.

Players can carry over save progress from FM24 and FM26 to FM27.

Football Manager 27 will be free to play from October 29 to November 3.

Pre-purchase for FM27 opens on October 29, offering a 10% discount.

FM27 introduces a clearer interface, enhanced match engine, and new tactical controls.

Improvements to the 2D match engine for better tracking of matches with community feedback incorporated.

Adjustments to fixture scheduling to align with real-world laws and formats.

More actionable advice from backroom staff during recruitment and match preparation.

Changes to message delivery for clearer and more actionable information regarding performance and scouting.

Incorporation of drums being played by supporters during matches for clubs known for this.

New statistics and data points available for match preparation and analysis.

New player gestures for free-kicks and interactions with referees during matches.

Added depth to player status flags, providing more information on player activities.

Introduction of new competitions in Chile and Peru, alongside league restructures.

The In-Game Editor has been redesigned for a full-screen experience, enhancing user interaction.

Playback of matches is now possible immediately after leaving a match with new speed settings.

New accessibility options including larger font sizes, removal of certain UI animations, and a dedicated section in Preferences for accessibility settings.

Introduction of an option for managers using a wheelchair, visible in multiple areas of the game including match day cutscenes.

New layout options for displaying information on screen, available in Small, Medium, and Large sizes for 1440p resolution or above.

Improvements in the visual look and presentation of newgens, including more detail in skin, hair, and facial expressions.

Introduction of a custom color picker tool for deeper customization in manager appearance.

New customization options for players when creating their manager, including body morphs, ethnicity, skin features, and facial features.

Multiple UI changes implemented to ensure easier access and fewer clicks.

Training area is now easier to navigate and more intuitive, focusing on match preparation.

New feature allows creation of training plans during international camps.

Fewer clicks required to set up common or recurring training plans.

A brand-new system that connects training schedules with tactical style and football philosophy.

Training options now emphasize building plans towards the next match and opposition.

New visual indicators show the physical load of training plans on the squad.

Improvements to player animations and movements for more realism.

Updates to jockeying, player speed, and attacking movements.

New feature allowing managers to quickly adapt instructions during a match.

Enhanced visual model and animations for more dynamic gameplay.

Clearer guidance on Shouts and their effects on player behaviour.

Easier access to data points during and after matches for tactical decisions.

Introduction of a wider variety of stadiums with upgraded texturing and shading for greater immersion.

Crowd movements now reflect significant moments, with clothing variations based on weather conditions.

More realistic player and manager models with varied body types and improved hair physics.

Visual changes during matches to reflect different weather and time-of-day conditions.

More dynamic and varied cutscenes with improved camera angles and context-sensitive adjustments.

Upgrades to the match day environment including crowd behavior, stadium designs, and pitch aesthetics.

Key screens revamped to display important information and insights more quickly.

Player career details are now displayed in full screen for easier navigation.

News content is more varied and connected to the season stage, enhancing immersion.

Transfer deadline day is emphasized with redesigned agent offers visible on the Recruitment screen.

Cup draws return, allowing players to experience suspense in match pairings.

Players are taken to different key areas instead of returning to the News feed after hitting Continue.

Gameplay footage shown is from a near-final development build with ongoing visual optimizations.

Two quick start options available for managing a nation in the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

Improvements to squad registration and selection process for the FIFA World Cup™.

New feature allows managers to focus training on In Possession, Out of Possession, and Set Pieces.

New scouting features to find eligible players, including undeclared players.

Players can now manage national teams in FM26, including the FIFA World Cup™.

Managers can now hire a Set Piece Coach to improve training outcomes.

A special challenge event for managing Curaçao, the smallest nation to qualify for the World Cup, with a chance to win a trip to Curaçao.

Players can now manage national teams in the FIFA World Cup 2026™ within Football Manager 26.

Players can choose from nine nations including Argentina, Germany, Canada, Norway, Netherlands, Morocco, South Korea, Curaçao, and England.

A special event inviting players to guide Curaçao in the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

A second update is scheduled to include remaining official kits and final tournament squads for FIFA World Cup 2026™.

Players can dive straight into FIFA World Cup 2026™ action with a new quick start option.

At launch, 47 of the 48 qualified nations for FIFA World Cup 2026™ will be playable.

Changes made to player condition to enhance recovery during international tournaments.

International Management has arrived with new tools and game upgrades for Football Manager 26.

New option to select Match Preparation training focuses before matches.

Updates include licensed assets for the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

National Pool and National Shortlist have been updated for better player management.

Added Scouting Focuses to identify dual nationals and young players.

New tools for match preparation have been added to enhance gameplay.

Further improvements have been made to the User Interface.

In-game assets including branded headers, themed backgrounds, and new cutscenes.

Reworked squad registration flow with a new Provisional Squad selection system.

Ability to manage women’s national teams for the first time in FM history.

Updates have been made to the squad building mechanics in the game.

International management arrives in FM26 ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026™.

Players can continue their journeys in FM26 using saves from FM23 and FM24.

Multiple game screens have been redesigned for improved usability.

In-match Shouts feature has been reintroduced in FM26.

Play Football Manager 26 and Football Manager 26 Console for free until April 20th.

FM26 and FM26 Console have received updates to improve stability and performance.

Upgrades made to the Match Engine AI for enhanced gameplay.

Improvements made to in-game navigation for better user experience.

Opportunities to build a dynasty in the Ekstraklasa and improve Shrewsbury's league standing.

Includes thousands of player rating changes based on recent performances.

Experience managing the most successful club in Mexican football history.

TSG Hoffenheim's squad is highlighted as one of the most improved in the latest update.

Suggestions for new adventures including clubs like Parma, Aston Villa, and TSG Hoffenheim.

Significant upgrades for Motherwell's squad based on their impressive season performance.

New playable league featuring Briton Ferry Llansawel FC in the Adran Premier.

Reyes Cleary's Flair increased after his standout performances in League One.

Lennart Karl's Current Ability significantly increased due to his contributions in the UEFA Champions League.

Danny Ormerod's Current Ability increased following his outstanding performance in the National League North.

Romeo Vermant's Anticipation Attribute upgraded as he becomes a key player for Club Brugge.

Mateus Mane's Current Ability increased due to his performance as Wolves' youngest-ever Premier League goalscorer.

Yael Trepy's Current Ability increased following his impressive debut in Serie A.

Eli Junior Kroupi's Finishing Attribute upgraded following his prolific scoring in the Premier League.

Claudio Braga's Heading Attribute increased as he leads Hearts in their title challenge.

Viktor Dadason received a significant upgrade following his record-setting performances in the UEFA Champions League.

Yan Diomande's Finishing Attribute upgraded in recognition of his strong performance in the Bundesliga.

Aaron Drinan's Finishing Attribute increased as he enjoys a prolific season with Swindon Town.

Antoine Semenyo's Current Ability improved after scoring for Manchester City following his transfer.

Updated player transfers reflecting the January Transfer Window.

Enhanced performance for large user groups.

Includes updates for multiple leagues and tournaments.

Includes updates for African World Cup Qualifying and Women's Africa Cup of Nations.

Improvements to player decision-making, defensive positioning and Match AI

Allows players to continue their careers with new additions

Fixed an issue causing Women's Football news story to appear under Men's News classification.

Resolved inaccuracies in Player Biographies.

Addressed a crash issue when rapidly switching between In & Out Possession on the Tactics screen.

Enhanced the visual representation of the Club League History Graph.

Fixed an issue where league trophy celebrations wouldn’t trigger in certain leagues.

Resolved an issue where the incorrect Out of Possession Role tile could appear on Player Instructions.

Resolved a very rare issue making the user unable to enter matches after using Clear Squad or Quick Pick.

Enhanced defensive strategies against teams using strikerless formations.

Resolved an issue causing a black screen for several seconds when entering the second match as hot seat manager.

Resolved an issue where VAR captions would sometimes display over a goal replay.

Reduced the frequency of rain occurring in matches across all leagues.

Improved the quality of the 2D Discs when on 2D Classic View.

Resolved a crash occurring in Hotseat Mode after finishing the first match of the day.

Icons added next to the shout instructions on the Shouts dropdown menu.

Adjusted how frequently AI managers make substitutions during matches.

Pass Maps added to both in-match and Data Hub sections.

Removed duplicated responses within conversation with Agent regarding player availability.

'Knowledge' column can now be added on the Shortlist screen.

'Set for Next Match' button now highlights when selected within the Tactics screen.

Staff will now better action Opposition Instructions if set to do so via Staff Responsibilities.

Resolved issue with incorrect year winner qualifying for Intercontinental Cup.

Squad depth now displays when requesting a team report from an AI club.

Adjustments made to the amount of money spent on ageing players by Premier League/High Profile clubs.

XG in the player form tile now reflects the true figure.

Player Milestones now better reflect their actual achievements.

Making changes to stadium details now updates in real-time within the In-Game Editor.

Reasons for certain achievements not unlocking have been reworded to prevent ambiguity.

Fixed issue causing a player's displayed value to drop drastically without logical cause.

Adjustments made to player reputation boosts following matches.

Viewing Past Seasons within the Stages card now functions correctly.

Player names are now better displayed when signing multiple players for intensive language courses.

League history graph no longer defaults to any specific team initially.

Outgoing transfers now total correctly within Potential Transfer/Wage Budget Impact.

Improved functionality of customizing/rearranging column placement on the first team squad view.

Number of transfers in/out now correctly displays on saves ported from previous editions of FM.

Resolved issue causing game to freeze when using Instant Result during hotseat mode.

Stadium size now displays correctly regardless of graphics quality settings.

Fixed issue where news item discussed the team's last game at their current stadium despite the match being at a neutral venue.

Fixed issue where Squad Registration for continental competitions appeared closed despite the deadline not passing.

Squad list now updates in real-time when changes are made while the 'Pkd' column is selected.

Redesigned Season Preview tile to be full screen.

Stopped game from progressing to a Player report card when clicking attributes on the Player Edit tile.

'At Club Since' column now shows correct years instead of random numbers.

Added a scroll bar to Team/Player Analytics within the Data Hub.

Tweaks made to improve functionality of the Scroll Bar in In-Game Editor.

Continue Game Timeout preference option now functions as intended.

Fixed issue where 'Set Pieces' and 'Opposition Instructions' buttons were greyed out in Pre-Match Team Selection screen.

Fixed issue where Loan Offer message stated an optional fee of £0 agreed if no loan fee was set.

Various crash fixes implemented in In-Game Editor and Pre-Game Editor.

Fixed issue preventing Continental/International rules from verifying despite correct setup in Pre-Game Editor.

Transfer fees are now correctly allocated in the NWSL when conducting a player for cash trade.

WSL Awards no longer awarded to players not deemed eligible.

Fixed issue preventing users from offering wage previously agreed to by the player agent.

Improvements made to colour select field in In-Game Editor.

Fixed issue causing the Play/Pause button to stop working if skipping a replay.

Filtering players by dates now functions as intended within the Player Search.

Wages will now correctly display in accordance with the preference set (weekly, monthly, annually).

New full-screen design for the Stages tile.

Fixed functionality for comparison between Coaching, Recruitment, and Medical staff on the Club Site screen.

Users should receive more appropriate offers from AI Clubs when offering a player out via an Intermediary.

Tactics Induction now correctly prompted if user joins a new club via Apply for Job.

Improvements made to when the IGE button is disabled and enabled.

Adjustments made to AI player asking prices.

Added new editable fields to show OOP tactics data for AI managers.

Fixed issue causing cut off on inbox items when continuing with the New tab selected.

Transition speed preference no longer resets upon game restart.