Football Manager 26 Release Date Confirmed With Premier League License and Women’s Football Debut
- Sagar Mankar
- 14 hours ago
- 2 min read
Sega and Sports Interactive have confirmed that Football Manager 2026 will release worldwide on November 4, 2025.
Fans will remember that Football Manager 2025 was scrapped earlier this year, a surprising move for a franchise that has rarely skipped a yearly cycle. That cancellation wasn’t just a delay; it was a reset. FM25 was originally supposed to be the biggest leap forward in the series, with a brand-new engine and massive visual upgrades. But as Sports Interactive admitted at the time, the game was “too far away from the standards you deserve.” Rather than releasing a half-finished product, the studio took the bold step of shelving it completely to focus all resources on FM26.
Now, after a year-long gap, we finally know what all that extra work has been building toward. And it looks like this could be the most ambitious Football Manager yet.
Release Plans Across Platforms
Football Manager 26 will arrive first on PC and Mac, alongside Football Manager 26 Console for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
These versions launch day one on Game Pass at no extra cost.
The Nintendo Switch will get Football Manager 26 Touch on December 4, while FM26 Mobile will release on the same day as the main version—November 4—but exclusively for Netflix subscribers.
According to the developers, this mobile edition won’t yet move to the Unity engine but will still support save compatibility with careers from FM24 Mobile.
One of the biggest changes this year is that all core versions of FM26 (PC, Console, and Touch) are powered by the Unity engine for the first time.
A Landmark Set of Features
Studio director Miles Jacobson called FM26 a “landmark release” and said it sets Sports Interactive up for the “next 20 years and beyond.” The key features include.
Unity Engine Upgrade – The series’s first-ever transition to Unity means more lifelike player animations, volumetric motion capture, and richer matchday detail.
Premier League License – Fully licensed clubs, kits, badges, and player photos from England’s top flight, complete with authentic broadcast-style presentation.
Women’s Football Debut – At long last, women’s football arrives in FM. Over 35,000 players are included, seamlessly integrated into the existing database.
Overhauled UI – A redesigned interface introduces the new “Portal” hub, built for smoother navigation and quicker decision-making.
Save Game Compatibility – You’ll be able to carry forward careers from FM23 and FM24 into FM26.
Early Access and Pre-Purchase Bonuses
Just like previous entries, Sega is offering a 10% discount on digital pre-purchases of FM26 until launch. PC players who pre-purchase on Steam or the Epic Games Store will also get early access to the game about two weeks before release, with the ability to carry over single-player careers into the final version.