SEGA Delays Football Club Champions to 2026, Focuses on Quality and FIFA-Licensed FM26

SEGA has officially delayed its upcoming free-to-play football management sim, SEGA Football Club Champions, from its original 2025 release window to early 2026. Along with the delay, the game has been rebranded as SEGA Football Club Champions 2026 and will launch on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC via Steam, iOS, and Android.

Football Club Champions 2026 delayed for polish experience

The decision comes after feedback from a closed beta test held in August, which highlighted areas that needed more polish. SEGA explained that the additional development time will allow the team to improve overall quality and add new features before launch. A livestream with fresh updates, including a more specific release date, is scheduled for November on the game’s official YouTube channel.

When it does arrive, Football Club Champions 2026 will offer two distinct ways to play. Career Mode lets you build a football club from scratch, while Dream Team Mode is designed for competitive multiplayer, featuring Event Matches, Arena competitions, and Room Matches.

Licensing and Football Manager Connection

One of the game’s biggest selling points is its extensive licensing agreements. SEGA confirmed that over 10,000 professional footballers will be included, with 1,500 players from Japan’s J1, J2, and J3 leagues. International partnerships extend to FIFPRO, South Korea’s K League, and even Premier League champions Manchester City FC.

The game is also “powered by Football Manager,” though SEGA hasn’t detailed exactly how deep that connection runs. What we do know is that this title is essentially the Western release of SEGA’s long-running Japanese series Pro Soccer Club o Tsukurou (SakaTsuku), which has been around since 1996.

Football Manager 26 Arrives Next Month

While Football Club Champions has been pushed back, SEGA isn’t leaving football fans empty-handed. Football Manager 26 is set to launch on November 4, 2025, with an open beta beginning October 24. This year’s entry is particularly significant: it’s the first in the series to feature official FIFA licensing, thanks to a new multi-year partnership.

That means players will see authentic branding for the FIFA World Cup 2026, the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup, alongside improved visuals and performance powered by the Unity Engine.

For now, fans will need to wait a little longer for SEGA Football Club Champions 2026, but with FM26 around the corner, there’s still plenty of football action to look forward to.