Like previous entries, Football Manager 26 tasks players with managing a professional football club, handling tactics, transfers, training, and finances.[4] The game will run on the Unity engine, a departure from the custom engine used in earlier titles. The game introduces improved matchday graphics, ball physics, and animations, designed to provide a more realistic footballing experience.[5] A redesigned user interface offers a streamlined navigation system, with features such as bookmarks and customizable dashboards.[6]
Development
Sports Interactive originally planned to release Football Manager 2025 as the first title on Unity. However, in February 2025, the studio cancelled FM25, admitting the project did not meet internal quality standards.[7] The decision allowed developers more time to polish features and optimize performance.
Football Manager 26 will also be the first game in the series to fully integrate women's football, with more than 35,000 licensed players included at launch.[4][5] Additionally, the game features full licensing for the Premier League, expanding authenticity across competitions.[3] Despite the technical leap, the game’s minimum system requirements remain accessible, able to run on older hardware, while recommending modern GPUs for enhanced visuals.[8]
Reception
Early previews praised the decision to delay FM25 and relaunch with FM26 as a “course correction” for the series.[7] Critics highlighted the Unity engine’s graphical improvements and the inclusion of women’s football as landmark changes for the franchise.[2][4] Fan response on community forums was mixed, with some players expressing concern over feature cuts, while others defended the decision as necessary for long-term stability.[9]
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