Football Manager 26 is set to continue the legacy of one of the most beloved football management simulations in gaming history. With new tactical tools, expanded features, and improved match-day presentation, FM26 promises to deliver the depth, realism, and excitement that fans have come to expect. Whether you’re a longtime veteran of the series or a newcomer curious about managing your first club, this latest edition brings innovations that make every decision on and off the pitch meaningful.
Football Manager 26 Release Date
Football Manager 26 is set to arrive on November 4, 2025, bringing the latest iteration of the series to Windows, macOS, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. For those looking for a slightly different experience, a Nintendo Switch version (FM26 Touch) will follow on December 4, 2025. This version is optimised for handheld play, offering a streamlined interface and touch-friendly controls without sacrificing the strategic depth fans have come to expect.
By staggering the release dates, Sports Interactive ensures that each platform delivers the best possible experience. Whether you’re playing at home on a console, managing your club on PC, or taking your team on the go with a Switch, FM26 promises to provide the same immersive football management experience across all devices.
Football Manager 26 Advanced Access
For fans eager to get a head start, Football Manager 26 offers an Advanced Access Beta on PC. By pre-ordering the game through participating digital retailers, players can access a playable version of the game ahead of the official launch, starting on October 23, 2025. Careers started during the beta can be carried over to the full release, allowing early adopters to seamlessly continue their journey once full release arrives.
Football Manager 26 Gameplay
Football Manager 26 continues the series’ tradition of delivering the deepest and most immersive football management experience available. This edition introduces several major improvements designed to make both the strategic and day-to-day aspects of managing a football club feel more realistic. For the first time, the game fully integrates women’s football, allowing managers to lead women’s teams with the same level of depth, attention to detail, and tactical nuance previously reserved for men’s leagues. This inclusion reflects the growing global popularity of the women’s game and opens FM26 to a broader audience than ever before.
Tactical gameplay has also been expanded. Managers can now create separate strategies for in-possession and out-of-possession phases, giving unprecedented control over how their teams behave in different situations. Coupled with a redesigned user interface, including the “Portal” and “Tiles” system, navigating complex tactics and player data is more intuitive, letting both new and veteran players focus on the aspects of management they enjoy most.
The match-day experience itself has been overhauled as well. Thanks to a rebuilt camera system inspired by real-world TV coverage, every game feels closer to a live broadcast, with smoother animations and more dynamic player movements. Combined with enhanced visual detail and the Unity engine’s performance improvements, the game balances realism with accessibility, making each match engaging whether you prefer to watch every second unfold or focus on the bigger tactical picture.
In essence, FM26 offers a management simulation that grows with you: whether you’re charting a long-term club dynasty or experimenting with bold tactical innovations, the game provides tools and flexibility to make every decision meaningful.
PC Specifications
To run Football Manager 26 on PC, make sure your system meets the following requirements:
MINIMUM:
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10 (with updates 22H2), Windows 11 (with updates 23H2)
- Processor: Desktop: Intel Core i3-530 or AMD FX-4100 | Laptop: Intel Core i3-330M or AMD A6-5200 – Requires SSE4.2 & SSSE3
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: Desktop: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 or AMD Radeon R9 380 or Intel HD 530 | Laptop: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M or AMD Radeon R9 M375 or Intel HD 530 512MiB VRAM
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 20 GB available space
RECOMMENDED:
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 11 (with updates 23H2)
- Processor: Desktop: Intel Core i5-9600 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600 | Laptop: Intel Core i5-1035G7 or AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
- Memory: 12 GB RAM
- Graphics: Desktop: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 or AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT | Laptop: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile or AMD Radeon RX 6600M
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 20 GB available space
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