Sega’s Football Manager returns after a year off, and you can play it before its official launch next month, if you join the beta today.
Football Manager 26 marks the return of the long-running management sim after last year’s entry, Football Manager 25, was cancelled following several delays.
This means fans have been starved of a new game since November 2023, when Football Manager 24 launched. The popular sports franchise, developed by British studio Sports Interactive, has seen a new annual release every year since Football Manager 2005.
Fear not though football nerds, because Football Manager 26 is just around the corner – and if you’re particularly keen, you can play it weeks before launch, via advanced access.
What time does the Football Manager 26 early access beta start?
The early access window for Football Manager 26 kicks off today (Thursday, October 23) on PC and Mac. Early access is not available across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, or mobile.
Sports Interactive has confirmed the early access period will go live from 8pm BST in the UK, albeit ‘subject to final build checks’.
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This means you’ll be able to play the full game 12 days early, before its worldwide launch on November 4. A Nintendo Switch version is set to release later on December 4, 2025.
How can I get access?
The only way you can get early access is by pre-ordering Football Manager 26 through Steam or the Epic Games Store. By doing this, you’ll receive advanced access and a 10% discount, bringing the cost down to £44.99, from £49.99.
According to Sports Interactive, any single-player careers started during the advanced access period can be continued when the game updates for launch on November 4.
What’s new in Football Manager 26?
This is the first entry developed in the Unity engine, which brings with it revamped on-pitch visuals. Football Manager 25 was originally set to be the first entry to use this new engine, but complications in the transition led to it being cancelled.
Football Manager 26 will also be the first to integrate women’s football, and the menus have undergone a ‘game-changing user interface overhaul’, according to Sports Interactive.
For anyone picky about official branding, this year’s entry has full licensing for the Premier League and FIFA. A free content update, coming next year, will add a playable International Management module to coincide with the FIFA World Cup 26.
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