Football Manager 2026 is the latest instalment in the popular football simulation series. Featuring a new engine, authentic licences and the debut of women’s football, it’s a real revolution. Download Football Manager 26 for free now!
Unity is a new, groundbreaking game engine
It is also worth noting that, in recent years, the producers have gone further by creating console versions of Football Manager. Previously, titles in this series were only available on PCs. This has recently changed, and the latest instalment will be playable on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, for example.
However, the most important thing is the changes. Football Manager 2026 is the first instalment in the series to run on the Unity engine. This technological change means not only a new look, but also greater opportunities for future development. This is already evident in the completely redesigned interface. It is now easier to navigate the flood of information, and decision-making — whether concerning the line-up, transfers, or tactics — is intended to be more intuitive.
Despite the switch to a new engine, FM26 will support saved games from Football Manager 2024 and 2023 on PC, consoles, and the Nintendo Switch. This is good news for those who want to continue their careers without starting from scratch. Importantly, for the first time, the mobile version will also be able to transfer saved games between editions.
Premier League licence
However, the biggest news is that FM26 has secured a full Premier League licence. This includes the official logos, kits and team names, as well as realistic match settings inspired by real broadcasts.
Thanks to this, every match in the English Premier League will look and sound exactly like the real thing. Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City fans will be able to experience the stadium atmosphere even before the players emerge from the tunnel. Players have been waiting years for this step, which brings the game closer than ever to real football.
New gameplay features
The matchday mode has also been expanded. You can see more details on the pitch, and the new animation system makes the players’ movements look more natural. The developers are calling it the most spectacular FM yet. The first video previews look promising.
Alongside major changes, the developers have announced a number of smaller improvements. These include transfers, tactics, manager creation and integration with console controllers.
Changes have also been made to the artificial intelligence ‘under the hood’. Rival managers are said to react better to the situation on the pitch, and the transfer system has new algorithms that are said to make clubs’ moves more realistic. Taken together, all these changes make FM26 look set to be the most ambitious instalment in the series’ history.
For the first time in history, Football Manager 26 will feature the ability to manage women’s club and national teams. The developers have announced that this will be an integral part of the game, rather than a separate mode or add-on.
In practice, this means new tactical challenges and a different style of play, as well as an opportunity to familiarise yourself with the rapidly developing women’s football scene. It is a response to the growing interest in women’s competitions, and further proof that Sports Interactive wants Football Manager to reflect the full richness of modern football.
But why is this part of the series so important?
A year ago, the Football Manager world held its breath when FM25 was ultimately cancelled due to technical problems. This was a difficult decision for fans, but it enabled the team to concentrate on perfecting the latest instalment.
FM26 is set to show that patience pays off. The developers emphasise that the game is not a revolution for the sake of it. Every new feature has been introduced with quality and realism in mind. If the announcements prove true, we could be looking at one of the highest-rated instalments in the series’ history.
When is Football Manager 26 coming out?
Football Manager 26 will go on sale on 4 November 2025. You can download the game right now! It will be available on PC, as well as on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S consoles. Mobile gamers will also be pleased to hear that the game will be available on iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.
Download Football Manager 26 for free using the button below. This article also includes instructions on how to download and install the game.
- Here is the link to purchase the game: Football Manager 26
- Genre: Sports games
- Supported languages: ES/ENG/MULTi
FM 26 system requirements
Minimum:
- Processor: Intel Core i3-530 / AMD FX-4100 (desktop) or Intel Core i3-330M / AMD A6-5200 (laptop). SSE4.2 & SSSE3 support required.
- Graphics card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 / AMD Radeon R9 380 / Intel HD 530 (desktop) or Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M / AMD Radeon R9 M375 / Intel HD 530 (laptop) with 512 MB VRAM
- DirectX version: 11
- RAM: 4 GB
- Operating system: Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
- Disk space: 20 GB
Recommended:
- Processor: Intel Core i5-9600 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600 (desktop) or Intel Core i5-1035G7 / AMD Ryzen 7 3750H (laptop)
- Graphics card: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 / AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (desktop) or Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile / AMD Radeon RX 6600M (laptop)
- DirectX version: 11
- RAM: 12 GB
- Operating system: Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
- Disk space: 20 GB