Alright folks, GM Games here with the latest on Football Manager 2026. After the FM25 drama earlier this year, you’ve all been asking: “Is FM26 on track? And what’s it actually going to bring to the table?”
We’ve been tracking everything, leaks, community chatter, studio moves… and it’s time to give you a no-nonsense update.
What Happened With FM25?
Let’s not sugarcoat it: FM25 got canned. Sports Interactive officially scrapped the game in February, refunding pre-orders and admitting they just couldn’t get the quality right, especially with a new engine, revamped UI, and expanded features all trying to come together at once.
They didn’t just delay it, they buried it and moved their entire focus to FM26. That alone tells you how serious they are about getting this next one right.
FM26 Is Real and Well Underway
Everything we’ve seen since points to FM26 being deep in development. There was confirmation from SEGA that FM26 is targeting a “Fall 2025” release window. Internally, the team’s been hiring QA testers for months, working out of Sofia, with test cycles extending into next year. That tells us they’re already deep in either alpha or early beta.
And let’s not forget: FM24 had over 17 million players. The pressure is on to deliver a game worthy of that momentum and SI knows it.
The Silence Is Loud but It’s Strategic
One thing that’s bugged the community is the total lack of communication from SI so far this year. No sneak peeks, no roadmap, nothing. That’s rare. But when you think about what happened with FM25, it makes sense. They’re playing this one close to the chest until everything is locked down.
From our perspective, that’s a smart move. They’ve burned goodwill with delays and half-teases before. This time, I’d bet they’re planning a full-blown reveal closer to launch, probably September.
When Will It Drop?
Let’s talk timing. If you’ve followed FM for a while, you know the pattern. Releases typically land late October to early November. FM24 was a bit of an outlier with that early December launch, but that felt like a one-off.
With FM26, here’s how the timeline likely shakes out:
Reveal trailer and features: Early to mid-September
Early access (for pre-orders): Last week of October
Full release: First or second week of November
There’s always a small chance it slides into December if polish is still needed, but I’d say that’s the exception, not the plan. Right now, November is looking like the sweet spot.
Why FM26 Matters More Than Ever
This isn’t just FM25 with a new coat of paint. FM26 is shaping up to be a full rebuild—what SI themselves have called a “generational overhaul.”
They’re switching over to the Unity engine, which means a whole new level of visuals, smoother animations, and likely better optimization across platforms. We’re expecting a brand-new interface, with a card-based layout replacing the old inbox system. That’s designed to streamline how you absorb info and make decisions day-to-day.
And yes, women’s football is finally set to be integrated properly. It was planned for FM25, and now it’s expected to land in FM26 with a full database of players and staff. Add to that broader platform support, possibly even on services like Netflix and Apple Arcade, and you’ve got a title aiming to hit players wherever they game.
This is the biggest technical and design leap for the series in at least a decade.
Final Thoughts
So, where does that leave us?
FM26 is real, it’s deep in development, and all signs point to a launch right around early November 2025. The silence from Sports Interactive might feel strange, but this time, it’s likely by design. They’re all in on making sure FM26 doesn’t just meet expectations, it resets them.
If you’ve been hanging back waiting for something worth getting excited about, this might just be the one.
We’ll keep tracking everything from here, feature reveals, release dates, and what early access looks like. Stay tuned. This could be the Football Manager we’ve been waiting years for.
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