Football Manager 26 Lands the FIFA License — Here’s What That Actually Means for Your Save

FIFA finally meets Football Manager – and it actually matters

As someone who’s sunk more hours into Football Manager than I care to admit, this caught my attention for a simple reason: the series has never had the official FIFA license. Football Manager 26 changes that. Sports Interactive says FM26 will ship with official FIFA integration for international football – including the expanded 48‑team Men’s World Cup and the Women’s World Cup – with a post‑launch update in June adding official kits and broadcast‑style graphics. The game launches November 4 on PC, PS5, Xbox and mobile, with Switch following December 4. That’s a big swing before the real‑world 2026 tournament kicks off, and it could reshape how we all approach international saves.

Key takeaways

• FM26 secures the official FIFA license, bringing real tournament names, logos, and formats for the Men’s and Women’s World Cups.
• A June update adds official kits and presentation elements — great for immersion, but a staggered rollout raises questions for early saves.
• Release dates: November 4 on PC, PS5, Xbox and mobile; December 4 on Switch.
• Expect a bigger focus on international management — but watch the fine print on what’s licensed where, especially on mobile/Touch.

Breaking down the announcement: what changes in practice

Licensing isn’t just a logo on a splash screen. For FM, it dictates what names, emblems, and formats appear without community fixes. The FIFA license should mean you’ll get the proper World Cup branding, the official 48‑team format (with its expanded group stage and more knockout spots), and authentic fixtures and tie‑breakers. Ditto for the Women’s World Cup — which is potentially huge if Sports Interactive fully supports women’s football structures in FM26. That’s the one big unknown right now: does “license included” translate to a playable, robust women’s database at launch, or is this primarily about tournament branding with deeper systems arriving later? SI once promised women’s football would come to FM “when it’s ready,” and FM26 might be the moment — but we need clarity.

The June update adding official kits and graphics is great for immersion, but I’m side‑eyeing the timing. FM veterans know that structural changes to competitions usually require a new save, while visual assets can update mid‑save. If kits and presentation land in June, will your year‑one international save pick them up, or are we starting fresh to see the full package? It’s a fair question to ask before you commit 60 seasons to a national team dynasty.

Why this matters now (and why SI might actually pull it off)

Since EA dropped the FIFA name and pivoted to EA Sports FC, the FIFA brand itself has been adrift in gaming. Football Manager stepping in to own the “official” international management fantasy is clever and honestly overdue. FM already nails the brainy part of football; bolting on proper World Cup presentation is the kind of mainstream hook that could pull lapsed fans back in ahead of 2026.

From a community standpoint, this also lowers the barrier to entry. New players won’t need to hunt down third‑party name fixes or kit packs just to make international play feel legit. That’s a win. And if the Women’s World Cup is meaningfully integrated — with scouting, development pipelines, and tactical nuance that respects the women’s game — FM26 could broaden the series in a way that feels additive, not tokenistic.

The caveats: licensing fine print, platforms, and the save game dilemma

Not everything is sunshine and confetti cannons. The FIFA license covers FIFA competitions — it doesn’t magically pull in UEFA or every national FA. So don’t expect Champions League branding to suddenly appear; that’s a separate deal. Also, the staggered content rollout suggests a living roadmap rather than a “complete on day one” package. That’s normal in 2025, but it means planning your saves around updates if presentation matters to you.

Platforms matter too. FM26 lands on PC, PS5, Xbox and mobile on November 4, with Switch on December 4. PC remains the most flexible and moddable home for FM — especially if you like custom databases or deep tactical UI mods. Console versions have come a long way with pad‑friendly interfaces, but the big question is whether every platform gets feature parity for the FIFA integrations. Historically, Touch/Mobile trims depth for performance and accessibility; I’m waiting to hear if the full international suite reaches phones or if some content is pared back.

What this changes for your saves

International management just went from “nice side quest” to “headliner.” The 48‑team World Cup format means more nations can realistically qualify — which makes underdog saves juicier. Think dragging a mid‑tier nation through an expanded playoff picture, or juggling club responsibilities with international call‑ups that actually reference official windows and broadcast beats. With official presentation arriving in June, my plan is simple: start a club project at launch, then pivot to an international save when the update hits so I can enjoy the full broadcast vibe without restarting.

One more community angle: licensing sometimes adds restrictions. FM has traditionally embraced editors and modding. If any FIFA stipulations limit editable elements for official competitions, that could pinch the sandbox a bit. I hope SI fights to keep the series’ openness — it’s a big part of why FM has outlived every rival.

Looking ahead

On paper, this is the smartest licensing play SI could make before 2026. It gives FM26 a clear cultural moment to own, and if the Women’s World Cup is more than a logo swap, it could be the edition we look back on as a pivot for the series. I’m excited — cautiously — because the pieces line up. Now I want specifics: save compatibility for the June update, depth of women’s football systems, and how feature‑complete the mobile and Switch versions will be.

TL;DR

FM26 finally gets the FIFA license, bringing official Men’s and Women’s World Cups and a June update with real kits and TV‑style graphics. It’s a big win for immersion and a likely boost to international saves — just keep an eye on platform parity and whether you’ll need a fresh save to see the full presentation package.