All you need to know about Football Manager 26: Beta, release date, new features…

Nestor Watach • 22 Oct 2025

Sports Interactive’s beloved Football Manager series is set to return after a two-year absence. After not getting our fix in 2025, we simply cannot wait.

With the Beta release now right around the corner, here’s everything you need to know about the long-awaited Football Manager 26 release.

When will the Football Manager 26 Beta be released?

The Beta will go live on the evening of October 23rd, with exact times set to be released on the day.

Players who’ve pre-ordered the game will get the chance to play the Beta and test out all of the new features.

When will Football Manager 26 be released in full?

The game will fully launch on Tuesday, November 4th.

What’s been revealed about Football Manager 26?

Football Manager 26 will see one of the biggest graphics improvements in the game’s history with the introduction of the new Unity engine.

By moving to Unity, the game will feel completely fresh with more detailed environments, dynamic lighting and sharper models.

The game will also introduce a tactical refresh with the introduction of dual formations, allowing you to tweak your teams shape with and without the ball.

It’s also the first time in Football Manager history that women’s football has been fully integrated into the game.

Which platforms will Football Manager 26 be available on?

It’s expected that FM26 will released on the following platforms: PC and Mac, Xbox One/S/X, PlayStation 5, with an adapted Mobile edition available via Netflix and a Touch edition on the Nintendo Switch.

It doesn’t sound as though there’ll be a full console edition in development for the recently released Nintendo Switch 2.

What does the Premier League partnership mean for Football Manager 26?

Ahead of the shelved Football Manager 2025, Sports Interactive announced that they’d agreed a multi-year partnership with the Premier League.

That meant that “all 20 Premier League clubs will be fully licensed in future FM releases with official logos, kits, and player photos featuring across our suite of titles.”

Of course, that never came to fruition last time out, but will presumably still apply to this year’s game.

Jacobson said that the Premier League have been “awesome to work with,” before teasing further official partnerships:

“All of our relationships are intact with all of the licenses – and there will be more licenses for FM26… which we look forward to shouting very, very loudly about at some point.”

Can I pre-order it yet?

Yes, the game is now available for pre-order on your platform of choice.

If you do pre-order, you’ll also get access to the Beta, which releases on October 23rd.

TRY A QUIZ: Can you name all 72 Football League clubs in 2025-26?

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