What We Want to See in FM26

Football Manager 26 is just around the corner — and it’s carrying the weight of a franchise reboot.

After the cancellation of FM25 and a longer development cycle than we’re used to, Sports Interactive has a huge opportunity (and a big responsibility) to get this one right. For those of us who’ve been playing since the days of text-only match engines and regens with square heads, it’s clear: FM26 has to feel like a fresh chapter, not just a patched-up continuation.

We already know some big changes are coming — a new engine, a revamped UI, and the long-awaited addition of women’s football. But for FM26 to really hit the mark, here’s what we — the dedicated, lifelong FM community — want to see.

Modern Match Engine

This is the big one. FM26 will run on the Unity engine, and that means a new match experience — finally. But this can’t be another incremental tweak. We need fluid animations, realistic player movement, believable ball physics, and goalkeepers that don’t defy logic.

We’re not asking for EA FC graphics. But in 2025, FM’s match engine needs to look and feel like it belongs in the current gaming era.

Modern Tactical AI and Adaptation

Tactically, FM has fallen behind the real-world game. Rival managers don’t adapt meaningfully to your system. You can dominate with one formation for seasons without seeing a genuine counter.

FM26 needs to bring in a more modern tactical model, including:

• In-possession and out-of-possession formations
• Tactical adaptation mid-match and over a season
• Pressing structures, block heights, and defensive shapes
• Smarter opposition scouting and pre-match preparation

When we play against elite clubs or tactically astute managers, we should feel the difference. The AI should challenge us to evolve, experiment, and actually think like a manager again.

Smarter Transfer Logic

One of the longest-standing frustrations in Football Manager is the way AI clubs handle transfers. They’ll spend £40 million on a player, then bench them for a season. They hang on to aging stars well past their prime, and often reject a wage offer during negotiations — only to accept a significantly lower one weeks later.

In FM26, transfers need to feel more grounded in logic and long-term planning. AI clubs should:

• Target areas of weakness instead of hoarding talent
• Rebuild squads realistically over time
• React to financial pressure and squad dynamics
• Engage in more believable negotiations

Transfers are one of the most exciting parts of FM. It’s time the AI made them just as smart as they are satisfying.

Photo-Realistic Newgen Faces

Newgens are the lifeblood of long-term saves — and their faces still look like early 00’s-era creations. In a world where AI can generate lifelike human faces in seconds, why are FM newgens still stuck with bizarre eyebrows and expressionless avatars?

Even a modest visual upgrade would help. Ideally? AI-generated, photo-realistic faces that reflect age, nationality, and personality traits.

Youth Team-Only Management

Instead of jumping straight into a first-team role, imagine managing U18s or U21s, developing talent, competing in youth leagues, and climbing the ladder from within.

It’s realistic. It’s immersive. It adds long-term narrative depth. And it opens a new path for career saves — one that mirrors real-life stories.

Realistic Financial Management and Sponsorships

FM’s financial side is deep, but not very interactive. In FM26, let’s add layers of realism — like negotiating sponsorships, planning commercial strategies, or even building club reputation through off-pitch decisions.

With the rise of football as a business, this side of the game deserves more attention than a spreadsheet and a transfer budget.

A Stadium Builder or Customization Tool

Here’s one for the dreamers: let us build or customize stadiums.

Whether it’s naming a new stand, upgrading facilities, changing seat colours, or even visually designing your new home ground — giving players control over their club’s physical identity adds personality and long-term satisfaction to saves.

Even a limited version of this feature would be a huge win.

More Dynamic Press Conferences and Team Talks

If you’ve played FM for more than a few seasons, you already know: press conferences and team talks quickly become repetitive. Same questions. Same answers. Same reactions.

In FM26, these should be reimagined to offer:

• More variety in questions and tone based on current events (injuries, rivalries, scandals)
• Context-aware media reactions, like grilling you after a losing streak or praising bold tactical shifts
• Team talk outcomes that vary more based on personality types, morale, and match stakes
• More long-term consequences — for example, a poor press conference before a cup final should rattle your squad

This area has tons of potential for storytelling, immersion, and psychological nuance — and right now, it’s underused and often skipped.

Stat- and Badge-Gated Features for Realistic Progression

In FM right now, you’re immediately given access to all managerial responsibilities, regardless of your profile. But in real life, you don’t walk into a club with full tactical control, total board respect, and instant access to top-tier responsibilities — especially if you’re an unproven rookie.

FM26 could introduce a progression system based on coaching badges, reputation, and managerial stats, where:

• Tactical complexity is unlocked as you gain higher licenses (e.g., access to advanced pressing structures or player role freedom at UEFA A/Pro)
• Board influence scales with trust, so you might need to earn the right to request facility upgrades or influence club philosophy
• Media handling, team talks, and mentoring options expand as your Leadership or Man Management attribute grows
• Training methods and modules are limited or simplified early on, then deepen as your Tactical Knowledge or Attacking/Defending coaching improves

This adds a realistic RPG-style layer to the game, where your manager grows over time, just like players do.

You could even tie this into:

• In-game coaching courses that take time and money
• Staff or mentors who offer stat boosts (e.g., shadowing an experienced manager)
• Career mode “trees” like Technical Manager, Motivator, or Talent Developer