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In a huge moment for football gaming, Sports Interactive has just confirmed a new partnership with FIFA, football’s world governing body. The multi-year deal will officially bring FIFA’s biggest competitions to the Football Manager series, starting with Football Manager 2026 (FM26). For the first time, players will be able to experience the FIFA World Cup™, FIFA Women’s World Cup™ and FIFA Club World Cup™ inside Football Manager, all fully licensed with authentic branding, broadcast graphics and official kits for every team.
FIFA World Cup 26 included in FM26
The partnership means that FM26 will include the upcoming FIFA World Cup 26™, hosted across Canada, Mexico and the United States. It will be the largest tournament in World Cup history, featuring 48 teams, and every nation will have its official kit and logo included once available. The game will also feature official tournament branding and presentation to match the real broadcast experience.
Revamped International Management
Alongside the partnership, Sports Interactive is introducing a major update to the game’s International Management mode. A new and fully playable version will arrive as a content update for FM26 ahead of the World Cup. This update will be available for FM26, FM26 Console and FM26 Touch, while FM26 Mobile (available on Netflix) will include it from launch.
This means managers will be able to take charge of their nation, guide them through qualifying, and lead them into the World Cup using official FIFA visuals and structure.
A major step forward for authenticity
Sports Interactive described the partnership as a milestone for the series, bringing an extra level of realism and global reach to Football Manager.
“This partnership allows us to bring the world’s most recognised football tournaments into Football Manager,” the studio said. “It’s an exciting step forward in capturing the full scale of the sport, from club football to the international stage.”
What’s next?
Further details about the new features will be shared closer to release, but fans can already expect a deeper, more immersive international management experience than ever before.
For the first time in the game’s history, Football Manager players will have the chance to lift an officially licensed FIFA World Cup trophy.
- Date Created
- 17 Oct 2025 14:19:40
- Date Updated
- 17 Oct 2025 14:19:40
- Last Comment
- 17 Oct 2025 23:27:49
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The OG KiKo
To be fair to them, that's a great pull. A shame to not have it from the off - but a brilliant addition
Drajen
But what about international team' manager? They said before that in FM26 it will be only club manager (from the start) and you can't chose to manage Nation from the start or when they release their previous manager
kingrobbo
the crux is this- while FM26 Mobile (available on Netflix) will include it from launch
so that means it wont be an option on any other platform when the game is released?
SI as usual are not clear with simple communication
kingrobbo
from SI this makes more sense, apart from Touch all other platforms will have to wait until 2026 for a content update[no date yet but their post elludes once all 48 teams are known so that would be late March 26 at the earliest]
why not make all platforms the same at game lauch they have had 2 years to do this-
Latrell yard man
A bit of a joke tbh.
Drajen
and how about to manage not WC2026 national team? As we used to do in earlier FMs' like manage Slovenia or Madagascar? I want this option, not only Wc2026
kingrobbo
you need to complain on their forums
they have come to the conclusion that most users only want to manage a national team when a major tournament is on…this is nonsense,
it is an option as it is going to be in touch so put it in all platforms and leave it to users to decide, we are buying the product its up to us to decide when/if we want to manage a national team