Supported FM version: 26.3.1 (World Cup update)
Supported Platform: Windows and macOS
Installation (FMSB)
Use FM Skin Builder to download CTRL, apply it to your game, and keep backups, all without juggling files by hand. When a new release is available, you’re notified in the app so you can update and apply it to your game from the same place. This is the easiest way to install the skin and get future updates.
Download the skin in the skins gallery, or grab it directly from the website: CTRL 26 on FM Skin Builder
Installation (Manual)
Extract the bundle files into your game installation folder (replace the existing files when prompted).
Windows:
Steam: \Steam\steamapps\common\Football Manager 26\fm_Data\StreamingAssets\aa\StandaloneWindows64
Xbox Game Pass: \XboxGames\Football Manager 26\Content\fm_Data\StreamingAssets\aa\StandaloneWindows64
Epic: \Epic Games\Football Manager 26\fm_Data\StreamingAssets\aa\StandaloneWindows64
macOS:
Right-click the Football Manager app → Show Package Contents.
Then navigate to the bundles folder using a similar path structure as above (`Content` → `Resources` → `Data` → `StreamingAssets` → `aa` → `StandaloneOSX`).
Paste and replace the supplied bundles.
Repository (source files, for personal use with FM Skin Builder): https://github.com/matt-wadsworth/ctrl-fm
Thanks to lotsgon, Darkside, (sic), MrTini23 and everyone else working to improve the FM skinning experience.
Notes
Recommended for 1920x1080 and above, with Small font size scaling. May work with other setups but this isn't tested.
Same for languages, tested and built in English, other languages may have issues.
Support FMSB Development
If you’d like to support ongoing development of FM Skin Builder and help cover hosting, tooling and research time, you can do so via https://ko-fi.com/lotsgon. The builder will remain free to use, contributions simply help keep the project online, stable and improving over time.
Changelog
[1.7.2] – 31/05/2026
- Fixed
- Match - Controls - Fixed crash with playback controls button/menu.
- Match - Team Stats - Replaced the team stats tile with a working version.
- Scoreboard - Fixed aggregate score display.
- Scoreboard - Fixed Nation flags/logos loading on unlicensed fixtures.
- Player Report - Performance - Tidied up the Performance tile layout to avoid overlapping elements.
[1.7.1] – 29/05/2026
- Fixed
- Crash fix for Player Report tiles.
- [1.7] – 29/05/2026
- Fixed
- 26.3.1 Support - Compatibility with the FM 26.3.1 International Management update.
- New Career Tiles - Fixed styling on the quick start tiles when starting a new career.
- Added
- Next Match Widget - Support for Nation matches and when you manage a Club and Nation.
- Main Menu / Startup - New look for International Management / World Cup.
- New Scoreboard - Custom default scoreboard with CTRL styling and layout; replaces the non-licensed scoreboard only.
- Formations - Player portraits on ongoing and past Match formation panels.
- Changed
- Player Tooltip - Fixed missing header and added season stats.
[1.6] – 12/05/2026
- Fixed
- Average Rating - Fixed the colour scale so ratings keep consistent hues instead of shifting to mismatched colours.
- Budget Adjustment - Fixed modal styling for Budget Adjustment and similar modals.
- Radio Group - Made more subtle, consistent with the rest of the skin.
- Search Component - Fixed styling for the search box and results.
- SpeakTo - Additional Actions - Styling fixes for the additional-actions UI.
- Added
- Next Match Widget - Added to navigation area.
- Player Status - Added themed status indicators for consistency with the rest of the skin.
- Changed
- Navigation - Removed navigation icons and re-introduced the active section highlight.
- Meetings - Adjusted styling for elements used in Meetings and Press Conferences.
- Match Tile Layout - Re-introduced the horizontal 2D viewer layout.
[1.5] – 30-04-2026
- Fixed
- Player Tooltip - Fixed Key/Pref row highlighting plus added more info.
- Player Photos - Fixed/removed some styling on Player Photos on Report tiles.
- SpeakTo - Advice - Removed purple gradient and label.
- Added
- Match - Club Profile - Added more info to the tile layout.
- Scouting - Table Views - Added new table views for Recommended players and TransferRoom in results. Based on sas/SYC tables. ("Scout - Position" views)
- Icons - Fatigue - Added new icons for fatigue levels.
- Changed
- Table Rows - Added subtle background to alternate rows.
- My History - Refactored the layout of the My History card to reduce scrolling.
- Buttons - Secondary - Re-added border to give some visual definition.
- Icons - Stars - Increased clarity and sharpness on the star icons.
- Icons - Union - Changed attribute change icons to be more visible/solid.
[1.4] – 31-03-2026
- Fixed
- FM26.3 - Support for 26.3 update.
- Changed
- Tile Layouts - Adjusted some layouts around the Stages/League tile to make better use of the available space.
[1.3.1] – 29-03-2026
- Fixed
- Squad Screen - Reverted change to IP/OOP tabs that caused crashes on non-First Team squads.
[1.3] – 28-03-2026
- Added
- Match - Squad Panel - Replaced Kits with Player Portraits.
- Tactics - Added Player Portraits to Tactic pitch view. (thanks to TangFu)
- Changed
- Portal - Messages Tile - Moved UABEA changes to UXML. Cleaned up tile and buttons.
- Match - Scoreboard - Moved to the left of the screen. Re-aligned items affected by this.
- Match - Layout - Adjusted to fit better with the left scoreboard.
- Fixed
- Squad Screen - Tidy up of the IP/OOP tabs.
- Squad Screen - Tidy up of the IP/OOP tabs.
[1.2] – 13-03-2026
- Added
- Support for update 26.2 (March 11th) - Updated and fixed any related issues.
- Job Market - Changed the screen layout to show more of the main table.
- Changed
- Star Icons - Reduced saturation of Gold icons.
- Tile Indicators - Changed styling of current/active tile.
[1.1.1] – 26-02-2026
- Fixed
- Individual Training - Fixed a bug preventing Praise/Criticise actions from showing.
[1.1] – 25-02-2026
- Added
- Pros and Cons – Added to Player Reports.
- Match View - Added Pass Maps.
- Individual Training - New tile layout.
- Player Reports - New tile layouts for Overview, Performance and Career tabs.
- Changed
- Key/Preferred attribute highlights – Made these more obvious (may still tweak; want to keep them quite subtle).
- Match View - Re-arranged tiles and updated Commentary Bar styling.
- Switches - Updated styling.
- Font - Removed replacement of language fonts.
- Club Site - Added more relevant info - based on MrTini/WTS layouts.
- Checkboxes - Updated styling.
- Messages Unread Indicator - Increased contrast.
- Fixed
- Player Polygon – Fixed for goalkeepers.
- Warning Icon - Reverted to white icon to make it visible on Continue/Must Respond buttons.
- Background Replacement - Fixed for Bundesliga and added others in case another league was missed.
- Incoming Messages - Removed blue background.
[1.0] – 20-02-2026
- Initial release of the CTRL skin.
- Date Created
- 20 Feb 2026 14:03:03
- Date Updated
- 31 May 2026 10:22:01
- Last Comment
- 03 Jun 2026 14:33:52
Comments
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Matt
Should be able to. Your skin folder in Skin Builder should just be the changes you want to make, don't include any of the bundle files here.
Have the skin installed as normal first, then build in Skin Builder with the changes you want and Apply to Game. Would suggest clearing backups/cache in Skin Builder also, so it uses the skin bundles and not older files.
Haven't tested this workflow at all though and there's a chance the UABEA changes I have to make would stop this from working.
Kraha
Will try it again later with tips you post here.
Gold Frames
Great skin. love it.
Downloaded today and the highlighted attributes are not showing on Mac OS?
Great work nonetheless
Matt
Thanks. They'll be there, they just aren't as visible as people seem to want them to be.
Update on that here - https://sortitoutsi.net/content/76287/ctrl-26-10#comment_871130
fallenzero17
Hi Matt,
Just a further follow-up. I confirm that it is working now after verifying the game files and re-installing the skin. So, you can totally ignore my findings before.
Faded808
Great work! could you add the pass map?
Matt
v1.1 released.
alexmorakgaming
Matt, I'm in love with your work! Congratulations! 💪🏻
edenpc
Just in time for my transfer window. Perfect great job, now it's my perfect FM26 skin
fallenzero17
Nice! Thank you, Matt! Love your work. Very articulate
Kraha
@Matt BIG W for your work! Never posting for almost 15 years here, but with your skin I am in love… Love that you care about small things also.
Btw. 1) Is it possible to change background of mainmanu “quick start/quick loading last game” container? 2) Is it possible to fix font issue with special letters for different languages, as I mention before?
Anyway. Great work!
titou13210
Bonjour
Super travail merci
Par contre on ne peut plus féliciter ou critiquer les entrainement individuel ?
Matt
Which background are you referring to?
This? I haven't looked too much into it, but the background is a gradient with the teams colours, this isn't replaceable. The Touchline/Lines image on the right side is replaceable, but that get's recoloured to the teams secondary colour and will only take up the space it sits in. Not a lot of options for it really.
The font I did look at, but wasn't able to replicate your exact case, these are correct here right? There's an issue with font replacement in skins currently, where the issues you describe sometimes do happen and do quite regularly. Some have even seen it fix/break after game restarts.
I may end up rolling back the main game font to the default/original font, to try avoid these issues.
Matt
Looking into it, I may release a small fix for it if it is a bug.
I have an idea on what it will be.
EDIT: Confirmed. Will release a small update to fix tomorrow.
Kraha
Yes, I mention abou this background. I've hope that this one is also replaceable. I see how much you care about even small cosmetic aspects, that's why I did it. Unlucky then.
Matt
Small bug fix update released.
[1.1.1] – 26-02-2026
Kraha
Yes, on your screenshot it is correct, below you have issue on my. Nothing solving it, disccused it with a lot of ppl from my dc, same issue. I discovered that this happening mostly with this specific letter for polish language. The others specific looks normal. I will try also replacing font.
JaffakinG
Hiya, first off, love the skin and thankyou so much!
That said… (Sorry!!) I have the following issue as seen below. I can't select areas to set a recruitment focus, the only option showing is “recently selected” on the dropdown.
Matt
Not something I am seeing on my side, I don't think anything I've changed should've affected this. Is it tied to your scouting range or something?
If you had a previous skin (or version) installed I would maybe look at verifying your files in Steam/Epic/Xbox and installing again.
JaffakinG
Thanks Matt, I will do that. Again thanks for making the skin, really appreciate it.
pemski13
best skin by far!! gj Matt
Stefan Khoder
Tested the CTRL skin. Like it alot. Tho there are som things I would love if you could add these features:
-The 5 latest match form in the tactics screen only shows 5 bars. If possible to add an average score besides it.
-The scout reports only shows pros/cons. Maybe add tabs with different information. Attributes tab, Training/progress tab, economy/contract tab etc.
-Scout reports don't show the name orange if the player is on a shortlist. Would be a lifesaving/timesaving feautre if it would be implemented.
Thank u man for the skin
MehmetSefa
This is the best skin for me, I hope you continue your work. Thanks a lot🙂
Razor940
Love your skin, but it seems the assets turn into low quality when playing in 4k. Is this normal? Also, is there a way to change the font and attribute change arrows to the og ones?
dokuuk
Trying to download for MAC, but when I navigate to the Resources folder, it is just empty. there is no `Data` → `StreamingAssets` → `aa` → `StandaloneOSX` folders. Any idea why? Can't figure out another way to use the skin.
Johno
Oh Matt! What a blast from the past 😀 Reminds me of Bluu skin you did few years back.
Matt
Haha yeah, has been a while, definitely more than a few years! Think Bluu was FM2007/2008 times.
Did base this somewhat around Gluu, in terms of colours etc. but a lot has changed since back then.
outgoingacrobat
Hi - Thanks for a brilliant skin. Please could you tell me where I can see the pass maps. I can’t fine them anywhere.
Matt
In a match? Third tab/tile on the formation block.
IamtheSam10
I find the loading times for this skin to be extremely long. Many pages and emails can take 10s or so to fully load. Not experienced this with any other skin so far, Macbook pro
Anything I can send to help debug or is it to be expected?