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Sports Interactive has released Update 26.2 for Football Manager 26, bringing the latest data changes from the January Transfer Window, along with a wide range of improvements and gameplay updates across platforms. Don't forget to apply our Real Name Fix.
Database:
- Five million+ database changes since the initial release of FM26*
- Updated licenced headshots
*Rosters for certain licensed leagues whose seasons run to the calendar year will only be reflective up until the end of the 2025 season and will not include incoming and outgoing transfers made for 2026.
Technical Issues:
- Various Crash and Stability fixes
- Game no longer soft locks when attempting to progress to a penalty shootout in certain competitions
- Improved the User Interface (UI) responsiveness in Online Lobbies with large number of users
User Interface (UI):
- Redesigned fixtures & results page to be full screen
- Added a preference for the Fixtures and Results screens to be automatically shown before and after matches in competitions the user is participating in
- User is now able to change Player Instructions & Roles from the Tactics Visualiser
- User is now able to view the Tactics Visualiser from the Team Shape tab from within the In and Out of Possession tabs
- Fixed an issue causing the opposition formation visuals to inaccurately reflect the actual formations on the pitch after the AI makes a formation change during a match
- Added Club Profile and Best XI tabs on the club Welcome Pack
- Tactics - Quick Pick will no longer include players who aren’t in First Team unless you have a filter selected
- Tactics – Fixed an issue causing injury indicators to remain after clearing the position
- Tactics – "Hide players" option no longer filters out empty slots
- Tactics - Tactic name no longer overlaps with the overall Familiarity if the name of the tactic was too long
- Opposition Instructions screen will now default to Predicted Lineup instead of All Positions
- Player listed in the Squad Registration screen are now sorted by position by default
- User can now sort the personality column on the Squad page
- You are now able to sort players by Squad Number on the Squad Numbers screen
- Resolved an issue where the user could duplicate the spoken languages selected during the Manager Creation process
- Fixed an issue causing the hierarchy induction pyramid graphic to display in low resolution
- The text displayed in the ‘last club’ column is no longer too large when on the Squad screen
Gameplay:
- Increased the prominence of AI manager sackings being shown on the News screen
- Players should no longer illogically get upset with manager when a transfer was cancelled due to work permit issues
- Fixed an issue preventing the Director of Football to sign players that were recently on trial with the club
- Fixed an issue causing some News items to incorrectly display a capital “S” after the player's name
- Fixed a rare issue where some players would illogically be considering options at the end of their contract when playing at the lower levels in England
- Resolved a very rare issue where playing highlights from a past match would sometimes show the wrong match
Art & Animation:
- Implemented Dynamic Aging for Newgen Portraits
- Fixed an issue causing distorted models to appear at the start of a match
- Resolved a rare issue causing the weather to snow during matches played in Saudi Arabia
- Players under armour should now always match the colour of their kit shorts
- Under pitch heating should now work when on Low and Very Low graphics settings
- Lowered the brightness of the pitch when playing matches at Night
- Improvements made to manager hair quality
In-Game Editor (IGE) / Pre-Game Editor (PGE):
- Various Crash and Stability fixes
- Added Kit Editor tile to the Club Edit card (IGE)
- Flamboyancy and Goalkeeping non-player attributes can now be edited (PGE)
- Non-Playing History staff roles no longer appear in the Staff History and Biography as a Player role (PGE)
- Functionality of the duplicate button has been fixed (PGE)
- Resolved an issue causing data edits from edit files not affecting the database information during manager creation (PGE)
Competition and Rule Groups:
Africa
- Updated rules & format for the African World Cup Qualifying
- Women’s Africa Cup of Nations expanded to 16 teams
Australia
- Updated format rules for the Australian Cup
Austria
- Updated the schedules for the Austrian Premier Division
Asia
- AFC Champions League – Resolved an issue where the Winter Registration window would never open
- AFC Women's Champions League – Updated the Schedule for 2026/27 season
- China will now host the Under 20 Asian Nations Cup in 2027
Belgium
- The Belgian First National Amateur Division no longer appears in game
- Adjustments made to the starting times of matches on Saturday and Sunday in the Jupiler Pro League Season 25/26
Brazil
- Updated a high number of formats, schedules and rules of various Brazilian State Championships
- Updated the Brazilian Cup and Super Cup for the 2026 season
- Updated the format, schedule, and rules for Brazilian U-20 Championship, and added the Brazilian U-20 Second Division
Canada
- Updated salary cap information
Chile
- Updated format rules for the Chilean Cup & Chilean Super Cup
- Updated the Chilean First Division & Chile Cup Revenue
- Updated the Chilean First Division and First Division B Match & Sorting Rules
- Updated the Chile Cup Substitution rules
China
- Various teams given Points Deductions and Fines
- Removed the 100% transfer fee tax
- Updated the Chinese FA Cup Match Rules
Colombia
- Updated format & match rules for the Colombian First & Second Division
- Updated the Colombian First Division Discipline Rules
- Updated Colombian Second Division Semi Final Draw Rules
- Updated Colombian First and Second Division TV Deals
Czechia
- Updated the match rules for various Czech domestic competitions
Denmark
- A-Liga squad numbers can now be assigned from 1-99
- Updated the format for A-Liga - 2025/26 and 2026/27 seasons
Europe
- Countries who play in different nations will now have the correct flag displayed alongside their name
- Updated the Hosts for Euro 2032
- Updated the Hosts for European U19 Championships (2027, 2028, 2029)
- Updated the Hosts for Women's European Football Championship 2029
- Updated the Nation and Club Coefficients for women’s football
Egypt
- Updated the match rules for the Egyptian Premier League
England
- Resolved an issue causing some Premier League Fixtures occurring at the start of an international break
- Updated Premier League Prize Money
- Updated the substitution rules for FA Cup qualifying rounds & FA Youth Cup
- Updated the format rules for U21/U18 Premier Division Cup & U18 Division 3 Cup
- Resolved non-cat 1 English U21 clubs incorrectly qualifying for the U21 International Cup
- U21 Premier Division International Cup - English teams will now correctly only play at home
- WSL & WSL2 - Trialists no longer allowed to play
Finland
- Updated substitution rules for all league divisions, the Finnish Cup & the Finnish League Cup
- Updated format rules for the Finnish First Division Championship League Cup
- Updated the 2025/26 Transfer Windows dates
France
- French Women's Cup - Reserve Teams will no longer participate
Germany
- 3. Liga - added rule where clubs get an automatic 9-point deduction if they enter administration
- Updated the substitution rules for German Women's Cup
- U21 Frauen Bundesliga players no longer need to be registered
Hong Kong
- Updated format rules for the Premier U22 League
Indonesia
- Added VAR to the Indonesian Super League & Indonesian Championship
- Updated the Indonesian League Two Schedule
- Removed the Piala President Cup
Israel
- Updated VAR rules for various competitions across Israel
Italy
- Resolved an issue where trophy celebration would wrongly trigger in Serie A if teams were tied on points for first place when instead a playoff game should decide the champions
- Removed Extra Time from the Italian Super Cup
- Removed Extra Time from the Italian Serie C Cup (except in the semifinals and final)
- Added VAR to the Serie BKT & Italian Serie C
- Updated VAR Rules to the Serie A Women Athora
- Italian Serie C - Various clubs given points deductions
- Updated the number of teams for Italian Serie C/B in 2025/26 due to Rimini being excluded from the league
- Updated the Squad Rules for Serie A Femminile eBay
- Updated the Schedule for the Italian U20 Primavera 3
Japan
- Updated the J1/J2/J3 League Schedule
- Updated substitution rules for the J1/J2/J3 Special Tournament playoff stages
Malaysia
- Updated the Malaysia Transfer Window dates
- Updated the Malaysian Super League Squad Registration Rules
- Updated the Malaysian Super League & Malaysian Cups Schedules
- Updated the format rules for Malaysian Super League & Malaysian FA Cup
- Updated the Malaysian A1 Semi-Professional League Transfer and Match Rules
- Removed the Malaysian Football League Cup
North America
- Updated the format for the North American W Champions Cup
- Updated the schedule for the North American Champions Cup
Northen Ireland
- Added the NIFL Charity Shield Competition
- Extra Time added to the North West Senior Cup
- BetMcLean League Cup correctly renamed to BetMcLean Cup
- Updated the Sports Direct Premiership & Bet McLean Cup Scheduling
- Updated substitution rules for various competitions & cups
Peru
- Peruvian First Division Prize Money is now correctly distributed
- Updated the Peruvian First Division Squad Registration Rules
- Updated the Peruvian First Division Match Rules
Portugal
- Updated the Loan Rules for all divisions
- Updated the format rules for the Portugal Championship & Portuguese U19 First Division
- Updated the Portuguese League Cup Match Rules
- Resolved an issue causing teams in Portuguese Third Division Championship Groups to incorrectly start with bonus points
Poland
- The Polish FA Cup Final now has the correct date
Romania
- VAR added to the Romanian Cup & Romanian Super Cup
Russia
- Updated the Russian Premier League Match Rules
- Updated substitutions rules for the Russian Cup
Scotland
- Hamilton Academical given 15-point deduction
Serbia
- Updated scheduling for all leagues
Spain
- Updated the Spanish Women's Divisions and Cups Match Rules
- Updated the Spanish Women's First/Second Division Squad Number rules
Singapore
- Updated the Singapore Cup Schedule
- Added VAR to the Singaporean Premier League/Singapore Cup/Singaporean Community Shield
Slovenia
- Updated the league formats due to a team going bankrupt
Spain
- Updated the match and squad number rules for several Spanish women’s competitions
Sweden
- Hammarby TFF are now correctly able to get promoted
- IFK Goteborg now play in the correct stadium
- Updated the Men's & Women’s Transfer Window Dates
- Updated Women's Football Contract Rules
- Updated the Swedish Second Division Norrland Format
- Updated the OBOS Damallsvenskan Match Rules & Schedule
- Updated the Elitettan Schedule
South America
- Updated the Copa Sudamericana Knock Out Play Off Round seeding format
- Updated the Copa Libertadores Draw Dates
- Updated the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana finals host cities (2026 and 2027 seasons)
- Updated the U20s Copa Libertadores 2025 and 2026 schedules.
- Updated the U20s Championship Schedule
South Korea
- Updated the Hana Bank K League 1 and 2 Match & Squad Registration Rules
- Updated the Korea Cup Match Rules
Turkey
- Updated Match & Squad rules for all divisions
- Updated the Turkish Super Cup dates for future editions
Uruguay
- Updated the Uruguayan Cup Format & Schedule
- Updated the teams featured in the Uruguay Reserve Division 2025
Wales
- The New Saints no longer appear as an English club
- Updated the Cymru Premier Match Rules
- Updated Adran Premier Contract Rules
- Aberystwyth Development, Berriew Development & Barry Town Linnets are now correctly ineligible to participate in Welsh Women's Cup
World
- Updated Substitution rules for the Club Intercontinental Championship
- Updated the men’s World Cup kickoff times
- Updated the format of ‘pairing’ 1-4 seeds for the men’s World Cup
- Updated the European/South American Super Cup date and venue for the 2026 edition
- World Cup Playoff-Tournament hosts have been updated
Check all changes so far here
- Date Created
- 09 Mar 2026 16:40:53
- Date Updated
- 09 Mar 2026 16:40:53
- Last Comment
- 07 Apr 2026 03:49:40
Comments
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ingel99
Hello, i found some mistakes in greek translations. For example in english language database Tasos Bakasetas and Tasos Douvikas are inside correct but when you change the language to greek then their names are not became Τάσος but became Κωνσταντίνος (Konstantinos). I didn't check all Tasos and Konstantinos but Mavropanos has correct translation. Please fix. Thank you
smithjjustin
u are lucky my games just keeps crashing
bigpole
https://community.sports-interactive.com/bugtracker/1644_football-manager-26-bugs-tracker/1874_translations/
Kyle Blair
I've tried loading a few Skins and found that they either need to be updated or No longer work. Loading up skins as they are now you cant get past the loading screen and there will be a transparent rectangle at the top of the page.
If I am Wrong I'm sorry, However if anyone has a fix, I'm all ear.
Flying Scotsman
Skinners have said they are broken and working on a fix
Kyle Blair
Good to hear, Thanks for the Reply.
AlessioBoffi
I'm the only one that find the game more slow and has find some bug in the transition of every sheet or in the search bar?
Thank you 🙂
Fleming716
The game keeps crashing since the update its been working fine before the update
bohohoh
am i the only one that cant see the personalities of staff members that are not signed with ur squad?
Michael Kristiansen
Never been able to test out this database, it keeps crashing..
swawili
FM26 is the worst version ever I'm back to FM24
Andrew L Morrison
I've tried and tried with this game. Made allowances for all the bugs and let them gradually get it all working better.
But now they've finally managed to make it actually unplayable. Months and months of development to make the game so slow it just makes you scream.
Bielsa is a legend
It’s a turd of a game, SI should be ashamed, I have never known so many fixes, it just shows the game wasn’t ready for release, and still isn’t, yet some are lapping it up as the match engine looks like PES from 5 years ago.
FM24 is excellent by comparison, especially now with fluts v.10 skin
Vladislav Atanasov
this “NEW UPDATE” bring back the FM engine at november….shit is back!!! there is no chance to have 8-10 highlights for my team scoring 0-1 goals vs 2-3 highlights 2-3 goals per game for the last 5 games in a raw!!!! fix pleaseee!!!!!
Vladislav Atanasov
also every game 5-8 woodworks!!!!
incredibly stupid nonsense game
Gavin Tranter
When i start a new game, i don't see the logos for my team (Man Utd) on the start screen, and when i win a trophy as well, i hope someone understands me on here.
ASSE25
How long will the break last, or are we waiting for the April update
YgorVM
Same here, all overworld logos are missing
R9ockness
Am I the only one having trouble bringing existing retired players from the vanilla database into the new database update? I've been trying to bring back Frank Rijkaard for 1.5 days now, but he only appears in the game if I use the vanilla database, and he can only be successfully edited in the pre-editor in the old database. Is there some trick I'm missing, something I overlooked, on how to get him into the 26.2 database or into the game?
Footygamer
If you edit him in 26.0 he won't magically appear in 26.2.
You could try opening him in 26.0 clicking duplicate to get a second Frank Fijkaard, exporting to xml and then loading the 26.2 and importing the xml.
However I have a feeling this won't work.
I seem to remember a work around if you edit the attributes and then revert them it works (e.g. put a space after his name and then remove the space). But i'm not 100% sure.
This is untested I am just trying to remember past attempts. Apologies if it's inaccurate.