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Whispers have been circulating for weeks, and it looks like Football Manager 26 could be adding six brand-new playable leagues: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, and Lithuania.
This is a big step for the series. Up until now, if you wanted to experience these nations, you had to rely on the brilliant modding community. But this time, they’ll be officially integrated into the game.
So why should we be excited? This move represents FM’s continued global expansion. We saw Japan added in FM24, and with women’s football arriving in FM26, it’s clear Sports Interactive wants to broaden the reach of the game to new communities and new players worldwide.
Let’s break down the rumoured leagues and some save ideas that could inspire your next career mode:
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia – The Big Four and Beyond
The Saudi Pro League has been in the spotlight recently thanks to its influx of global superstars and state-backed wealth. The “big four” — Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr, and Al-Ittihad — dominate the headlines. Managing one of them means assembling a team of world-class names, chasing league titles, and aiming for the AFC Champions League.
But the real challenge lies elsewhere. Clubs like Al-Ettifaq have money but nowhere near the resources of the giants. Building a squad around regional and Asian talent, sprinkled with a few marquee signings, could be a fascinating way to test your tactical and scouting knowledge.
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates – Can You Break the Duopoly?
The UAE league is another wealthy, ambitious setup, though without the same global reputation as Saudi Arabia. Historically, the clubs from Abu Dhabi and Dubai — Al-Ahli, Al-Wasl, and Al-Ain — have dominated, boasting dozens of titles between them.
A great challenge here is to manage Sharjah. They’ve won six league titles but remain outside the two powerhouse Emirates. Can you bring glory to Sharjah and upset the traditional balance of UAE football?
🇪🇬 Egypt – Africa’s Sleeping Giant in FM
It’s surprising Egypt hasn’t been included before, given it’s Africa’s top-ranked league. Clubs like Al Ahly and Zamalek are continental giants, with Al Ahly in particular boasting an incredible 45 league titles and 12 CAF Champions Leagues.
The obvious save idea is to keep building Al Ahly into a world force, with the ultimate aim of conquering the Club World Cup. But for a tougher challenge, try breaking the big two’s monopoly with Pyramids FC. Despite huge investment, they’ve never won the league. Can you turn them into Egypt’s next dominant force?
🇲🇦 Morocco – Developing the Next World Cup Stars
Morocco captured the world’s imagination with their 2022 World Cup run to the semi-finals. Domestically, Raja Casablanca and Wydad AC are the heavyweights, each with multiple CAF Champions League trophies.
Managing one of them offers the chance to dominate Africa and test yourself at global tournaments. Alternatively, a real challenge is Ittihad Tanger. With only one league title and no continental success, but a 65,000-seater stadium set to expand ahead of AFCON 2025 and the 2030 World Cup, the foundations are there for something special.
🇩🇿 Algeria – Restoring Past Glory
Algeria is a legendary football nation with a proud history of producing top players. The standout club is JS Kabylie, the most successful in the country with 14 league titles and two CAF Champions Leagues. But their last domestic title came back in 2008.
Taking over Kabylie is the perfect revival save: restore them to the top of Algerian football and re-establish them as a powerhouse on the continent.
🇱🇹 Lithuania – The Surprise Addition
The real wildcard on this list is Lithuania. Fans in Scotland will remember the link through Vladimir Romanov’s time at Hearts, when an influx of Lithuanian players arrived in the SPL.
Today, Žalgiris Vilnius are the nation’s dominant force. The simple challenge is to keep them on top while pushing for a historic European trophy. But if you want a longer-term project, you could take a smaller Lithuanian side from obscurity to the Champions League.
- Date Created
- 30 Sep 2025 12:59:44
- Date Updated
- 01 Oct 2025 12:48:49
- Last Comment
- 30 Sep 2025 12:59:44
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