The new era of Football Manager is finally upon us! Sports Interactive has finally confirmed that the Advanced Access Beta period for the upcoming Football Manager 26 will begin on Thursday, October 23, giving players who have pre-ordered the title a chance to get an early start and see all of the new bells and whistles the title has to offer. Beyond that, the first in-depth look at FM26 gameplay was shown today.
Hosted by content creator Spencer Owen alongside West Ham and England winger Jarrod Bowen, the 90-minute premiere gave fans an in-depth tour of the next-generation management sim — complete with new leagues, visuals, and the most significant tactical overhaul in the franchise’s history. SI studio director Miles Jacobson also stopped in to offer insight into FM26‘s development, stating that the series’ latest entry is “the first part of the next 20 years” and is setting the foundation for Football Manager‘s long-term future.
Here are the highlights from the first-look playthrough of Football Manager 26:
- New Manager Creation and UI: A rebuilt startup flow lets players define appearance, personality, and footballing background in greater detail. The new interface — designed around customizable “portals” and “tiles” — streamlines navigation across squad, tactics, and recruitment menus.
- Women’s Football Integration: FM26 debuts 14 women’s leagues across 11 countries, including the fully licensed WSL, integrated seamlessly with men’s competitions.
- In- and Out-of-Possession Tactics: Billed as the biggest tactical change in 34 years, managers can now design separate formations for attacking and defensive phases. Scouts even account for players’ dual-role suitability, adding unprecedented depth.
- New Match Engine and Visuals: Built in Unity, FM26 introduces enhanced player models, realistic animations captured from live matches, and fully licensed Premier League presentation, offering the most authentic match-day yet.
- FMPedia and Quality-of-Life Tools: A built-in encyclopedia and universal search bar make learning systems easier for new players while speeding up workflow for veterans.
Football Manager 26 will release in full on November 4. But, as stated previously, players who pre-order the game will have access to the Advanced Access Beta period beginning on October 23. To further sweeten the pot, the game is currently available for 10% off for anyone who pre-orders via Steam or the Epic Games Store.
