With the new Football Manager 26 now officially on the horizon, fans are keen to get a head start and see what Sports Interactive has been working on for the better part of two years. Fortunately, SI — as they have in the past — have opened the “Advanced Access” Beta for PC and Mac, but it comes with one key condition: you must pre-order the game.
The Football Manager 26 Beta Requires A Pre-Order
Here’s exactly how it works. First, you’ll need to pre-purchase Football Manager 26 from a participating digital retailer such as Steam or the Epic Games Store. The official site confirms that if you pre-order from a SEGA-approved digital retailer, you immediately gain access to the Advanced Access Beta. If you redeem your key, once the Beta goes live you’ll be able to download and launch the game ahead of the full release (without needing a separate Beta key).
Next, you must check your client. On Steam or Epic, go to your library and locate Football Manager 26. If you haven’t yet installed it, do so now. Upon installing the game, you should see an option to play/launch the game.
Here are a few more things to keep in mind:
- The official launch date for the full game is November 4, 2025.
- The Advanced Access Beta saves can carry over into the full game version once it drops — meaning your early progress isn’t wasted.
- This Beta is only for pre-order customers; just owning the game later (after release) does not grant early access.
- The Beta is currently only available for PC/Mac via those digital storefronts. Console players will need to wait for the official release.
- As for subscription services like Xbox Game Pass, there’s no indication that they provide access to the Beta. The official site lists Game Pass as a platform for the full game, but the pre-order requirement for Beta makes it very unlikely it’s included.
In short: if you want in early, pre-order now, redeem your key, and once the Beta opens you’ll be ready to install and begin your managerial career ahead of the crowd.
