Football Manager 26 has gotten off to a rocky start, to say the least. It is a brilliant game that is bogged down by UI issues, and that is the disappointing part. The game has a lot of potential, but doesn’t really live up to it, which is sad for fans who were expecting a top-notch game this year after the 2025 version was skipped.
So far, Football Manager 26 definitely isn’t firing on all cylinders. While the game does not live up to the hype, there are certainly aspects of this game better than its predecessor, Football Manager 24. Unfortunately, some things are also worse or missing. Let’s take a closer look at all the differences.
What Football Manager 26 Does Better
Firstly, the new release features a significantly improved match engine compared to the previous games. AI tactics are more effective, matches feel more realistic, and animations have also been improved. The developers also significantly upgraded graphics by switching to the Unity engine. This switch has brought about major visual upgrades that include better lighting and environment, along with more detailed stadiums with new cutscenes and a better Match Day presentation package.
The game has more natural player movement, which was asked for by the fans in the previous game as well. Player motion, ball control, and general movement are designed to look far more natural this time around. On top of that, the game has integrated women’s football, too. It is complete with distinct, custom-captured animations, player models, and player movements that fit the women’s game.
Apart from the match engine itself, tactics also feel more refined this time. The game offers you a dual tactics system, which allows your team to switch formations based on whether you have possession of the ball or not. With the improved AI and decision-making, you get better context awareness, making players smarter when it comes to passing and dribbling decisions.
Football Manager 26 also has new tools like the tactical visualizer to help you see how your tactics work during a match, but not when viewing a highlight. The visualizer gives you immediate visual feedback, making it easier to fix structural problems in your formation. So, in summary, matches are more enjoyable to watch, tactics are better, and there are more playable leagues.
What Football Manager 26 Does Worse
While we do have some good things to say about FM26, there is also plenty to complain about. One of the biggest let-downs is the new UI, where you have to basically fight through several menus to get to where you want to be. Finding stuff like scouting reports, transfer activity, and club news feels like a chore.
In a game where navigating menus is the entire gameplay loop, having to deal with a cluttered UI really sours the experience. Many players report that importing custom training schedules often doesn’t work, despite the multiple beta hotfixes so far. Second and third round pep talks during substitutions often don’t trigger either.
Touchline shouts are another missing feature, and whether you care about their effectiveness or not, they add a touch of realism. The omission of international management is a sad one, too. This is especially strange considering we have a World Cup next year. It’s been announced that a World Cup “module” will come later, but we don’t know what exactly that looks like.
Definitely quite the mixed bag we have here. The game has Mostly Negative reviews on Steam, which means that the casual audience will just look at that and avoid it altogether. The worst part is that you can’t even buy FM24 anymore, as it’s delisted. We can only hope that updates make the game better, but not much more to say for now. Maybe wait for a sale or till they fix the quality-of-life issues.
