Football Manager 26 Adds Women's Leagues, Early Access

Football Manager 26 returns after a skipped year, with early access available now and an official release set for Nov. 4; pre-orders are open on PC, Xbox and PlayStation with a 10% discount and early-access perks. The game moves to the Unity engine for richer match-day graphics and secures official Premier League and FIFA licenses for branded international competitions. For the first time in the series, women’s football is included — Sports Interactive built a database covering 14 global women’s leagues and the launch features the fully licensed Barclays Women’s Super League. Developers say they hope the inclusion will attract more female players and boost real-world interest and ticket sales, noting 96% of the current player base is male. A small number of fans have reacted negatively, though overall reception has been largely positive.