Studio director of Sports Interactive, Miles Jacobson, has released an official statement regarding the upcoming update for Football Manager 26, which will be dedicated to the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The update is scheduled for release on May 26, 2026. It will be available on PC, Console, and Touch versions of the game. However, the final release date still depends on platform certification processes and licensing approvals.
What the May update will include:
- Official branding of the FIFA World Cup 2026
- TV broadcast-style graphics
- Licensed national team kits
- Official tournament match ball
Due to ongoing licensing processes, not all national team kits will be available at launch — additional ones will be added later. A further update is expected in June, which should finalize remaining licensing assets and add official 26-player squad registrations for all participating nations.
In his statement, the studio head also openly admitted that Football Manager 26 did not meet expectations for many players.
“Football Manager 26 did not reach the level fans were expecting. The studio is disappointed by this fact, and I take full responsibility for the game not meeting players’ expectations,” said Miles Jacobson.
He concluded that Sports Interactive will turn the experience into meaningful improvements. Future versions of Football Manager will be built around a clearer set of priorities, with a stronger focus on gameplay immersion, navigation, and overall user interface design.
As a reminder, KONAMI previously announced the eFootball World Festival 2026.