Football Manager 26 review: The beautiful game made ugly

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Football Manager 26 is back after a two-year break, but it’s a surprisingly complicated and frustrating experience for even seasoned players.

Football Manager lets hundreds of thousands of fans fulfill their dream of running their favorite soccer club each year. I’m definitely one of those fans – I’ve already spent over 340 hours playing FM24, and many more hours on previous versions. My friends and I often talk about amazing Football Manager experiences we’ve had, especially with teams like Celtic, Aston Villa, Fulham, Everton, and Crewe.

Sports Interactive surprised fans by skipping their usual yearly release of Football Manager. Instead of releasing Football Manager 25, they decided to take an extra year to develop Football Manager 26.

As expected with a beta version, the game has quite a few bugs. Sports Interactive is already working on fixes, but the biggest problem right now is how difficult the new interface is to understand and use.

Football Manager 26 screenshots

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New layout isn’t very FM-friendly

Players familiar with the Football Manager series knew the game well. While each new version included updates like bug fixes, new features, and revised player data, the overall look and feel remained consistent. It was a reliably comfortable experience, even if it wasn’t revolutionary.

The new interface in FM26 is a step backward – it feels cluttered and difficult to use. This is particularly noticeable if you jump straight into a new game, as many players do. The previous menu system was simple and intuitive, but the current layout isn’t as user-friendly.

It gets easier after a while, but managing the six portal dropdowns can still be frustrating. Some of the menus are small pop-up windows that are tricky to use, and it’s easy to accidentally click the wrong thing.

While bookmarks are helpful, endlessly searching for ‘captains’ to assign a new player is frustrating and feels like hitting a dead end. I’ve lost count of how often I’ve struggled to locate instructions or find someone to take penalties.

The game no longer shows specific numbers for attributes and abilities. This can be annoying when looking for new staff, as you have to rely on vague descriptions like ‘outstanding’ instead of concrete values.

It feels like a change for change’s sake, rather than adding anything of value. 

Gameplay is better than ever

The in-game action in FM26 is a real highlight – it looks fantastic and plays smoothly. While you’ll still occasionally anticipate conceding a goal, it doesn’t happen quite as often or feel as unfair as in previous versions, and the improved visuals definitely contribute to that.

FM26 is visually a significant improvement over previous versions, although it doesn’t quite reach the level of games like EA SPORTS FC or eFootball. The ball movement looks much more realistic – long passes aren’t stiff or repetitive, and players make natural runs and passes like they do in a real match. This is a major plus for the new game. Even if you prefer the classic 2D style, it’s worth trying the 3D version to experience the enhanced graphics.

I’ve also spent a significant amount of time working with women’s football. I really enjoyed managing Everton in the Women’s Super League. While the shorter contracts and lower salaries mean players often come and go, and finding new talent is tough, it’s a very fulfilling experience.

The game also improves by letting you actively try to convince players to join your team, rather than simply receiving a rejection. This makes player transfers feel more like drawn-out stories, and that adds to the experience.

Verdict

Football Manager 2026 has a steep learning curve and represents a significant departure from previous versions. While ambitious, these changes may alienate many longtime fans.

The game will likely receive improvements throughout the year that fix many of its current issues. But these updates need to happen quickly to maintain player interest.

Man, this game used to be on top of the world, totally unbeatable. But lately, it feels like the developers have changed things too much. It’s like they created a problem where there didn’t need to be one, and now they’re struggling with it. I’m not sure it needed all these changes, honestly.

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2025-10-30 19:20