Sports Interactive has announced a multi-year partnership with FIFA to include official licenses for major competitions in the Football Manager series. The deal brings the FIFA World Cup 2026, FIFA Women’s World Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup to Football Manager 26, starting with a revamped international management module next year. This marks the first inclusion of women's soccer in the series and follows the cancellation of Football Manager 25.
Sports Interactive, developer of the Football Manager series, has secured a landmark multi-year partnership with FIFA to integrate official licenses for the organization's biggest competitions. The agreement, announced on October 20, 2025, will debut in Football Manager 26, set for release on November 4, 2025, across PC, consoles, Apple Arcade, Nintendo Switch, and Netflix.
Initially focused on club management, Football Manager 26 will receive a free content update next year introducing a revamped International Management module ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Canada, Mexico, and the USA. This edition of the tournament will feature 48 teams, with official kits for all participating nations, broadcast graphics, and tournament branding once confirmed. The deal also covers the FIFA Women’s World Cup and FIFA Club World Cup, introducing women's soccer to the series for the first time.
"Revealing this partnership with Fifa is an incredibly historic moment for the studio," said Sports Interactive studio director Miles Jacobson. He added that revamping International Management with FIFA's support, including official licenses, tournament graphics, and kits, is "a real honour" for fans to experience next year.
The partnership follows FIFA's split from EA Sports and comes as Football Manager shifts to the Unity engine for enhanced graphics and interface. Football Manager 25 was cancelled in February 2025 due to development delays from this transition. Additional licenses in Football Manager 26 include the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, elevating the game's authenticity.
This collaboration provides FIFA with gaming exposure ahead of the 2026 World Cup, reaching a new audience through the popular management simulation.
