Sports Interactive has finally revealed the first gameplay footage of Football Manager 26, giving fans a 72-second look at the series’ new Unity-powered match engine.
The reveal comes after a difficult development period. Football Manager 25 was delayed twice before being cancelled altogether, as the team struggled to transition to the Unity engine. That cancellation left many questioning the franchise’s future, but FM26 now looks ready to deliver.
The trailer shows off the most noticeable upgrade in years: improved visuals. Stadiums and crowds are more detailed, lighting effects are sharper, and player animations feel more fluid. The action on the pitch looks smoother and more realistic, making matches more engaging to watch without straying from the series’ tactical depth.
While Football Manager has never aimed for FIFA-like presentation, these upgrades bring a new sense of immersion. Watching players move into space or react to a loose ball already feels more lifelike than in previous editions.
Beyond the match engine, FM26 is expected to include features that were originally planned for FM25. Women’s football, in particular, has been long awaited and looks set to be part of this year’s release. Together with the technical overhaul, this could make FM26 one of the most significant updates in the series.
That said, key details remain under wraps. The trailer did not show the new user interface, a critical element for managing tactics, transfers, and data. Nor did it reveal how much has changed behind the scenes with match AI and decision-making. Those announcements are likely to come before the expected November launch.
For now, the trailer signals a much-needed reset. After a cancelled release and a two-year wait, fans finally have reason to be optimistic. FM26’s first gameplay footage shows a series ready to move forward.
FM26 Matchday Experience
The gameplay reveal for FM26 was just the beginning. Shortly after, Sports Interactive shared a deeper look into the upgraded Matchday Experience, which touches nearly every aspect of how matches feel, look, and unfold in-game.
One of the standout improvements is the visual fidelity. Lighting has been redesigned to reflect the time of day and seasonal conditions, giving each fixture a distinct atmosphere. Whether you’re kicking off under floodlights in December or basking in a sunny August afternoon, the environment now mirrors real-world football more closely. Stadiums have also received a facelift, with improved architecture and surroundings that better reflect your club’s stature and location. This brings more personality to lower-league grounds and a sense of grandeur to elite arenas.
On the pitch, player movement has taken a noticeable leap forward. Hundreds of new animations, captured from real-life matches, have been integrated to make dribbles, passes, and shots feel more fluid and reactive. The AI has also been refined, particularly in how players assess risk when passing through tight spaces or responding to defensive pressure. These changes are not just cosmetic; they influence how matches play out tactically and add depth to your decision-making.
Goalkeepers benefit from this realism too. Motion-captured saves and improved physics modeling make their reactions more lifelike and unpredictable. Combined with enhanced dribbling logic, FM26 promises a more dynamic match flow where individual brilliance and tactical structure can shine.
Camera angles have been reimagined to mimic broadcast-style coverage. Cinematic views and smarter replays now adapt based on the type of goal scored. A new Dynamic Highlight Mode adjusts the number of match highlights depending on the context. Close contests will feature more dramatic moments, while comfortable wins will scale back the action to maintain pacing.
Audio has been refreshed to match the visual upgrades. Crowd reactions and ambient sounds add tension and excitement to key moments. Between highlights, a redesigned Match Overview screen offers tactical insights, real-time data, and assistant manager suggestions that now factor in advanced metrics like expected goals and assists.
This release from Sports Interactive was then followed up by a reveal of the new user interface in FM26 which further demonstrated the polished new look for the upcoming release.
Since then, the release date for FM26 was also confirmed to be the 4th November 2025 by Sports Interactive, with an overhaul to tactics announced as well as an update on how recruitment will look in FM26 also following in September and October