The popular football simulation by Sports Interactive is back for a new year with Football Manager 2026 – drastically correcting the mistakes made during last year’s relaunch.
First of all, for those unfamiliar with the long-running and popular FM series, it essentially places you in the position of manager for football clubs or national teams around the world, including Israel. Anyone who has dreamed of managing Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, or more challenging clubs like Sampdoria or Hapoel Tel Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem can fulfill that fantasy here and take on the heavy responsibility of pleasing both fans and management.
What most players remember from last year were the bugs and chaos caused by the transition to the new Unity graphics engine. Fortunately, this year the game runs more smoothly than ever and loads faster than ever, and anyone who enjoys playing with multiple leagues will certainly recognize the previous problem of very long loading times while simulating other matches in various leagues. This year, loading times are significantly reduced, menu transitions are smoother, and the game feels less “heavy” on the computer, even on average laptops.
Graphically, we finally see the improvement we’ve been waiting for. The match display looks more realistic than ever. Player movement animations have received a significant polish. Goalkeepers no longer dive in the wrong direction in a comical manner, and the physics of the ball feels more authentic. For the first time, stadiums and crowds feel like a living part of the experience rather than cardboard props.
The management world itself is vast, and of course, you can delegate much of it to your assistants: Youth teams, player transfers, training, tactics, and squad selection, among other things. You will receive countless messages and scenarios related to fans, especially if you are losing, but mostly interactions with players – and there are plenty. You must take care of the locker room, or it will be felt on the pitch. In terms of management, this is one of the deepest games the series has ever produced.
Football fans have a lot to explore this year – the manager can be female, and on the selection page, you’ll make significant choices such as your history (player, commentator, or just a celebrity), how respected you are in the world, and more, making the experience very personal and, of course, affecting the game itself. For example, I forgot to select the English language, which didn’t help when I chose Liverpool in my first year. Luckily, the club sent me to a private tutor, and within a few months, I was back to speaking fluent English. The women’s leagues themselves are more realistic, with a significantly expanded database.
In summary, Football Manager 2026 is the experience we have been waiting for years, with immense depth and technological upgrades that enhance rather than ruin the experience.