Football Manager Series

I decided that I am going to start a new game, but will only let my sporting director sign players.
That way I will play the game more realistically and just prioritise positions as my only selection for player transfers.

This will eliminate my main strengths in the game, as I always proritise youth and never sign anyone over 24.
As the AI would rather sign a 36yo Neymar than a 22yo wonder kid, as it seems that the AI will always proritise current ability over potential.

Hopefully this will make the game massively more difficult but also potentially somewhat boring as signing players and finding gems is probably the best part of the game.
 
I decided that I am going to start a new game, but will only let my sporting director sign players.
That way I will play the game more realistically and just prioritise positions as my only selection for player transfers.

This will eliminate my main strengths in the game, as I always proritise youth and never sign anyone over 24.
As the AI would rather sign a 36yo Neymar than a 22yo wonder kid, as it seems that the AI will always proritise current ability over potential.

Hopefully this will make the game massively more difficult but also potentially somewhat boring as signing players and finding gems is probably the best part of the game.

It's sound like you are always can change a task during playing for possibility to have a new own pleasure from resolving this tasks in reality, moving higher in table of all team's results.

Little bit offtopic message about eFootball below, but I am hide it under spoiler, just want to share my thoughts about similar things.

I am just can share little bit another example, but still example too, when I was tryed to understand - "which way working eFootball scripts to catch you from inside": in some matches you are (when you are have a very good and stable team of 94-97 players are loosing to team, where players are very weak and even without "so-called golden cards, POTW cards, Epic Cards" - game looks like specially can't give you a win, and in this case you will want a "revanche" - to back in next match and win it by own team, in some case - you are truly see, that game dissalow you to score 5 times in row in 100% moments (one by one before GK, from very good position, when your player hits the post from very close distance) and etc.

I was tryed "to understand patterns of operation of the script system" - and have some own inner ideas about it.

So - I am no more reacting, when rival is scoring me goal after goal - I am just watching and trying to understand "how game trying to catch your feelings inside" and "rule by your emotions" and what patterns exist in whole this script system, that determines flow almost whole match ...
 
I know it's toxic of me to say it, but wow is that an underwhelming trailer.

"We've added the World Cup ... where you can play in the World Cup ... bye!"

Zero new feature discussion, no content that would suck a Football Manager fan in. So sad.

 
Least you can start a World Cup without going on holiday till the day the squads are announced.
So in a sense it is better than I expected.
You get to pick the squad and then play 2 friendlies before the tournament, so TBH I don't think it is that bad.

The only problem is the game sucks.
 
ByEZ6R1.jpg


So this is Messi

Which one of them is better ? :COOL:

ByELl5X.md.jpg
 
What a nightmare licensing is - thank God for modders. We don't deserve them. SI certainly don't this year!
 
For non Spanish readers:-

It's official, the Japan national team will NOT be playable in #FM26:
"Due to licensing restrictions, it will not be available to play in the initial phase. If there are any changes to the situation in the future, you will be informed again."

Modders will add Japan to the game without any problems but that is a joke.
Surely it can't be too pricey for SEGA to purchase the Japan team license.
 
Surely it can't be too pricey for SEGA to purchase the Japan team license.
It could be down to legal wrangling rather than cost - solicitors can get really pedantic and drag these things out. SI may require a license that expires at the same time as all the others for when FM26 is delisted, and they may not be able to agree on the technicalities. They may iron it out in time. (Or, it could be a cost issue - but at this point I'd imagine SI would just pay up to avoid further embarrassment.)
 
It could be down to legal wrangling rather than cost - solicitors can get really pedantic and drag these things out. SI may require a license that expires at the same time as all the others for when FM26 is delisted, and they may not be able to agree on the technicalities. They may iron it out in time. (Or, it could be a cost issue - but at this point I'd imagine SI would just pay up to avoid further embarrassment.)
I don't think it will matter as SI will put Japan in the game there will just be a file blocking them from appearing, which modders will unlock.
But it is pretty embarrassing to have a WC game and not have one of the most supported teams and potential Quarter Finalists.

Maybe in Japan someone is releasing - Japan Super Soccer World Cup Edition.
 
Licensing for national teams in Japan has always been fragmented, much like Germany used to be. Licensing the Japanese NT requires four separate agreements: JFA brand and crest, player image/likeness rights, kits, and federation approvals. What's crazy, you can have all the players licensed via another method (their club league, etc.), but that doesn't give you the rights to put them on the NT. Pro Yakyuu Spirits (a Japanese NPB game) only recently added Samurai Japan (Japan NT) to their games even though they've had most/all of the players licensed for years.

Even then, this situation is much easier than the Brazilian football issues with licensing.
 
FYI..
I will update the OneDrive as soon as the Japanese patch arrives next Tuesday.
There is also a massive Stadium 3.0 patch available online too, which I will unload - But believe this is freely available and not behind the sortitoutsi paywall.
 
FYI..
I will update the OneDrive as soon as the Japanese patch arrives next Tuesday.
There is also a massive Stadium 3.0 patch available online too, which I will unload - But believe this is freely available and not behind the sortitoutsi paywall.
Yes it's available here and it's excellent. (Stadium Pack 3.0)

https://www.bassyboy.com/downloads
 
I know it's toxic of me to say it, but wow is that an underwhelming trailer.

"We've added the World Cup ... where you can play in the World Cup ... bye!"

Zero new feature discussion, no content that would suck a Football Manager fan in. So sad.



Looks like they spent all the trailer budget on the pre-release propaganda.
 
The World Cup patch is now released.
500MB download.

There is no update for the game though as yet for license fixing.
 
I have now uploaded the new licensing fix file v5.0 and added the latest data update.
However, I am not 100% sure if promotions and relegation's have been added.

Also did a very quick WC last night and won it with England, losing just the opening game to Croatia.

It was very uninspiring till the QF, as played nothing but rubbish teams till Germany in the QF.

It seems the proper WC is going to go this way too with zero decent games till the possible the last 16.
 
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Are you aware of the import of pes stadiums for fm26??? Who is preparing this at pes???
Yes. On that I'm on good terms with many PES Creators and if possible I ask for permission. I also have a credits document which I maintain. If I missed anyone please do let me know, as my intention isn't to leech. I try to contribute financially where I can and give due credit as loads of work has been put into this by the original creators :D

Here's the list at the moment:
 
TBH I am very surprised that there isn't any face mods for the game yet.
This is something I plan to work on in the near future. The problem is getting the anchor point right, as well as the tracking of the rigged model, but yeah, hopefully soon I'll have something functional :D
 
Watching the last pages of this thread looks like FM 2026 is in a sorry state (like never before for SI). Either way, I didn't played FM during the last decade and so because it expanded a lot into "chore tasks" (on the contrary, I didn't see that necessarily as a negative point though, but I wanted also to play other games). As management football, I played a lot of CM with patched databases, but I also wanted to play some past seasons before was converted into a job simulator:

Screenshot 2026-05-30 233351.png

I have installed all those past classics when I want to experience something a little bit more than CM, like a perfect balance between UI, duties and matches, so those FM versions are hitting perfectly the spot for me (besides nostalgia). Wanted to ask though if there is some type of archive regarding club logos and player pics that I can download for FM regarding 2005-2012? I don't have much knowledge on where is the best place to search for those packs. :D Much appreciated...
 
I prefer the older games with the same database.
As prefer to play the older games with the older players.

I am sure there is plenty of places to still download Kits and stuff.
SortitoutSI have downloads all the back to FM 2010 - As all the latest download packs for FM24 work for every version back to FM 2010.
As for Data Updates these will most likely be very difficult to find, as people only tend to release data updates for what people consider the 'Absolute Classic' versions of the game.
 
Starting next week, if anyone is interested.
We can start an Evo-Web WC on FM26.

Depending on how many people could be interested but can start on Monday or Tuesday night and then play a couple of nights a week from 7 till 9.
This should be enough to start the game pic squads and play the friendlies in Week 1 before moving onto the Group Stages in Week 2 and so on.

We will have some guidlines like no strikerless formations but these can be finalised nearer the start, but only if anyone is actually interested.

I have even gone through the trouble for most men of completing a permission slip:-
PRINT IF APPLICABLE

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Wife / Girlfriend,

I would like to formally submit a request for approval of a structured recreational activity involving Football Manager 2026.

This proposal is designed to ensure balance, responsibility, and continued domestic harmony while also allowing for a modest and contained pursuit of footballing greatness from the comfort of our home.

Details of the request:
  • Activity: Football Manager 2026 (career mode managerial duties, tactical overthinking, occasional emotional distress due to 93rd-minute goals conceded)
  • Frequency: Twice per week
  • Duration: 2 hours per session
  • Total period: A couple of weeks (temporary, reviewable arrangement)
Assurances:
  • No disappearance into “just one more match” spirals beyond agreed time (maximum reasonable effort will be made)
  • Real-life responsibilities will remain fully intact and unaffected
  • Food consumption during sessions will be kept at non-chaotic levels
  • Emotional reactions to virtual football outcomes will be managed with dignity (or at least contained muttering)
Benefits to household ecosystem:
  • Improved mood following tactical victories
  • Reduced spontaneous football talk outside allocated gaming time
  • Enhanced appreciation for shared time together due to structured absence
Exit clause:
This arrangement is fully reversible should it negatively impact relationship harmony, sleep, or the understanding of what “quick game” actually means.

Signed,
Your Devoted Partner
 
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