After a year of socializing, I’m ready to create Haramball 2.0 with the new tactical updates.

The most fun that FM has ever been. The game feels more alive and interactive with the Unity engine. Previous FM games were amazing and fun as well but felt more like a spreadsheet simulator than a game. 10/10 would recommend

It's got a lot of issues, you can read about them on the myriad of negative reviews. There is potential there, but it will probably take the entirety of this game's yearlong lifespan to see any of it. At its core though, it's still just Football Manager. FM24 was 140CA/140PA FM26 is 90CA/170PA

S tarting the review to see if we can read between the lines A gain, same broken transfers and useless interactions C utting of international management (maybe added later) K iller bugs and crashes, enjoy the beta for FM27 M atch engine is like ice skating without music I nterface is terrible and no initial custom skin support L ies of improvement, features are only removed E veryone’s weights are gone, wonder why S omehow, we are forced to do pronouns

Im not going to rant or rave, but ive put in 100 hours on the BETA. Im a veteran of FM/CM since 1993. Sports Interactive: You have a dedicated community of modders/super users - make use of them. They do a better job than you!

CA:⭐️ PA:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Played the beta for 75+ hours. Started new save for 'Official release'. It went like this: 1. Begin unemployed, apply for jobs. 2. Interview and get a job. 3. Spend 3 hours looking at club expectations, staff, current players in each squad, choosing a IP tactic and OOP tactic. Offered contracts to new staff. Listing unwanted players. Promoting players from U18s. 4. Clicked 'continue' and game crashes to desktop. 5. Reload most recent save to find I am unemployed again. 6. Interview for the job at the same club. 7. Don't get job. 8. Go and play FM24 instead.

Its a HUGE upgrade on FM24 new match engine looks great!!! UI a bit clunky at first but honestly not as bad when you get used to it. Bit buggy but they had 30 years to perfect the last game. Just be patient

Don't listen to the haters. Is FM26 perfect? Of course not. The game is good, not great, but good.

Football Manager for dummies, stripped back to barebones; no imersion, limited control over your club, finances absolutely cooked impossible not to run at a deficit. A million glitches and bugs besides, cannot recommend this to anyone, having played FM for 2 decades i can say that this is the worst iteration ever. If you're on the fence i would advice you to stick with FM24 or previous version. 3/10.

Cant even be bothered to write a proper review, a little bit like how you couldnt be bothered to finish the game...

I prefer really not to speak. If I speak I am in big trouble, and I don't want to be in big trouble, and if I speak I'm accused of bringing the game into disrepute.

im having more fun than with previous versions, i guess im doing something wrong?

The update from Beta to Full Release: Removing the Beta Watermark and the Bug Reporting Button

im a corporate shill.

Far from perfect but a good base for the relaunch of the series. Tactical overhaul and updated match engine are great.

Yes, the game isn't perfect, but this company has given us great games and hours of fun for years. Now they've decided on a new path. Anyone who doesn't give them some time,support and patience shouldn't call themselves a Football Manager fan or veteran. Even if everything is wrong, I have full confidence that it will all be fixed over time.

TL;DR - Should You Buy FM26?

Wait for FM27, updates or MODS. As a 25,000+ hour FM veteran, I cannot recommend FM26 in its current state. While the new tactical system is genuinely brilliant, the game is plagued by a catastrophic UI/UX downgrade, removal of 100+ features, and feels incomplete. Unless you're desperate for the new In/Out of Possession tactics, stick with FM24 or wait 6-12 months for patches.

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What's Actually Good

The New Tactical System (7/10):

• In/Out of Possession system is the best addition to FM in years
• Tactical visualizer is genuinely fantastic
• Much closer to mirroring real football than the old role system

Technical Performance (8/10):

• Unity engine brings massive speed improvements over FM24
• Loading times are excellent

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What's Wrong - And It's A Lot

The UI/UX Disaster (UI: 4/10 | UX: 1/10)

FM26 may have the worst UX downgrade in modern gaming history. Core Problems:

• Basic tasks require 3-5x more clicks than FM24
• Information buried behind multiple menus
• Zero customization options
• Fade transitions add annoying delays everywhere
• Search functionality barely works
• Almost no tooltips anywhere

Training Management - Catastrophic:

• Each training block requires separate setup
• Cannot copy/paste sessions
• U21/U18 training completely removed
• Out of Possession training doesn't work

Match Overview - Worse Than 10 Years Ago:

• Quick subs removed
• Cannot show heat maps or pass maps
• Cannot pause to analyze statistics

Missing & Removed Features - Over 100+

Data & Analysis:

• ❌ Heat maps removed
• ❌ Pass maps removed
• ❌ Cannot export data
• ❌ Development Centre gutted

Youth Team Management:

• ❌ U21/U18 tactics not shown
• ❌ U21/U18 training removed
• ❌ U21/U18 coach assignments removed

Major Game Modes Removed:

• ❌ International Management (returning in update)
• ❌ Create-a-Club (FM27)
• ❌ Challenge Mode (FM27/28)
• ❌ Fantasy Draft
• ❌ Touchline Shouts (permanently removed)

Customization (1/10):

• Cannot rearrange tiles
• Cannot change attribute colors
• Cannot import real manager photos
• Cannot customize hotkeys (20+ years!)

Match Engine - Same Old With New Paint

Critical Issues:

• Referee actions broken: Cards appear BEFORE referee reaches for pocket
• Player marking broken: Becomes zonal marking inconsistently
• Visual clarity poor: Feels like watching 720p on 1440p monitor
• AI unchanged: Doesn't seem smarter than FM24
• No collision detection: In a "new" 2025 engine

Other Problems:

• Off-ball movement feels mechanical
• Ball physics feel off
• Rain effects annoying (always rains)
• Player models lack variety
• Out of Possession instructions don't work properly
• Mid-game tactical changes take 5-15 seconds

Bugs From Beta

• 7 crashes from obscure UI elements
• Squad bar resets between matches (15+ years unfixed)
• Generated player faces look nightmarish
• Hitting woodwork 3+ times per match

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Design Philosophy Concerns

<*>Console-First Development: PC playerbase didn't ask for this UI overhaul <*>Solving Non-Problems: Creating many new problems <*>Removing Features: 100+ beloved features removed <*>2015 Standards in 2025: Unity used for 2015-level graphics <*>Lack of Competition: Complacency is obvious Miles Jacobson's Quote: "You can't expect 20 years worth of quality of life features from a UI to be there in a brand new UI." Translation: They removed 20 years of features and you'll wait years for them to come back - maybe.

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Final Thoughts

I love Football Manager - 25,000+ hours invested. That's why this is harsh - I WANT this to be great. The In/Out of Possession system is brilliant. Unity performance is excellent. There's a potentially great game buried under horrible UX decisions. But right now? FM26 is not ready. Missing too many features, interface fights you constantly, match engine improvements are cosmetic. My recommendation: Wait 6-12 months for updates. Check back when UI/UX is overhauled, removed features are restored, and match engine issues are addressed. Or just keep playing FM24 and wait for FM27. If SI takes community feedback seriously, FM26 could become an 8/10 game. But that's a big "if" based on their historical response.

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Rating Breakdown:

• Match Engine: 5/10
• Tactics: 7/10
• UI: 4/10
• UX: 1/10
• Features: 2/10
• Performance: 8/10
• Overall Value: 4.5/10

After 135+ hours in beta, this might be the first FM in 15+ years where I don't reach 1,000 hours.

After years of having the same interface, they’ve finally made some major changes! Unfortunately, most of the UI updates seem to have been focused on the console version — but I’m fine with that. It takes some time to get used to, and there are still areas that could be improved to make it more user-friendly, but these things will naturally evolve over time. Personally, I’m really enjoying the game, and I believe it will be loved by all the passionate FM fans who return to it year after year.

FOOTBALL MANAGER 26 CURRENT ABILITY : ⭐ POTENTIAL ABILITY : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

THINGS THIS GAME HAS IN COMMON WITH MY NIECE: 1. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF BUGS EATING AWAY AT THEIR INSIDES. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Yes some bugs, but way better than 24

A solid game, with a few glitches. They should've been sorted pre-launch but the negative reviews are hugely over the top. The new match engine is great.

Honestly, I’m really enjoying Football Manager 26. I know some people aren’t too happy with the changes, but I actually welcome them. The new UI looks clean once you get used to it, and the match engine feels like a big step forward — the matches look and play better than ever. Yeah, I get that not everyone likes big overhauls, but for me, it’s great to see Sports Interactive pushing things forward instead of just playing it safe every year. Change can be uncomfortable, sure, but that’s how the game (and we as players) keep evolving. All in all, I’m all for the direction FM26 is taking. It’s fresh, ambitious, and honestly, a lot of fun.

Definitely don't buy it, the theme is so bad that I bought the last game of this company and I will never buy it again, don't buy it, you will be throwing your money away.