The long-awaited expansion of the iconic management simulation is officially confirmed, with Football Manager female leagues making their debut in the upcoming Football Manager 2026 (FM26) release. Developer Sports Interactive (SI) first announced their commitment to this “Expand the game” initiative in 2021, and after years of extensive data collection, the feature is ready for fans. FM26 is currently scheduled for release in November 2025.
The initial release of Football Manager female leagues will feature 14 playable leagues spanning 11 nations across three continents. Headlining the new divisions are fully licensed competitions like the Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) and the US-based National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). SI built the women’s database from the ground up, now including over 41,000 players to ensure authentic gameplay.
The developers stressed that the women’s game is not a separate side mode; it is fully integrated. Managers can choose to start their careers with a men’s or women’s team, or even switch between them within the same save file. Player attributes are rated on the same 1-20 scale as the men’s, but are measured within their own competitive context. Motion capture sessions with women’s players helped to create realistic on-pitch animations for the Football Manager female leagues.
This massive undertaking reflects the fast-rising profile of the women’s sport globally, with record crowds for major tournaments and league play. Though originally planned for FM25, a delay allowed the team to enhance the technical specs and expand the database further. The arrival of Football Manager female leagues in FM26 marks the beginning of a new, fully integrated chapter for the franchise.
