Football Manager 26 upgraded match day experience gameplay revealed

Jack Stewart, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 25/09/2025

There are only 40 days left until the year-long wait ends and the highly anticipated Football Manager 26 finally releases.

After the franchise took a break to develop the new engine, FM26 is looking like the most ambitious title yet.

Now, Sports Interactive have revealed what exactly is new with FM26’s match day experience in brand new gameplay.

The first Football Manager 26 trailer showed it was worth the wait with incredible 3D graphics using Unity.

The new engine is delivering 300+ new animations, updated camera angles, new cutscenes, overhauled lighting, improved pitch textures, and upgraded stadiums.

There were worries that the 3D match engine would make FM26’s PC requirements too high.

However, a split second of the trailer has confirmed that players can still return to the classic 2D match viewer instead.

And as for those who do opt for the new 3D experience, they won’t miss out on the 2D view either.

Between highlights, the new match overview screen features a 2D view recap to better analyse your tactics.

Sports Interactive recorded real players for more authentic movements, including exclusive animations for women’s players.

FM26 will also feature better player intelligence, with one example being they’ll pass through busy areas of the pitch more often.

SI promise more details on match AI improvements will be revealed with a tactical tools deep dive coming soon.

The trailer also revealed broadcast mode which changes between camera angles like matches do on TV, including an overhauled replay system.

And in dynamic mode, the game will only show highlights, with the amount depending on the importance of the match.

Plus, SI have upgraded stadiums as well as the surrounding areas for added realism.

FM26 trailer easter egg confirms major new feature

During the match day trailer, eagle-eyed fans have spotted a single screen which confirms one of the most requested features.

On the match overview screen, there is a tile in the top left which shows the team’s “formation IP” standing for in-possession.

This easter egg confirms that managers will be able to select on and off the ball formations in FM 26.

Like Ruben Anorim, but hopefully better, players can play a 3-4-3, then have a full back tuck in to create a four at the back.

This is a major update to FM26, which will only make tactical decisions even more interesting.

The upcoming tactical tools deep dive should be fascinating.

Jack Stewart, Senior Editor

In my seven years of esports writing, I've introuduced esports coverage to newspapers, interviewed some of the biggest names in the industry, and driven viewers mad with the puns in my YouTube scripts. I'm most proud of the latter.

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