FM26 Women’s Football – How It Actually Works

For years, Football Manager players asked the same question: when will women’s football be in FM?
Now, with FM26, it’s finally here, and it’s fully integrated into the same game world we’ve all played for decades.

But how exactly does it work?
Here’s a breakdown of the features, mechanics and design choices that make women’s football in FM26 more than just a database update.

One World, One Ecosystem

The philosophy behind FM26 is simple: football is football.

• Women’s football isn’t a separate mode – it lives alongside the men’s game.
• You can start a career with a men’s or women’s club (or unemployed), and load whichever mix of leagues you want.

For the full list of playable leagues, head to our FM26 Women’s Leagues Guide.

Attributes & Player Database

• Over 36,000 women’s players and 5,000 staff are in at launch.
• The same 20-point attribute scale is used, but relative to the women’s database.
  • A female player with 20 Pace is the fastest in the women’s game, just like a male player with 20 is in the men’s game.
• No men’s vs women’s matches – the databases remain separate but balanced.

Contracts, Finances & Transfers

• Contracts are usually shorter, with far fewer release clauses.
• Transfers are dominated by free moves – expect plenty of end-of-contract deals.
• Compensation fees for under-24s have been matched to real-world levels.
• Wages and revenues have been balanced to reflect realistic women’s football economies.

Injuries & Medical Data

• Real-world research has been used to adjust the prevalence of certain injuries.
• Recovery rates have been tuned to mirror the women’s game, where differences do exist compared to men’s football.

Newgens & Staffing

• Women’s newgens are generated separately.
• Some staff only appear in the women’s game, others can work in both.
• Even club owners have been coded with tendencies to hire across both sides of the game.

Matchday & Animations

• Bespoke motion capture sessions with women’s players bring authenticity to FM26.
• New character models, hair textures, and kit settings reflect the women’s game.
• Animations capture differences in movement styles, helping matchdays feel realistic.

Building for the Future

Sports Interactive have:

• A 40-strong research team dedicated to women’s football.
• Plans to expand with more playable leagues in future years.
• Committed to the same level of detail that has defined the men’s database for 30+ years.

The Future of FM26 Women’s Football

FM26’s inclusion of women’s football isn’t just a headline – it’s a carefully designed system that reflects the reality of the women’s game.

From contracts to finances, attributes to animations, this is Football Manager taking the next step in realism and representation. And as the women’s game continues to grow, so too will the FM database.