The Best Leagues to Play in FM26

Football Manager 2026 has 58 playable nations for men's football and 11 for women's football, giving you hundreds of leagues to choose from.

But which league should you start in?

This guide breaks down the best leagues for different playstyles, goals, and challenges.

Best Leagues for Beginners

If you're new to Football Manager or want an easy starting point, these leagues offer the most beginner-friendly experience.

England (Premier League & EFL)

Why it's great for beginners:

• No numeric foreign player cap, but requires a 25-man squad registration.
  
• U21 players are exempt from the squad limit, offering key flexibility.
  
• Lots of money, especially in the Premier League
  
• Fully licensed with real names, kits, and badges
  
• Deep league system (6 tiers playable by default)
  
• Easy to find information about players and clubs
  

Recommended clubs:

• Premier League: Brighton, Brentford, Fulham (competitive without extreme pressure)
  
• Championship: Leeds, Leicester, Southampton (big clubs in the second tier)
  
• League One/Two: Wrexham, Portsmouth (famous lower-league clubs with money)
  

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Germany (Bundesliga & Below)

Why it's great for beginners:

• No foreign player restrictions (work permits apply)
  
• Strong youth development systems (8 Home-Grown players required for squad registration).
  
• Financial stability across the league
  
• Excellent facilities at most clubs
  
• 50+1 rule means clubs are fan-owned (stable ownership)
  

Recommended clubs:

• Bundesliga: Borussia Mönchengladbach, Hoffenheim (solid mid-table teams)
  
• 2. Bundesliga: Hamburg, Schalke (fallen giants with great facilities)
  

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Portugal (Primeira Liga)

Why it's great for beginners:

• Excellent for developing young players
  
• No strict foreign player limits
  
• Decent money at top clubs
  
• Gateway to larger European leagues (players often move on for profit)
  

Recommended clubs:

• Primeira Liga: Sporting CP, Porto, Benfica (the Big Three dominate)
  
• Segunda Liga: Académico Viseu, Leixões (development-focused clubs)
  

Best Leagues for Squad Building Freedom

Want complete control over your squad without registration problems? These leagues have the most flexible rules.

England: Maximum Freedom

• No numeric limit on foreign nationality, but clubs must register a 25-man senior squad.
  
• Maximum 17 players can be Non-Home-Grown (i.e., not trained in England or Wales for 3 seasons before age 21). This forces strategic squad planning.
  
• Under-21 players are]exempt from the 25-man limit, providing key flexibility.
  

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Germany: Open-Door Policy

• No foreign player restrictions (work permits apply)
  
• Minimal red tape
  
• Perfect for building multinational squads
  

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Portugal: Development Paradise

• No strict non-EU limits
  
• Excellent for signing South American wonderkids
  
• Work permit rules are reasonable
  

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Netherlands (Eredivisie)

• Very few restrictions
  
• Great for finding undervalued players
  
• Strong youth development culture
  

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Belgium (Jupiler Pro League)

• Minimal foreign player restrictions
  
• Excellent place to find young talent
  
• Competitive league with multiple strong clubs
  

Most Restrictive Leagues (For a Challenge)

These leagues have complex registration rules that force strategic squad building.

Spain (La Liga & Segunda División)

Registration rules:

• Maximum 25 players in the first-team squad
  
• Only 3 non-EU players allowed
  
• Complex registration system with different categories
  

Note: Clubs are allowed to have up to 5 Non-EU players but only 3 can be registered for the competition at any one time. The matchday squad limit is also 3.

Why play here:

• Technical, possession-based football culture
  
• World-class clubs at the top
  
• Great weather and lifestyle (matters for player recruitment)
  

Best for: Experienced managers who enjoy working with complex rules

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Italy (Serie A, B & C)

Registration rules:

• Strict foreign player quotas
  
• Non-EU player restrictions are significant
  
• Complex loan rules
  

Why play here:

• Tactical depth and defensive football tradition
  
• Historic clubs with passionate fanbases
  
• Some clubs fully licensed (Milan, Inter, Juventus, Atalanta, etc.)
  

Best for: Managers who enjoy tactical challenges and working within limits

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France (Ligue 1 & Ligue 2)

Registration rules:

• Moderate foreign player restrictions
  
• DNCG financial monitoring (strict financial fair play)
  

Why play here:

• Excellent youth development systems
  
• Competitive league outside of PSG dominance
  
• Fully licensed top two tiers
  

Best for: Managers focused on youth development and financial management

Best Leagues for Financial Challenge

Want to build something from nothing? These leagues test your money management.

England (League Two & National League)

• Tiny budgets
  
• Lower-league struggle
  
• Can you climb from the bottom tier to the Premier League?
  

Portugal (Liga 3 & Below)

• Limited resources
  
• Must develop and sell players to progress
  
• Realistic path from unknown to European competition
  

Scotland (Championship & Below)

• Small budgets
  
• Celtic and Rangers dominate the top tier
  
• Can you break the Old Firm's control?
  

Eastern European Leagues

Countries like Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, and Hungary offer:

• Very limited budgets
  
• Must scout and develop talent
  
• Qualifying for Champions League is a massive achievement
  

Best Leagues for Tactical Variety

Different leagues reward different tactical approaches.

Spain: Possession Football

Spanish football focuses on technical ability, short passing, and positional play. Ideal for testing possession-based systems.

Italy: Defensive Mastery

Italian football rewards defensive organization and tactical discipline. Perfect for managers who love clean sheets.

Germany: High Pressing

German football values intensity, pressing, and athleticism. Great for testing gegenpressing tactics.

England: Physical & Direct

English football rewards physicality, pace, and directness. Ideal for counter-attacking and direct styles.

France: Youth Development

French football focuses on youth development. Perfect for managers who love building teams through academies.

Best Leagues for Competitive Balance

Tired of one-team leagues? These offer real title races.

England (Premier League)

• Multiple title contenders every season
  
• 6-8 clubs realistically compete for European spots
  
• Unpredictable and competitive
  

Germany (Bundesliga)

• Bayern dominate, but Dortmund, Leipzig, and others challenge
  
• Europa League spots are wide open
  
• Competitive throughout the table
  

France (Ligue 1)

• PSG dominate financially, but others can compete
  
• European qualification spots are competitive
  
• Marseille, Lyon, Monaco, Lille all capable of winning titles
  

Portugal (Primeira Liga)

• Big Three (Porto, Benfica, Sporting) dominate
  
• Braga occasionally challenges
  
• Mid-table is tightly contested
  

Best Leagues for Hidden Gems

Want to find the next superstar? These leagues are goldmines for scouting.

South America (Brazil & Argentina)

• Wonderkid factories
  
• Low release clauses and transfer fees
  
• Players eager to move to Europe
  

Eastern Europe

• Undervalued talent
  
• Strong youth development in countries like Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia
  
• Cheap signings
  

Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway, Denmark)

• Excellent youth development
  
• Players often move to bigger leagues young
  
• Great value for money
  

Asia (Japan & South Korea)

• Overlooked talent
  
• Technical players with good attributes
  
• J-League especially strong
  

Best Leagues for Building a Dynasty

These leagues allow long-term dominance.

Scotland (Scottish Premiership)

• Dominate domestically with Celtic or Rangers
  
• Challenge: succeed in Europe with limited resources
  
• Clear path to continental competition
  

Netherlands (Eredivisie)

• Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord dominate
  
• Develop young players and compete in Europe
  
• Sell-to-buy model creates sustainable success
  

Portugal (Primeira Liga)

• Big Three model allows dynasty building
  
• Sell players for profit and reinvest
  
• Regular Champions League participation
  

Belgium (Jupiler Pro League)

• Build a powerhouse like Brugge or Genk
  
• Develop talent and compete in Europe
  
• Smaller league means quicker dominance
  

Women's Football: Best Starting Points

The league's unique structure features low transfer fees and high free agent movement, creating a different financial challenge.

FM26 adds 11 playable nations for women's football. Here's where to begin:

England (Barclays WSL)

• Most competitive women's league
  
• Strong financial backing
  
• Excellent facilities
  
• Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester City dominate
  

United States (NWSL)

• High-profile league
  
• Strong talent pool
  
• Unique league structure with drafts and salary caps
  

Spain (Liga F)

• Technical, possession-based football
  
• Barcelona dominate
  
• Growing investment in women's game
  

Germany (Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga)

• Historic strength in women's football
  
• Strong youth development
  
• Bayern and Wolfsburg lead the way
  

France (Première Ligue)

• Lyon have dominated for decades
  
• PSG challenging recently
  
• Strong technical players
  

Underrated Leagues Worth Exploring

Austria (Austrian Bundesliga)

• Strong academy systems
  
• Red Bull Salzburg's talent factory
  
• Path to bigger leagues
  

Croatia (1. HNL)

• Dinamo Zagreb fully licensed
  
• Excellent place to scout
  
• Competitive domestically, European presence
  

Belgium (Belgian First Division)

• Hidden gem for talent
  
• Competitive league
  
• Great for developing managers
  

Denmark (Superliga)

• Strong youth development
  
• FC Copenhagen and Brondby rivalry
  
• Scandinavian talent pool
  

Turkey (Süper Lig)

• Passionate fanbases
  
• Big clubs with history (Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, Besiktas)
  
• Financial challenges add complexity
  

Leagues to Avoid (For Now)

These leagues have significant challenges best saved for experienced managers:

• China (CSL): Unstable financial situation and limited competitiveness
  
• Indonesia: Complex league structure and limited resources
  
• India: Developing league with infrastructure challenges
  
• Malaysia: Financial problems and limited player pool
  

Making Your Choice

The "best" league depends on your goals:

• Beginner? England or Germany
  
• Want squad building freedom? England, Germany, or Portugal
  
• Love tactical challenges? Spain or Italy
  
• Financial challenge? Lower English leagues or Eastern Europe
  
• Hidden gems? South America, Eastern Europe, or Scandinavia
  
• Dynasty building? Scotland, Netherlands, or Portugal
  
• Women's football? England, USA, or Spain
  

Multiple League Saves

Don't forget you can load multiple leagues in one save. This creates:

• More competition for player signatures
  
• Realistic player movement across leagues
  
• Deeper continental competitions
  
• Greater challenge and immersion
  

Popular combinations:

• Top 5 European leagues: England, Spain, Germany, Italy, France
  
• Talent development: Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, France
  
• Challenge route: Start in lower English leagues with Portugal and Netherlands loaded for scouting
  

Final Thoughts

FM26 comes with a wide range of playable nations that offer something for every manager.

Whether you want to dominate with a top club, build from nothing in League Two, or break the Old Firm's control in Scotland, there's a perfect league for your playstyle.

Think about your goals, preferred tactics, and experience level when choosing.

And remember, you can always start a new save in a different league if your first choice doesn't work.

The beauty of Football Manager is that every league tells a different story.

Your English Championship save will feel completely different from managing in Portugal or Turkey. Experiment, explore, and find what works for you.

Good luck choosing your next adventure!