FM26 First Playthrough (Video & Summary)

Football Manager 26 is the newest version in the series, built on a completely new Unity engine, marking a fresh start for the franchise.

Spencer Owen (SpencerFC) hosted a 90-minute stream showing the game's flow for the first time.

He was joined by Miles Jacobson (Studio Director at Sports Interactive) and Jarrod Bowen (West Ham and England player).

Pre-Purchase FM26 from FM Scout Start playing ~2 weeks early with advanced access, and enter a special giveaway for 5 chances to win GS26g.

You can watch a solid 90 minutes of FM26 action in this playthrough.


If you don't have time to watch the video, we've prepared a summary for you.

FM26 First Look Playthrough - The Summary

Spencer managed West Ham United through three matches:

• vs Brentford (Home) - Won 1-0
  
• vs Leeds (Away) - Drew 2-2 (led 2-1, conceded in stoppage time)
  
• vs Newcastle (Home) - Won 2-0
  

Jarrod Bowen played along for the first two games, scoring goals as his virtual self. They experimented with tactics, making Bowen a striker instead of his usual winger position.

Now let's talk about the major new features showcased on video.

1. Manager Creation

• Much more detailed character customization
  
• Better graphics and more realistic faces
  
• You can set your background (former player, journalist, etc.)
  
• Choose your coaching style and personality traits
  
• Your choices affect how clubs and players see you
  

2. New User Interface (UI)

• Completely redesigned menus and navigation
  
• Portal system - dashboard-style pages for different sections
  
• Better search function that works like an encyclopedia
  
• Customizable bookmarks (6-12 depending on screen size)
  
• Easier to find what you need
  

Football Manager 2026 New Interface

3. In and Out of Possession Tactics

This is the biggest gameplay change:

• Set different formations when you have the ball vs. when you don't
  
• Players can have different roles in each phase
  
• Much more control over your team's shape and movement
  
• Visual guides show how tactics work on the pitch
  

FM26 Tactics Massive Overhaul

4. Women's Football

• 14 women's leagues from 11 countries included
  
• Can manage men's teams, women's teams, or both
  
• Fully integrated into the game
  

Women's Football in FM26

5. Premier League License

• Official Premier League branding and presentation
  
• Real stadiums, kits, and faces
  
• Women's Super League also licensed
  

6. Improved Match Engine

• Better graphics and animations taken from real matches
  
• More realistic player movements
  
• Stadium atmosphere feels more authentic
  

7. Transfer Room

• New feature showing what other clubs need
  
• You can advertise what positions you're looking for
  
• More realistic transfer market
  

The video showed that FM26 represents a significant evolution for the series, with deeper tactical options and a modern presentation that further improves its realism.

Get Early Access to FM26

Purchase FM26 through fmscout.com much cheaper than Steam store & enjoy early access before release, get a 5x chance to win a key for the 'g' edition of Genie Scout 26, & our gratitude for supporting our community financially.