Football Manager 2026 Patch 26.2.0 - January Transfer Data Update

Sports Interactive will release the January Transfer Window Update for Football Manager 2026 on March 9th.

This is the Main Winter Update for Football Manager 2026, including updated squads following the January transfer window.

Date Released: March 9th, 2026
File size: TBA

The Football Manager Winter Transfer Update for FM 2026 will be available for download via Steam and Epic Games.

More than 5 million database changes feature in the Main Winter Update, including alterations to the Current Ability, Potential Ability and Attributes of thousands of players around the world based on their real-life performances since FM26’s launch.

This update also includes several game additions and upgrades, some of which are detailed via the changelist below.

Rosters for certain licensed leagues whose seasons run to the calendar year will only be reflective up until the end of the 2025 season and will not include incoming and outgoing transfers made for 2026.

This means that upon starting a new game, the latest database will be available with updated squads, managers and everything else which happened before the January window closed.

Even if that doesn't do the trick, then verify the game cache will.

The Main Winter Update will go live today on FM26, FM26 Console and FM26 Touch (Apple Arcade). Plans for FM26 Mobile and FM26 Touch (Nintendo Switch) will be revealed in the next days.

26.2 List of Changes

Database 26.2

• Over five million database changes since the initial release of FM 26
  
• Updated licenced headshots
  

Technical Issues

• Various Crash and Stability fixes
  
• Game no longer soft locks when attempting to progress to a penalty shootout in certain competitions
  
• Improved the User Interface (UI) responsiveness in Online Lobbies with large number of users
  

User Interface (UI)

• Redesigned fixtures & results page to be full screen
  
• Added a preference for the Fixtures and Results screens to be automatically shown before and after matches in competitions the user is participating in
  
• User is now able to change Player Instructions & Roles from the Tactics Visualiser
  
• User is now able to view the Tactics Visualiser from the Team Shape tab from within the In and Out of Possession tabs
  
• Fixed an issue causing the opposition formation visuals to inaccurately reflect the actual formations on the pitch after the AI makes a formation change during a match
  
• Added Club Profile and Best XI tabs on the club Welcome Pack
  
• Tactics - Quick Pick will no longer include players who aren’t in First Team unless you have a filter selected
  
• Tactics – Fixed an issue causing injury indicators to remain after clearing the position
  
• Tactics – "Hide players" option no longer filters out empty slots
  
• Tactics - Tactic name no longer overlaps with the overall Familiarity if the name of the tactic was too long
  
• Opposition Instructions screen will now default to Predicted Lineup instead of All Positions
  
• Player listed in the Squad Registration screen are now sorted by position by default
  
• User can now sort the personality column on the Squad page
  
• You are now able to sort players by Squad Number on the Squad Numbers screen
  
• Resolved an issue where the user could duplicate the spoken languages selected during the Manager Creation process
  
• Fixed an issue causing the hierarchy induction pyramid graphic to display in low resolution
  
• The text displayed in the ‘last club’ column is no longer too large when on the Squad screen
  

Gameplay

• Increased the prominence of AI manager sackings being shown on the News screen
  
• Players should no longer illogically get upset with manager when a transfer was cancelled due to work permit issues
  
• Fixed an issue preventing the Director of Football to sign players that were recently on trial with the club
  
• Fixed an issue causing some News items to incorrectly display a capital “S” after the player's name
  
• Fixed a rare issue where some players would illogically be considering options at the end of their contract when playing at the lower levels in England
  
• Resolved a very rare issue where playing highlights from a past match would sometimes show the wrong match
  

Art & Animation

• Implemented Dynamic Aging for Newgen Portraits
  
• Fixed an issue causing distorted models to appear at the start of a match
  
• Resolved a rare issue causing the weather to snow during matches played in Saudi Arabia
  
• Players under armour should now always match the colour of their kit shorts
  
• Under pitch heating should now work when on Low and Very Low graphics settings
  
• Lowered the brightness of the pitch when playing matches at Night
  
• Improvements made to manager hair quality
  

In-Game Editor (IGE) / Pre-Game Editor (PGE)

• Various Crash and Stability fixes
  
• Added Kit Editor tile to the Club Edit card (IGE)
  
• Flamboyancy and Goalkeeping non-player attributes can now be edited (PGE)
  
• Non-Playing History staff roles no longer appear in the Staff History and Biography as a Player role (PGE)
  
• Functionality of the duplicate button has been fixed (PGE)
  
• Resolved an issue causing data edits from edit files not affecting the database information during manager creation (PGE)
  

Competition and Rule Groups

Africa

• Updated rules & format for the African World Cup Qualifying
  
• Women’s Africa Cup of Nations expanded to 16 teams
  

Australia

• Updated format rules for the Australian Cup
  

Austria

• Updated the schedules for the Austrian Premier Division
  

Asia

• AFC Champions League – Resolved an issue where the Winter Registration window would never open
  
• AFC Women's Champions League – Updated the Schedule for 2026/27 season
  
• China will now host the Under 20 Asian Nations Cup in 2027
  

Belgium

• The Belgian First National Amateur Division no longer appears in game
  
• Adjustments made to the starting times of matches on Saturday and Sunday in the Jupiler Pro League Season 25/26
  

Brazil

• Updated a high number of formats, schedules and rules of various Brazilian State Championships
  
• Updated the Brazilian Cup and Super Cup for the 2026 season
  
• Updated the format, schedule, and rules for Brazilian U-20 Championship, and added the Brazilian U-20 Second Division
  

Canada

• Updated salary cap information
  

Chile

• Updated format rules for the Chilean Cup & Chilean Super Cup
  
• Updated the Chilean First Division & Chile Cup Revenue
  
• Updated the Chilean First Division and First Division B Match & Sorting Rules
  
• Updated the Chile Cup Substitution rules
  

China

• Various teams given Points Deductions and Fines
  
• Removed the 100% transfer fee tax
  
• Updated the Chinese FA Cup Match Rules
  

Colombia

• Updated format & match rules for the Colombian First & Second Division
  
• Updated the Colombian First Division Discipline Rules
  
• Updated Colombian Second Division Semi Final Draw Rules
  
• Updated Colombian First and Second Division TV Deals
  

Czechia

• Updated the match rules for various Czech domestic competitions
  

Denmark

• A-Liga squad numbers can now be assigned from 1-99
  
• Updated the format for A-Liga - 2025/26 and 2026/27 seasons
  

Europe

• Countries who play in different nations will now have the correct flag displayed alongside their name
  
• Updated the Hosts for Euro 2032
  
• Updated the Hosts for European U19 Championships (2027, 2028, 2029)
  
• Updated the Hosts for Women's European Football Championship 2029
  
• Updated the Nation and Club Coefficients for women’s football
  

Egypt

• Updated the match rules for the Egyptian Premier League
  

England

• Resolved an issue causing some Premier League Fixtures occurring at the start of an international break
  
• Updated Premier League Prize Money
  
• Updated the substitution rules for FA Cup qualifying rounds & FA Youth Cup
  
• Updated the format rules for U21/U18 Premier Division Cup & U18 Division 3 Cup
  
• Resolved non-cat 1 English U21 clubs incorrectly qualifying for the U21 International Cup
  
• U21 Premier Division International Cup - English teams will now correctly only play at home
  
• WSL & WSL2 - Trialists no longer allowed to play
  

Finland

• Updated substitution rules for all league divisions, the Finnish Cup & the Finnish League Cup
  
• Updated format rules for the Finnish First Division Championship League Cup
  
• Updated the 2025/26 Transfer Windows dates
  

France

• French Women's Cup - Reserve Teams will no longer participate
  

Germany

• 3. Liga - added rule where clubs get an automatic 9-point deduction if they enter administration
  
• Updated the substitution rules for German Women's Cup
  
• U21 Frauen Bundesliga players no longer need to be registered
  

Hong Kong

• Updated format rules for the Premier U22 League
  

Indonesia

• Added VAR to the Indonesian Super League & Indonesian Championship
  
• Updated the Indonesian League Two Schedule
  
• Removed the Piala President Cup
  

Israel

• Updated VAR rules for various competitions across Israel
  

Italy

• Resolved an issue where trophy celebration would wrongly trigger in Serie A if teams were tied on points for first place when instead a playoff game should decide the champions
  
• Removed Extra Time from the Italian Super Cup
  
• Removed Extra Time from the Italian Serie C Cup (except in the semifinals and final)
  
• Added VAR to the Serie BKT & Italian Serie C
  
• Updated VAR Rules to the Serie A Women Athora
  
• Italian Serie C - Various clubs given points deductions
  
• Updated the number of teams for Italian Serie C/B in 2025/26 due to Rimini being excluded from the league
  
• Updated the Squad Rules for Serie A Femminile eBay
  
• Updated the Schedule for the Italian U20 Primavera 3
  

Japan

• Updated the J1/J2/J3 League Schedule
  
• Updated substitution rules for the J1/J2/J3 Special Tournament playoff stages
  

Malaysia

• Updated the Malaysia Transfer Window dates
  
• Updated the Malaysian Super League Squad Registration Rules
  
• Updated the Malaysian Super League & Malaysian Cups Schedules
  
• Updated the format rules for Malaysian Super League & Malaysian FA Cup
  
• Updated the Malaysian A1 Semi-Professional League Transfer and Match Rules
  
• Removed the Malaysian Football League Cup
  

North America

• Updated the format for the North American W Champions Cup
  
• Updated the schedule for the North American Champions Cup
  

Northen Ireland

• Added the NIFL Charity Shield Competition
  
• Extra Time added to the North West Senior Cup
  
• BetMcLean League Cup correctly renamed to BetMcLean Cup
  
• Updated the Sports Direct Premiership & Bet McLean Cup Scheduling
  
• Updated substitution rules for various competitions & cups
  

Peru

• Peruvian First Division Prize Money is now correctly distributed
  
• Updated the Peruvian First Division Squad Registration Rules
  
• Updated the Peruvian First Division Match Rules
  

Portugal

• Updated the Loan Rules for all divisions
  
• Updated the format rules for the Portugal Championship & Portuguese U19 First Division
  
• Updated the Portuguese League Cup Match Rules
  
• Resolved an issue causing teams in Portuguese Third Division Championship Groups to incorrectly start with bonus points
  

Poland

• The Polish FA Cup Final now has the correct date
  

Romania

• VAR added to the Romanian Cup & Romanian Super Cup
  

Russia

• Updated the Russian Premier League Match Rules
  
• Updated substitutions rules for the Russian Cup
  

Scotland

• Hamilton Academical given 15-point deduction
  

Serbia

• Updated scheduling for all leagues
  

Spain

• Updated the Spanish Women's Divisions and Cups Match Rules
  
• Updated the Spanish Women's First/Second Division Squad Number rules
  

Singapore

• Updated the Singapore Cup Schedule
  
• Added VAR to the Singaporean Premier League/Singapore Cup/Singaporean Community Shield
  

Slovenia

• Updated the league formats due to a team going bankrupt
  

Spain

• Updated the match and squad number rules for several Spanish women’s competitions
  

Sweden

• Hammarby TFF are now correctly able to get promoted
  
• IFK Goteborg now play in the correct stadium
  
• Updated the Men's & Women’s Transfer Window Dates
  
• Updated Women's Football Contract Rules
  
• Updated the Swedish Second Division Norrland Format
  
• Updated the OBOS Damallsvenskan Match Rules & Schedule
  
• Updated the Elitettan Schedule
  

South America

• Updated the Copa Sudamericana Knock Out Play Off Round seeding format
  
• Updated the Copa Libertadores Draw Dates
  
• Updated the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana finals host cities (2026 and 2027 seasons)
  
• Updated the U20s Copa Libertadores 2025 and 2026 schedules.
  
• Updated the U20s Championship Schedule
  

South Korea

• Updated the Hana Bank K League 1 and 2 Match & Squad Registration Rules
  
• Updated the Korea Cup Match Rules
  

Turkey

• Updated Match & Squad rules for all divisions
  
• Updated the Turkish Super Cup dates for future editions
  

Uruguay

• Updated the Uruguayan Cup Format & Schedule
  
• Updated the teams featured in the Uruguay Reserve Division 2025
  

Wales

• The New Saints no longer appear as an English club
  
• Updated the Cymru Premier Match Rules
  
• Updated Adran Premier Contract Rules
  
• Aberystwyth Development, Berriew Development & Barry Town Linnets are now correctly ineligible to participate in Welsh Women's Cup
  

World

• Updated Substitution rules for the Club Intercontinental Championship
  
• Updated the men’s World Cup kickoff times
  
• Updated the format of ‘pairing’ 1-4 seeds for the men’s World Cup
  
• Updated the European/South American Super Cup date and venue for the 2026 edition
  
• World Cup Playoff-Tournament hosts have been updated
  

If you encounter any issues post update, please use the official FM26 Bugs Tracker. You can also contact [email protected] for further support.