10 WSL & WSL 2 Teams to Manage in FM26

The arrival of women's football in Football Manager 26 is a game-changer.

For the very first time, you'll be able to leave a mark on the Women's Super League and the Women's Championship.

Here's a chance to be a part of history, with a clean slate and a fresh challenge.

Regardless of whether you'd prefer to rule with one of the giants or take an underdog to the top, here are 10 teams to consider for your first women's football save.

The WSL Challenge

These are teams in the top flight, facing very different challenges.

Chelsea W.F.C.

They are the dominant force in English women's football, with a record eight WSL titles and six consecutive titles.

But with a team that has already conquered everything, the challenge is to remain at the top amidst new pretenders.

The 2024-25 season was passed undefeated in the league, a feat that will be almost impossible to replicate.

Can you handle the pressure of managing the country's number one team?

Your budget is big, your squad is full of superstars, and the fans expect nothing less than perfection.

This is the 'Glory Hunter' save, but with the added pressure of maintaining an existing dynasty.

Manchester City W.F.C.

A powerhouse with huge financial backing, Man City is a club that expects to win titles.

They finished fourth in the 2024-25 season after a tense race with Manchester United and Arsenal for the Champions League spots.

They've had a good team but have always just missed out on the top honor.

You're the boss who must bring an end to Chelsea's dominance.

This is the 'Dethrone the Champion' save.

Expectations are high, and the board will demand you bring the WSL trophy back to Manchester.

Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C.

After a good 2024-25 season in which they finished 5th, Brighton are an upwardly mobile team.

They have a good foundation and have been astute in the transfer market.

They are not yet a top-four side but are heading in the right direction.

This is a 'Climb the Ladder' save.

Your job is to finish in the top half of the table on a regular basis, then push on and challenge the league's traditional "big four."

Tottenham Hotspur W.F.C.

After a good run to the 2024 FA Cup final, Spurs were disappointing in 2024-25 and finished 11th.

They have a loyal fanbase and a good starting eleven but need a new direction if they are to be able to compete with the top teams.

Your job is to make a big club a big team.

This is a 'Rebuild' challenge where you need to take a team with potential and shape it into a consistent force in the WSL.

Can you defeat Arsenal in the 'North London Derby' and eventually battle for European spots?

London City Lionesses

This is a truly unique challenge.

The Lionesses are not affiliated with a men's Premier League club and rely on a smaller budget.

They achieved an astonishing promotion from the Women's Championship in the 2024-25 season and now have a gargantuan task to stay in the top flight.

They are the huge underdogs, so this is a 'Survival' save.

You'll be playing as a newly-promoted team with a small budget.

You will have to use every bit of your tactical knowledge and transfer market skills to stay up in the WSL and prove they can compete with the giants.

The WSL 2 Challenge

These teams are in the second tier, with the difficult challenge of trying to get promoted to the top level.

Bristol City W.F.C.

A former WSL team, Bristol City were relegated from the top level in 2024 after finishing bottom of the league. Last season they finished 6th in WSL 2.

They have a solid history in women's football but need a new manager to come in and give them an identity once more and guide them back to the top.

This is a 'Fallen Giant' type of save.

Your task is to take a club that was not long ago in the top tier, win the league, and get them promoted as quickly as possible.

Birmingham City W.F.C.

A side that previously played in the Champions League, Birmingham City have been trying to get promotion back to the WSL for several seasons.

The 2024-25 season was a close call as they finished only two points behind the promoted side, an agonizing near-miss.

Can you be the one to finally get them promoted?

The pressure will be immense to get this historic club back where they belong.

This is a perfect 'Promotion Push' save.

Charlton Athletic W.F.C.

A consistent challenger in the second tier, Charlton Athletic finished just outside of the promotion spots in the 2024-25 campaign.

They have a good squad and tactical foundation but lack the final push to get them across the line.

This is a 'One More Step' save.

The squad is capable enough to win the league; it's up to you to make the right tactics and achieve the right signings to win promotion finally.

Newcastle United W.F.C.

A club on the rise with a clear ambition, Newcastle United is a team to watch.

They recently moved to a new, larger stadium and have a clear goal of becoming a top WSL team.

They are backed by a wealthy owner who is willing to invest.

This could be a 'Moneyball' save.

You have the financial backing to bring in top players, but you have to build a team from the ground up that can compete in the second tier and then make the jump to the WSL.

The goal is to get promoted and then challenge for a top spot.

Sheffield United Women

After a tough 2024-25 season, Sheffield United finished bottom of the Women's Championship.

However, due to another team's voluntary relegation, Sheffield United was spared and will remain in the second tier for the 2025-26 season.

They have the financial backing of their men's club and play at Bramall Lane, a major stadium.

This is the ultimate "second chance" save. Your team was given a lifeline, and it's your job to prove that they belong in this league.

With the financial backing and stadium to build on, the challenge is to turn a team that should have been relegated into a promotion contender.

This is a mix of a "rebuilding" and a "survival" save with the added pressure of proving the club deserves its place.

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With new players to discover and teams to manage, the inclusion of women’s football in FM26 gives you more options and opportunities to test your skills in every career.

Who will be your first save in the women's game?