Football Manager Secures FIFA License in Post-EA Sports Shift

FIFA has granted Football Manager official rights to the World Cup and other major tournaments, marking the soccer governing body's first partnership with a management simulation game.

Sports Interactive and publisher Sega announced the multiyear agreement Oct. 17. The deal gives the Football Manager franchise official licenses for the 2026 men's World Cup, the Women's World Cup, and the Club World Cup, with features rolling out in Football Manager 26, scheduled for release Nov. 4, 2025.

The partnership represents a strategic pivot for FIFA after its licensing agreement with Electronic Arts ended in 2023. FIFA had partnered with EA since 1993 to produce the FIFA-branded video game series, which generated more than $20 billion in sales over three decades. When negotiations for a new deal broke down in 2022, with FIFA reportedly seeking to more than double its annual $150 million licensing fee, EA rebranded its franchise as EA Sports FC and retained rights to major club leagues and player likenesses.

Miles Jacobson, studio director at Sports Interactive, called the FIFA partnership "an incredibly historic moment for the studio."

Football Manager 26’s Partnership  With FIFA

Under the deal, Football Manager 26 will feature official tournament branding for all 48 teams competing at the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. The game will include authentic kits, logos, and broadcast-style graphics when they become available.

Sports Interactive said it will release an enhanced international management mode through a free update in 2026, timed ahead of the World Cup tournament. The feature was originally planned for the game's November launch but was delayed as developers focused on other aspects of the title.

The licensing deal reflects FIFA's effort to monetize its intellectual property across multiple gaming segments. Management simulations have cultivated dedicated communities, with Football Manager 24 reaching 7 million players by February 2024, making it the most-played title in the franchise's history.

Football Manager 26 marks a significant technical overhaul for the series, as Sports Interactive moves to the Unity game engine for the first time. The game will also feature women's football with more than 35,000 licensed players and 14 playable leagues at launch.

The game will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, with a Nintendo Switch version following Dec. 4, 2025.