Sports Interactive Signs FIFA Deal For Football Manager

Sports Interactive, the developer behind the long-running Football Manager series, has announced a landmark multi-year partnership with FIFA that will see the organization’s flagship tournaments officially represented in the franchise for the first time. The partnership, which begins with Football Manager 26, includes full licensing for the FIFA World Cup 26, FIFA Women’s World Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup, each equipped with real-world branding, official team kits, and broadcast graphics for all 48 competing nations.​

Football Manager’s Revamped Vision For 2026

In an official press release, Studio director Miles Jacobson described the deal as “a historic milestone that elevates authenticity to new heights” by integrating FIFA’s competitions into Football Manager’s simulation systems. The first playable version of these tournaments will arrive next year as part of a major content update, adding a reworked International Management mode. The revamped module aims to capture the expanded global scope of modern football, following the real-world tournament’s relocation across the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026.​

Jacobson confirmed that FIFA’s support extends beyond surface branding, with data and visual assets licensed directly from the global governing body. “Having the official tournament broadcast graphics, kits, and branding in-game is a real honor,” he said. “We wanted International Management to feel as rich and rewarding as club football, and doing that with FIFA’s full backing makes it possible.”

The partnership comes at a significant time for both organizations. Following its high-profile split from EA Sports after three decades of annual FIFA titles, the governing body is diversifying its digital footprint through collaborations with developers like Sports Interactive and Konami, signaling a new approach to video game licensing. For SI, which already holds rights to the Premier League and UEFA competitions, the FIFA deal completes a global licensing ecosystem spanning domestic, continental, and international football.​

Scheduled for release on November 4, 2025, Football Manager 26 will launch across PC, Console, Touch, and Mobile platforms. While the initial release focuses on club management, the upcoming update promises the series’ biggest international experience to date.