A new update for Football Manager 26 is right around the corner. Developers at Sports Interactive have confirmed that Update 26.2 will launch on March 9, bringing one of the most anticipated database refreshes of the season.
The patch will arrive across PC, Mac, console, and the Apple Arcade Touch version, ensuring every version of the game receives the same core data updates and improvements. For many players, this update effectively acts as the “winter refresh,” aligning the game world with the real-life January transfer window.
Winter Transfers Finally Arrive
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The biggest headline feature of Update 26.2 is the integration of January transfer window moves. This means the in-game database will now reflect the real-world midseason transfers that took place across major leagues.
According to the patch notes, this update will include “Five million+ database changes since the initial release of FM26”, which is a big change.
For long-term career saves, this update ensures clubs, squads, and loan arrangements mirror the current football landscape. New signings will appear at their latest clubs, squad depth charts will shift, and managers starting fresh careers will begin with the updated rosters.
UI And Gameplay Tweaks
In addition to updating the database, this update also includes UI changes and bug fixes. The fixtures and results screen is going to be full screen now, and it will appear before and after matches. The tactics screen is also getting a much-needed rework, with various quality-of-life adjustments. Here are the official UI updates:
- User is now able to view the Tactics Visualizer from the Team Shape tab from within the In and Out of Possession tabs
- 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
- 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
- The Opposition Instructions screen will now default to Predicted Lineup instead of All Positions
- Players 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 is also getting minor tweaks, including improving the AI and fixing bugs. Here are the official gameplay updates:
- Increased the prominence of AI manager sackings being shown on the News screen
- Players should no longer illogically get upset with the manager when a transfer was cancelled due to work permit issues
- Fixed an issue preventing the Director of Football from signing players who 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
With Football Manager 26 Update 26.2 arriving on March 9, players won’t have to wait much longer to see how the latest transfers, player adjustments, and database updates reshape their next managerial journey.
For detailed patch notes, refer to the official forum post made by SI.
Published: Mar 5, 2026 04:00 pm