Football Manager developers have teased a special update to coincide with next year’s FIFA World Cup. After agreeing a partnership with FIFA in the summer, Sports Interactive have announced plans to reinstate a feature previously axed from FM26.

Ahead of next year’s World Cup, the game’s creators have shared their plans for FM26 in the near future. They have hinted at exciting developments for 2026, including a new update schedule for patches. It comes after numerous updates to a game that had a turbulent launch since its release in November.

In a post on their official forums, a member of the Sports Interactive community team revealed that international management is slated to return next year. The reintroduction will come as part of a complimentary update scheduled for after the World Cup qualifiers conclude in March.

The decision to remove international management was announced prior to the release of FM26, causing an uproar among many long-standing players. The exact manner in which it will be incorporated into the game remains unconfirmed, but speculation suggests it could allow gamers to manage one of the 48 national teams qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

However, this isn’t the only planned modification. Sports Interactive has pledged to release their customary winter transfer updates in February and March, while also continuing to enhance the game’s user interface.

The post stated: “Following the release of our latest update on December 15, we want to outline what’s next for FM26.

“We anticipate resuming updates in the middle of January with planned releases approximately every 2–3 weeks. Although we have already made significant progress with performance, polish and quality-of-life improvements, and overall player engagement is strong across platforms, we recognise that some player issues persist.”

Specifically, there are continuing worries from some fresh and established players regarding various elements of the UI and navigation, and we’re implementing all viable measures to enhance both, as we have already accomplished with the half-time and post-match screens in the most recent PC/Mac update.

“We’re also introducing adjustments to media and additional features to boost immersion. Pass maps are nearly there, and we’re also looking at more areas that will enhance that ‘connected world’ feeling.

“We are also aware of recent community discussions about additional game modes.While we’re not ready to reveal details just  yet, you can expect a separate announcement on future initiatives shortly, which signals our ongoing commitment to further development in this area.

“We understand that the changes highlighted above won’t address every player’s concerns. Please be assured that all your comments, suggestions and requests are being thoroughly examined, as has been the case throughout the history of the franchise.

“We remain committed to listening and responding, through ongoing updates and in future iterations of the game.

“Everyone at SI is working tirelessly to deliver the improvements needed to enhance your experience further.

“Thank you for your continued support and for helping us shape our future direction.”