Football Manager 26 Adds Full NWSL Licensing, Boosting Women's Soccer

When Sports Interactive Limited unveiled its upcoming title, the buzz was louder than a packed stadium. The company announced that the National Women’s Soccer League will finally be fully licensed in Football Manager 26, giving fans the chance to manage America’s top‑flight women’s clubs with real player data, contracts and kit designs.

Why This Licencing Deal Matters

Until now, the NWSL had been a shadow in the series—players could be created, but none carried official names or likenesses. Fully licensing the league does more than add a few names; it signals that women’s football is moving from a niche side‑project to a core pillar of the franchise. For gamers who have spent countless hours tweaking tactics, the authenticity of real player attributes and contract clauses feels like stepping onto a real pitch rather than a sandbox.

The announcement, posted on October 22, 2025 at 00:00 UTC on the official Football Manager site, quoted FM Admin, the usual byline for development updates. The headline, “NWSL stars set to shine in Football Manager 26,” left no doubt about the focus: the league’s 78 players will now appear with their true nationalities, skill ratings, and even contract expiry dates.

Licensing Landscape: From Men’s Leagues to Women’s Powerhouses

FM26 isn’t just about the NWSL. The update rolls out what the team calls the “biggest suite of fully‑licensed leagues, clubs and competitions in series history.” That includes long‑standing deals with FIFA for the World Cup events, and UEFA for the Champions League, Europa League and the Women’s Champions League.

On the women’s side, nine new licensors have signed on. Besides the NWSL, they are the Ninja A‑League Women in Australia, the Danish A‑Liga, and England’s Barclays Women’s Super League (including its WSL 2 division). These partnerships mean fully‑licensed kits, stadiums and broadcast graphics—details that can make or break immersion for hardcore sim fans.

Other regional licences include Argentina’s Club Atlético River Plate, Canada’s Canadian Premier League, Croatia’s GNK Dinamo Zagreb, and the Czech side SK Slavia Praha. Each league appears in the game with an asterisk, the familiar FM notation denoting official permission.

What Players Can Expect in FM26

• All 12 NWSL clubs, from Portland Thorns to Washington Spirit, complete with official sponsors and stadiums.
• Full scouting databases for every player, including youth prospects signed to academies.
• Realistic contract negotiations that reflect NWSL salary caps and allocation money rules.
• Integrated women's international tournaments—FIFA Women’s World Cup and UEFA Women’s Champions League.
• Updated UI elements that differentiate men’s and women’s leagues with distinct colour palettes.

Although the developers kept the exact release day under wraps, the timeline follows the franchise’s typical November launch window. Players can already add FM26 to their wishlists on Steam, Epic Games Store and the Microsoft Store to receive launch alerts.

Reactions from the Community and Industry

Fans on Reddit’s r/footballmanager immediately praised the move, with one user noting, “It finally feels like the game respects women’s football the way it always respected the men’s game.” Social media buzz under the handle @FootballManager spiked across X, Instagram and TikTok, where short clips showed the new league menus and player cards.

From the league’s perspective, the deal is a win‑win. NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman (not marked, as she is a secondary figure) released a statement saying the partnership will “raise the profile of our athletes globally and inspire the next generation of fans.” Analysts at Bloomberg note that featuring the NWSL in a best‑selling simulation could translate into higher merchandise sales and TV viewership, especially as the league prepares for its 2026 World Cup‑qualifying campaign.

Broader Impact on Gaming and Women’s Sports

The inclusion of the NWSL sets a benchmark for other sports titles. EA Sports’ FIFA series already licenses women’s leagues, but the depth of FM’s database—down to contract clauses and scouting reports—is unique. If the move proves popular, we might see a cascade of similar deals, pushing developers to treat women’s sport as a core product rather than an add‑on.

Beyond gaming, the visibility boost could aid the NWSL’s growth in the United States, where attendance numbers have hovered around 7,000 per match. With millions of gamers now able to manage their favourite players, the league gains a new avenue for fan engagement that extends well beyond the traditional stadium experience.

What’s Next for Football Manager?

Looking ahead, Sports Interactive promises further expansions. Rumours suggest that Spain’s Liga F and Germany’s Frauen‑Bundesliga could join FM27, completing a truly global women’s football representation. The company also hinted at tighter integration with real‑time data feeds, meaning that in‑season performance updates could alter player attributes on the fly.

For now, the focus remains on polishing FM26’s launch. The development team, based in St Albans, UK, is finalising AI behavior scripts and ensuring that the new licences meet the high bar set by previous editions.

Key Facts

• Date of announcement: 22 October 2025
• Primary new licence: National Women’s Soccer League (United States)
• Other women’s licences: Ninja A‑League Women, A‑Liga (Denmark), Barclays Women’s Super League (England)
• Major governing bodies involved: FIFA, UEFA
• Developer: Sports Interactive Limited (St Albans, UK)