International management came to FM26 in update 26.3.1 on 26 May 2026. It brought national-team management, the licensed 2026 FIFA World Cup, a new Provisional Squad selection step, match-preparation choices and the option to manage women's national teams. Football Manager's release notice sets out what arrived with the update.
With a national team, you have less training time together than with a club. Start with the players available in your save, decide how you want to play and use each international window to check whether the squad still fits. The guides below cover those decisions in more detail.
What’s new in FM26 international management
The update gives you more ways to choose a squad and prepare it for a match. These are the parts to look for when you take a national-team job:
- 2026 FIFA World Cup. The update added licensed World Cup presentation and a tournament start option. Check your game version if you are returning to an older save.
- Provisional Squad Selection. You can choose a wider pool before naming a final squad. For the 2026 World Cup start, Football Manager says the provisional list can include up to 55 players before it becomes a final 26.
- Women's national teams. FM26 lets you manage them for the first time in the series. Check which job and competition are available in your save.
- National Pool and Shortlist. Review the eligible players you have found and keep your likely call-ups together before selection.
- Scouting Focuses. Look for players outside your shortlist, including dual-national prospects who have not yet committed.
- Match Preparation. Before a fixture, choose what to work on in possession, out of possession and at set pieces.
FM26 international guides
Pick the guide that matches the decision in front of you. Registration rules and player availability can differ by competition and save, so check the game before acting on an example.
World Cup 2026 Guide
Tournament structure, save-import from FM23/FM24, easiest and hardest nations to manage.
Provisional Squad Selection
The 2026 World Cup provisional list can reach 55 players before you choose the final 26. Check your save for its registration rules.
Dual Nationals and Eligibility
How to look for eligible players through the National Pool and Scouting Focus, then check their status in your save.
Women’s National Teams
Playable for the first time in FM history. How women’s international management works in FM26.
Scouting Focuses for International
Set a national-team Scouting Focus, look for undeclared players and review names outside your Shortlist.
FootballGPT tools for your save
Use a tool to draft an option, then compare it with what is actually in your save. FootballGPT does not open your FM save or confirm a player's in-game eligibility for you.
- National Squad Picker. Choose a squad size from 23 to 30, add the eligible players from your save if you have them, and get a proposed starting XI, bench, omissions and risks with selection rationale. Open the Squad Picker.
- Dual-National Finder. Explore possible candidates for your nation. Verify eligibility and cap status in your save before acting. Open the Dual-National Finder.
- Opposition Scout. Work through an opponent's strengths and your match plan before the next fixture.
- FM Tactician. Discuss a formation or adjustment when you need another view on your tactic.
Where to start in your save
Open the National Pool and see who is available. Add likely call-ups to your Shortlist, then use Scouting Focuses to look for gaps and eligible players you may have missed. Before each match, set your in-possession, out-of-possession and set-piece priorities in Match Preparation. The fixtures and deadlines in your save decide when the provisional list needs to become a final squad.
You can add international management to an existing FM26 club save. If you are importing an FM23 or FM24 national-team save, check Football Manager's save-compatibility FAQ before you move: it says you will leave your national-team job when the older save loads in FM26. Check the competition in your save before using a World Cup squad size for another tournament.
FAQ
When did FM26 international management arrive?
It arrived in update 26.3.1 on 26 May 2026. If you do not see it, check that your game is updated and that the nation you want is available in your save.
Can I manage any country in FM26?
The available jobs depend on your game version and save. Open the national-team jobs list to see which countries you can manage.
Can I manage a club and a country at the same time?
Yes. FM26 lets you hold both jobs. Plan around the fixtures and player-release dates shown in your save.
Do my FM23 or FM24 saves carry across?
You can load an FM23 or FM24 save in FM26, but Football Manager's save-compatibility FAQ says you will leave your national-team job when an older international save loads. Check that guidance before moving a long-running save.
Are women’s national teams playable in FM26?
Yes. The international-management update made women's national teams playable for the first time in the series. Check the competitions and available jobs in your save.
How does dual-national eligibility work in FM26?
Use a Scouting Focus to look for players who may be eligible for your nation but have not committed. Check each player's status in your save before you plan a call-up. The dedicated guide covers where to look.