Her Football Hub meets Football Manager 26: A new era for the women’s game | OneFootball

The release of Football Manager 26 will see access to women’s football soar through the introduction of 14 playable leagues.

FM26, the newest edition of the popular football manager simulation game, has officially launched around the world. This latest version will increase both the visibility and accessibility of women’s football to gamers worldwide.

The history of Football Manager

The Football Manager series, developed by Sports Interactive and published by SEGA, has its roots in the mid-1990s. Evolving from a simple management simulation game into one of the most detailed football strategy simulators in the world.

Over the years, it has built up a large database with numerous leagues, thousands of players and a strong fanbase. In fact, the previous version, released in 2024, was played by almost 20 million people globally. However, one key thing was missing — women’s football.

In 2021, Sports Interactive announced plans to integrate the women’s game into Football Manager. However, developers acknowledged this would be a big step which would require thorough research of the rules, players and landscape of women’s football.

Women’s football in Football Manager 26

After beginning research in 2021, Sports Interactive are ready to unleash women’s football to gamers worldwide. Importantly, the women’s game is built into the shared ecosystem of Football Manager. This means users can seamlessly switch from managing men and women, truly replicating the football landscape.

The FM26 women’s football database consists of more than 36,000 players and a further 5,000 non-players. Alongside this, there will be 14 playable leagues spanning three continents — including the Barclays Women’s Super League, Liga F, and NWSL, to name a few.

Their women’s football research team, consisting of 40 individuals, has provided insight to make the game as close to reality as possible. The inclusion of shorter contracts and a lack of release clauses in the women’s version of the game is representative of this. Real-world data has also been used regarding injuries to accurately portray the longer recovery time for female athletes.

Her Football Hub lands in Football Manager 26

Another exciting new touch in FM26 is the inclusion of Her Football Hub. Not just as a logo or partnership, but as an active presence within the game.

Players of FM26 will see Her Football Hub represented in press conferences, media interactions and news coverage, appearing alongside established sports outlets. This may seem like a small addition, but it carries real weight for both the outlet and the women’s football community.

Many players who primarily follow the men’s game will now encounter Her Football Hub through the game’s news and press events. This could prompt curiosity and lead players to visit the site, read match reports or explore stories from the women’s game. Therefore, providing an authentic opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of women’s football.

And for the creators of Her Football Hub, it’s a huge achievement. It shows that independent women’s football journalism is not only being recognised but also influencing how football is portrayed in one of the most globally played sports games ever made.

A milestone moment

“Being integrated into Football Manager 26 is just incredible,” Her Football Hub Editor-in-Chief Georgia Goulding said. “This is a monumental milestone for the women’s game. FM is a gaming powerhouse, and the introduction of women’s football is another influential move in the rise and growth of the sport. We know how long this has been in the making and applaud Sports Interactive for standing firm on their ‘one ecosystem’ vision.

“We’re hugely thankful to the team for including us in this historic chapter, and of course, this is a personal moment to celebrate as well. Her Football Hub was our brainchild back in 2019 and, to put it plainly, we’re over the moon to see how far our brand has come.

“It’s the actualisation of a childhood dream” confessed Drew Vinestock, Development and Management chief at Her Football Hub. “I’ve played this game since it’s first iterations as ‘Championship Manager‘ from a young age and still now as an adult. It’s honestly slightly bizarre that what we’ve created now exists in-game.”

“I’m just so incredibly proud,” said Taylor Kujawa, Media Producer for Her Football Hub. “This partnership validates all the hard work our team, past and present, has put into covering the women’s game with the professionalism it deserves. For Football Manager to make us a part of their world-class, realistic simulation is the highest compliment we could receive.”

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