Sega, FIFA Form New Multi-Year Licensing Deal For The Football Manager Series

Over the course of a few years now, the identity for EA Sports FIFA has shifted drastically. Although the games continue to evolve in their own in-house fashion, it is under a new surname. Back in 2022, Electronic Arts announced it will be disbanding further work with FIFA in its soccer releases. By 2023, the EA Sports FC brand was in full swing which has remained including this year’s annual release.

As for competing soccer simulators, titles like Football Manager has also been through some changes. The most dramatic is that its 2025 entry – Football Manager 25 – was fully cancelled earlier this year. And despite skipping a year, Sega is still moving forward with the next installment. It was confirmed last month that Football Manager 26 is to ship in November.

And while Football Manager has remained its own entity alongside EA Sports FC & eFootball, the IP is to embrace the FIFA as a new collaborator moving forward. This was confirmed as per a press release shared recently on the new multi-year partnership. “Elevating authenticity to truly global heights, we’re delighted to have signed our first partnership with FIFA, football’s world governing body. 

“The multi-year deal brings official licences for FIFA’s biggest competitions to the Football Manager series, including the FIFA World Cup 26 held in Canada, Mexico and USA. The inclusion of officially branded and titled FIFA competitions will begin in FM26 with the FIFA World Cup, FIFA Women’s World Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. Announcing this partnership allows us to answer your questions – this licence coincides with the inclusion of a playable, revamped International Management module in a Content Update next year for FM26, FM26 Console and FM26 Touch* in advance of FIFA World Cup 26.”

It adds: “Full feature details will follow once we’re in a position to confirm every element but we can reveal that for the FIFA World Cup 26 – the 23rd and largest edition in tournament history – the official kits of all 48 teams will be included in FM26 when they’re available alongside broadcast graphics and tournament branding.”

Are you interested to see FIFA cross paths with Football Manager?

Source: Sega