Discover the FM26 women’s football database – 34,000 players, 4,000 clubs, and full global coverage. Explore licences, leagues, and save ideas in FM26
Women’s football arrives in FM26 with unprecedented global depth – here’s
everything you need to know.
Women’s football finally arrives in Football Manager
This week brought historic news for the Football Manager community – the long‑awaited women’s database is finally here. Thanks to FM Console, who dug into the data on FMDB, we now know just how ambitious Sports Interactive have been with FM26’s integration of women’s football. According to his findings, the women’s database already includes 34,000 players and staff across 4,000 clubs worldwide. This is no small add‑on – it is one of the biggest leaps forward in FM’s history, comparable to the introduction of the 3D match engine or licensing for major leagues.
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How big is the database?
- 34,000 registered players and staff
- 4,000 clubs worldwide
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Coverage stretching across
Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia
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Dozens of playable league structures that mirror their real‑world
counterparts
To put this in perspective, some of FM’s earliest men’s databases had fewer active players than what FM26 will ship with for the women’s game alone. It’s an astonishing amount of work, and it shows SI’s commitment to treating the women’s game with the same level of depth and detail.
Licences and competitions
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Confirmed/licensed: England’s Women’s Super League, FA
Cup, League Cup, Germany’s Frauen-Bundesliga, Italy’s Serie A Femminile.
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Unconfirmed but present: France’s women’s leagues and cup
competitions.
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Broad coverage: Cup structures for Brazil, Argentina,
Spain, Sweden, South Africa and many more.
Even in countries where licences are not fully in place, structures and clubs exist, meaning players can still manage, scout and develop talent. This mirrors the men’s game, where unlicensed leagues still provide depth and realism. Over time, SI may add more licences, but the crucial point is that the framework is already massive.
Global coverage
FM Console’s transcript highlighted just how widespread the women’s database already is:
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Europe: England’s full pyramid including Super League, FA
Cup, League Cup and lower divisions; Germany with the Frauen-Bundesliga;
Italy’s Serie A Femminile and Coppa Italia; Spain with hundreds of clubs
across four tiers; Scandinavia (Sweden, Denmark, Norway) with deep
structures that will make it a hotspot for saves.
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South America: Brazil with four divisions (at least two
confirmed playable), Argentina with league and cup systems, Chile’s
women’s competitions – all adding real flavour to South American saves.
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North America: The United States confirmed with the
National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), alongside cup competitions and
potential integration with expansion leagues; Canada with multiple tiers
including Super League and League One.
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Africa & Asia: South Africa’s Women’s Super League
(16 teams, 424 players) stands out, but there is also representation from
Saudi Arabia, Japan’s WE League and Empress Cup, China, India, and more.
Even smaller nations such as Kosovo, Luxembourg, or Nicaragua have registered players and clubs. This global reach ensures that FM26 will provide endless save ideas, whether you want to dominate in established nations or uncover hidden gems in lesser‑known regions.
Why this matters for FM26
This isn’t a side project – SI are clearly positioning women’s football as a full part of the FM world. For players, that means:
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New save challenges: Attempt rebuilds in Brazil, take an
underdog in South Africa, or dominate Scandinavia’s detailed pyramid.
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Fresh scouting pools: With over 34,000 players to scout,
there will be untapped potential in every corner of the world.
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Expanded career paths: Manage across men’s and women’s
football in the same FM universe – potentially switching between the two
or building a career entirely within women’s football.
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Narrative depth: For the first time, FM saves will
reflect the rise of women’s football globally, allowing managers to be
part of that growth.
Save ideas from the new database
To spark your imagination, here are a few challenges that could be iconic in FM26:
- Brazilian rebuild – With multiple tiers but uneven depth, taking a women’s club from the third or fourth level to continental glory could be a massive test.
- Scandinavian dynasty – Sweden and Denmark are loaded with detail, making them perfect for youth development and long‑term projects.
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South African dominance – The Women’s Super League
features 424 registered players, giving plenty of room for underdog saves
and continental competition.
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Spanish super project – Spain’s women’s football
structure is huge, with thousands of players and clubs. Can you topple the
established giants?
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American challenge – Start in the NWSL, navigate drafts
and expansion, and see if you can build a dynasty to rival the men’s MLS
saves.
Related FM26 coverage
FAQ – FM26 Women’s Database
Q: How many players and clubs are included?
A: Based on FM Console's analysis of FMDB, the FM26 women’s database includes around 34,000 players and staff across 4,000 clubs worldwide.
Q: Which competitions look licensed right now?
A: From what is visible on FMDB and highlighted by FM Console: England’s Women’s Super League, FA Cup and League Cup, Germany’s Frauen-Bundesliga, and Italy’s Serie A Femminile appear covered. France is present with depth, but full licence status is not yet clear. Details may change closer to release.
Q: Will women’s leagues be playable on day one?
A: The database depth suggests wide playability at launch, with multi-tier structures across several nations. Exact playable tiers depend on the final build.
Q: Which regions have the deepest coverage?
A: Europe looks very deep - especially England, Germany, Italy, Spain and Scandinavia. There is strong representation in Brazil and Argentina in South America, NWSL and Canada in North America, plus notable depth in South Africa, Japan and Saudi Arabia.
Q: How does this change save ideas?
A: Expect fresh rebuilds, youth-development dynasties and continental challenges across women’s football - from Brazilian lower tiers to Scandinavian youth factories and South African underdogs.
Q: Where can I watch the original breakdown?
A: Here is the source video from FM Console - we recommend watching and subscribing:
FM26 Women’s Database finally revealed.
Q: Is this official confirmation from SI?
A: This article is a research summary based on publicly visible FMDB structures and FM Console’s reporting. Final licensing and playability are subject to change by Sports Interactive.
Final thoughts
Women’s football is set to be absolutely massive in FM26. The database is deep, the structures are global, and the potential for new stories is endless. FM Console’s research has shown us what’s coming – now it’s just a matter of waiting until release day. By the time FM26 launches, we may even see more leagues licensed, more competitions confirmed, and even greater realism.
The question is no longer if women’s football belongs in Football Manager – it’s how quickly the community will embrace it. For many, this will be a chance to write brand‑new FM stories. For others, it’s a chance to scout and discover the next generation of hidden talents in a fresh environment.
The only question left: which women’s club will you take charge of first?
