From Egypt to Lithuania, the latest FM26 rumours hint at a major expansion
of the database.
Why everyone is talking about this
Football Manager fans woke up to a wave of rumours after a new official Football Manager MENA Twitter account @FM_Mena_ popped up. Alongside that, whispers of new leagues in FM26 started to spread - Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Morocco, Algeria, and even Lithuania are all on the list.
This isn’t just noise. Arabic was already confirmed as a new language on the FM25 Steam page (before that version was cancelled), and now it looks like SI are doubling down on expanding into the Middle East and North Africa region.
Couple this with the FM roadmap (see our breakdown in Miles Jacobson’s BBC interview) and the recently revealed women’s database, and it’s clear FM26 is shaping up to be the most ambitious release yet.
Why new leagues matter in FM26
Adding new playable leagues is a big deal because it means:
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Fresh save opportunities - completely new journeys that weren’t possible before.
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More real-life players and data - a deeper, richer database.
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Global expansion - SI positioning FM for new markets (MENA + Africa).
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More immersion - authentic competitions, trophies, and rivalries.
Think of when FM first added Japan or when women’s football was announced - it opens up entire new communities of players and narratives.
The rumoured new FM26 leagues
Here’s the rundown of each league and what kind of saves you could build around them:
🇪🇬 Egypt
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Clubs like Al Ahly and Zamalek are giants of African football.
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Save idea: dominate Africa with Al Ahly, then test yourself in Club World Cup against Europe’s best.
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Underdog save: try to break the Cairo monopoly with a smaller Egyptian club.
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
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With all the recent superstar signings, this league is hot right now.
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Save idea: rebuild a mid-table Saudi side and challenge the likes of Al Nassr or Al Hilal.
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Challenge mode: take a local-only player policy and resist the urge to splash on foreign stars.
🇦🇪 UAE
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Known for financial power and modern stadiums.
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Save idea: can you build a side capable of winning the Asian Champions League?
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Cultural twist: balance ageing foreign stars with developing Emirati talent.
🇲🇦 Morocco
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Produces wonderkids and has strong clubs like Raja Casablanca and Wydad.
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Save idea: become African champions and then conquer the Club World Cup.
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Fun twist: youth-only save with Moroccan academies.
🇩🇿 Algeria
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Legendary footballing nation with deep history.
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Save idea: revive JS Kabylie or dominate with USM Alger.
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National team tie-in: build your club save around developing future Algerian internationals.
🇱🇹 Lithuania
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A wildcard addition. European, but under the radar.
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Save idea: turn Lithuanian football into a powerhouse in Europe.
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Long-term challenge: take a small Lithuanian side from obscurity to Champions League group stages.
Journeyman Challenge – now with Africa in the mix
One of the most popular FM challenges is the Journeyman Challenge, where you start unemployed with no coaching badges and climb your way up through different leagues and countries. Until now, Africa has always been limited or unplayable in the official database.
With Egypt, Morocco and Algeria possibly becoming fully playable, FM26 could open the door to an African chapter in your Journeyman career. Imagine starting in the lower ranks of Algeria before moving to Morocco’s giants, then springboarding into European or Middle Eastern football. It adds a whole new dimension to this already legendary challenge.
New fallen giants to awaken
In our Sleeping Giants save ideas, we explored clubs across Europe that were waiting for a revival. Now, with African leagues potentially on the table, we might finally get to manage fallen giants from this continent too:
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JS Kabylie (Algeria) – once continental champions, now far from their peak.
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FAR Rabat (Morocco) – a storied club with a proud history, waiting to return to glory.
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Ismaily SC (Egypt) – overshadowed by Cairo’s powerhouses but historically a big name.
For players who love the romance of reviving fallen clubs, FM26 could deliver fresh and exotic options.
Why this expansion fits SI’s plan
Sports Interactive have been clear about wanting to expand globally. Between the FM26 release date news, the women’s database, and now these rumours, FM26 is positioned as the game that truly “goes worldwide.”
Arabic language support + a dedicated FM MENA Twitter page is proof that this isn’t just speculation. SI want to grow in new regions, and that means more leagues, more cultures, and more ways to play FM.
FAQ – FM26 New Leagues
Q: Are these leagues 100% confirmed?
A: Not yet – they’re strong rumours, backed up by SI’s new MENA push and the
Steam language leak.
Q: Will there be more leagues added beyond these?
A: Possibly. SI haven’t ruled out other regions, and community requests are
always ongoing.
Q: What about women’s leagues?
A: Those are already confirmed as part of the FM26 database expansion –
read more here.
Final thoughts
If these leagues really land in FM26, it’ll be one of the biggest shake-ups the series has seen in years. From Saudi Arabia’s glitz to Morocco’s raw talent factories, the save possibilities are endless.
Whether you’re diving into a Journeyman career with an African twist or reviving new fallen giants, FM26 could be the first truly global Football Manager experience.
Question is – where will you start your first FM26 save?
