With Football Manager 25 off the table, FC 26 has a golden opportunity to FC 26 Coins become the definitive football management game. By addressing the above ten features—budget negotiations, fan expectations, club history, scouting, managerial mobility, player interactions, youth development, staff management, set pieces, and tactics—EA Sports can craft a deeply immersive, realistic, and engaging Manager Career mode. If done right, FC 26 won’t just fill the gap left by FM—it will redefine the football management genre for years to come.
FC 26 Career Mode: The Opportunity to Lead Football Management into a New Era
With the unexpected cancellation of Football Manager 25, EA Sports FC 26 finds itself with a golden opportunity. Football simulation fans left in limbo are now seeking a replacement—and FC 26 could be that next go-to management experience. But to capture the hearts of those FM loyalists, Career Mode in FC 26 must evolve into a more robust, immersive, and strategic experience. This isn't just a chance to improve—it’s a chance to redefine.
Reviving Legacy Features That Worked
FC 26 should begin by bringing back much-requested features that made earlier EA titles beloved. One of the most missed mechanics is the ability to request transfer budget increases from the board. This feature in FIFA 15 and 16 allowed players to pitch goals in return for financial backing. It felt like authentic football management—where board dynamics played a role in success. Reintroducing this system in FC 26, paired with AI that intelligently assesses player requests, would give players more control and realism.
Let Fans Shape the Narrative
Supporters are the lifeblood of any club. While FC 25 features a buggy and irrelevant social media tab, FM 24 excelled in integrating fan expectations into the manager’s responsibilities. Clubs had diverse supporter bases with distinct goals, shaping managerial evaluations. EA Sports must implement something similar: a dynamic supporter confidence feature that can rise or fall based on buy FIFA 26 Coins decisions. This would enhance narrative depth and make career progression more compelling.
