11 one season challenges to take on in FM26

Manchester City

Football is a results-driven business and FM26 is no different – the more matches you win and the more trophies you lift, the stronger your managerial legacy.

If you want to be immediately contending for football’s biggest prizes, there are few places better to start than eight-time Premier League champions Manchester City.

Blessed with incredible facilities and a hugely talented squad, the club from the blue half of Manchester are in four competitions from the off in FM26 and top contenders in all of them.

Club Atlético River Plate

FM26 is the first edition of Football Manager to include Latin American Spanish as a playable language.

To support that, we’ve got new licences for some of the region’s most iconic teams, including Argentine giants Club Atlético River Plate.

Based in Buenos Aires, River Plate have one of the highest average attendances in world football, a strong squad and a proud history of developing global superstars. Your job is to take the reins at Estadio Monumental and add to their record haul of 38 national titles.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Now firmly established as Premier League regulars, Brighton & Hove Albion got their first taste of European football in the 2023/24 season when they reached the Last 16 of the UEFA Europa League.

The Seagulls narrowly missed out on a return last season but continue to stand out from the pack with their recruitment, combining talented prospects with experienced campaigners from across the continent.

With club legend Pascal Gross now back in the mix, your job is to get them back among the European places and contend for a first domestic trophy.

Club Atlético Boca Juniors

The other half of Argentina’s great football rivalry, Club Atlético Boca Juniors are also fully licensed for the first time in series’ history in FM26.

Just like River Plate, Boca Juniors have an incredible history of developing young stars. Their current squad's strength lies in their international experience, with big name stars including the likes of Leandro Paredes, Ander Herrera and Edinson Cavani.

Have you got what it takes to dive into the world of Argentine football and immediately contend for domestic and continental glory?

Raków Częstochowa

This time 10 years ago, Raków Częstochowa were amid a two-decade spell in Poland’s second division.

Fast forward to now and they're modern-day powerhouses in one of Europe's most competitive leagues. Medaliki have been in UEFA Club Competitions in four of the last five seasons, they’ve won the Polish Cup twice, the Polish Super Cup twice and finished in the top two of the Ekstraklasa four times.

Your first goal will be adding to the club’s rapidly-growing trophy cabinet but repeating their first real-life trip to the knockouts of the UEFA Conference League will be a great start too.

Cardiff City

Back in the third tier for the first time in 22 years, Cardiff City’s priority this season is an immediate return to the Sky Bet Championship.

You’ve got the tools to do just that in FM26, as the Bluebirds are blessed with an exciting young squad who’ve been scoring goals for fun and playing great football all season long.

Achieve that, contending for the Vertu Trophy along the way, and you’re sure to have feisty Welsh derbies to look forward to in your second season in the dugout.

Dagenham & Redbridge

Another club back in an unfamiliar division, Dagenham & Redbridge are plying their trade in English football’s sixth tier for the first time since the turn of the millennium.

The Daggers have hit the headlines recently because of their new investors and we’re already seeing that real-life interest translate to more people taking them over in FM26.

Join them now and treat getting the East London club back up to the Enterprise National League as your priority. From there, you can perhaps start dreaming of a similar rise through the divisions as Wrexham.

Suwon Samsung Bluewings

Promotion is also the name of the game when taking over at Suwon Samsung Bluewings, with the four-time K League 1 winners currently in the second division of South Korean football.

They are favourites for a top-flight return in FM26, so it’s up to you to deliver on that expectation and delight their passionate fanbase.

From there, you can start to think about competing with Korea’s top sides and even contending on the continental stage.

Al-Jazira

Staying in Asia, the ADNOC Pro League is a brand-new licence ready for you to explore in FM26.

By taking over at Al-Jazira you’ll be working with one of the UAE top-flight’s most interesting squads. You’ve got Premier League veterans like Mohamed Elneny and Neeskens Kebano alongside players popular in previous editions of FM like Karim Rekik and Nabil Fekir.

Qualifying for continental competition by finishing in the top four should be your top priority, but is a title challenge within your grasp too?

St Mirren

Scottish football has delivered in spades this season, with the most eye-catching title races in years grabbing most of the attention.

It’s been a fascinating season too for St Mirren. They are without a permanent manager in the latest FM26 update despite having won the Premier Sports Cup last December, their first title in 13 years.

That vacancy creates an opportunity for you though, allowing you to dive into hotseat at The SMiSA Stadium and make yourself a hero in Paisley – whether that’s through a cup triumph, your league finish or securing a return to European football.

Al-Ain

Another club with strong history is Al-Ain, 14-time ADNOC Pro League champions.

Their last top-flight title in the UAE came a few years ago but they’ve been excellent in real-life this season. That bodes well for your prospects in the dugout as you manage a squad boasting international talents from three different continents.

A league triumph would be the perfect start for your managerial career – and perhaps the start of something much, much more for the team known as “The Boss”?

There you have it, 11 one-season challenges for you to dive into and put your managerial skills to the test with. Let us know how you get on across social media @FootballManager.