FM26 Women’s Football Database Revealed and New Countries Leaked

Football Manager 26 is about to take a massive leap forward. For the first time, women’s football will be fully integrated into the game, and thanks to FM Console’s deep dive on YouTube, we now have a clearer picture of just how big this update really is. The numbers alone are staggering.

Over 34,000 players and staff spread across 4,000 clubs worldwide will be included. This isn’t a small side project or a bolt-on feature… it’s one of the most significant changes in Football Manager history, right up there with the arrival of the 3D match engine or the first time we saw full licensing for the top leagues.

And there’s more. A source with access to the database has confirmed that Lithuania, Egypt, and the UAE have all been added too – with the UAE officially licensed from day one.

The database

What makes this update so exciting is the sheer scale of it. FM26 isn’t just giving us a few big-name clubs; it’s building entire football ecosystems:

• 34,000+ registered players and staff
• 4,000 clubs across Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia and beyond
• Dozens of playable league systems, some licensed, others mirroring real-world structures in detail

For comparison, some of the early men’s databases had fewer active players than what FM26 will launch with on the women’s side alone.

Licences and competitions

One of the biggest questions has always been around licensing, who’s officially in, who isn’t, and how that affects the game’s realism.
From FM Console’s findings and the data we’ve seen so far, here’s the current picture:

• Confirmed/licensed: England’s Women’s Super League, FA Cup, League Cup, Germany’s Frauen-Bundesliga, Italy’s Serie A Femminile, and now the UAE.
• Present but unlicensed (for now): France’s leagues and cups, plus a huge number of other nations where clubs and competitions exist even without the official branding in place.

It’s a familiar approach for FM players. The depth is there whether the licences are signed or not, and history suggests more could be added over time.

Global coverage

What really stands out is the range of countries included.

• Europe: England’s full pyramid, Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Scandinavia, and now Lithuania too.
• South America: Brazil with multiple tiers, Argentina, Chile – all fully built-out systems.
• North America: USA confirmed with the NWSL, Canada with its own league structures.
• Africa & Asia: South Africa’s Women’s Super League, Saudi Arabia, Japan, China, India, Egypt, and more. Even smaller nations like Kosovo and Luxembourg feature in the database.

It means FM players will have a completely new set of save ideas to explore, from dominating the WSL with Chelsea to uncovering hidden talent in Egypt or Lithuania.

Why this matters for FM players

This isn’t just about ticking a box. The size of the database brings with it new possibilities for the game:

• New challenges – whether you’re rebuilding a fallen giant or building up a tiny league no one has touched before.
• Bigger scouting pools – thousands of new players to find, develop, and turn into stars.
• Career paths across both the men’s and women’s games – with the chance to manage in one or both as part of the same save.

Football Manager has always thrived on depth and storytelling, and this update brings more of both to the table.

Final thoughts

FM26’s women’s football update isn’t just another feature, it’s a major step forward for the series. With over 34,000 players, 4,000 clubs, and now Lithuania, Egypt, and the UAE included, the UAE fully licensed from launch,  this looks set to be one of the biggest changes Football Manager has ever seen.Full credit to FM Console for uncovering all of this on YouTube.

 

If you loved this FM article from our resident FM expert Billy, then you absolutely have to check out his breakdown of the single biggest FM survey ever taken!

Check out our full, in depth FM 26 Release Date article, which is constantly updated when we get news on anything FM 26 related!