The Best International Saves on Football Manager (Once it Returns)

The Football Manager community is waiting with baited breath for international management. It’s the one thing that might revitalise FM26. The World Cup is around the corner and the chance to manage one of the teams that could win it will be tantalising. There are obviously the usual suspects that you could manage, many people will opt to bring it home for England, but there are also a wide range of other countries that could be incredibly interesting to manage. With the expanded format for this world cup, there are more countries than ever that you could sink your teeth into. We don’t have international management yet, but hopefully this list can inspire you and get you excited before it comes. 

 

Cape Verde 

Cape Verde’s are one of the great FM international saves because not only is it their first ever World Cup, their story is already ridiculous. They qualified for their first World Cup by beating Eswatini 3-0, topping their African qualifying group and knocking out Cameroon in the process. They are also one of the smallest nations ever to reach the tournament by population. The squad has that lovely mix of ageing heroes, diaspora talent and players scattered across Portugal, Turkey, Ireland and elsewhere. Ryan Mendes, Dailon Livramento, Roberto Lopes and Garry Rodrigues give you enough quality to be awkward. However, it’s not enough that the game becomes easy either. The perfect challenge. 

 

Norway 

Finally unleash Haaland and Ødegaard at a major tournament. Norway are back at a World Cup for the first time since 1998. They won their qualifying group, beat Italy to top spot and were powered by Erling Haaland’s 16 qualifying goals and Martin Ødegaard’s seven assists. Haaland gives you the cheat code, Ødegaard gives you the supply line but the fun is building a system that does not collapse into “pass to Erling and pray”.

 

Curacao 

The smallest country ever to qualify for a World Cup. Curaçao qualifying is one of the best international stories in football. They became the smallest nation by both population and land area to qualify for a men’s World Cup, with a squad largely built from players born or developed in the Netherlands. You are basically managing a Caribbean side with access to Dutch football’s leftover gold dust. Leandro Bacuna, Juninho Bacuna, Tahith Chong, Sontje Hansen, Eloy Room and Rangelo Janga give you more than the badge reputation suggests. The long-term game is obvious… hoover up dual-national talent before the Netherlands do.

 

Uzbekistan 

Central Asia’s first World Cup nation, with a real spine. Uzbekistan qualified for their first World Cup in 2026, becoming the first Central Asian country to reach the finals. Their improved youth development has been a huge factor, with Abdukodir Khusanov being a key figure. This is probably the best “new football nation” save if you want something more serious than pure romance. You’ve got Eldor Shomurodov as the established attacking reference point, Khusanov as a genuinely elite defender, plus Abbosbek Fayzullaev and a decent domestic base to build from.

 

Morocco 

Take the 2022 semi-finalists and try to make them Africa’s first World Cup winners. Morocco is no longer a cute underdog. The 2022 run gives you expectation but they still sit outside the obvious elite nations. Players like Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Díaz, Bilal El Khannouss, Amine Adli and Eliesse Ben Seghir make a very strong base. This is probably the best “dark horse that could actually win it” save. You have defensive structure, Champions League-level individuals and a strong diaspora pipeline. Anything less than a knockout run feels disappointing.

 

Jordan 

Jordan are going to their first ever World Cup, and they are not just there as a novelty. Their rise has been built around players like Musa Al-Taamari, Yazan Al-Naimat and Ali Olwan. With Al-Taamari especially central to their hopes. This would be a very fun FM save because you are trying to make a relatively limited squad punch above its weight. The attacking unit gives you something to build around, but the rest of the squad probably forces you to be pragmatic. Think 5-4-1, counter-attacks, set pieces and trying to nick famous results.

 

DR Congo

Revive one of African football’s great sleeping giants after a 52-year World Cup absence. DR Congo are back at the World Cup for the first time since 1974. Their squad has proper names: Yoane Wissa, Cédric Bakambu, Chancel Mbemba, Samuel Moutoussamy, Edo Kayembe, Théo Bongonda, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe and Arthur Masuaku. A lot of those names will be familiar to most football fans. This will be the best pure FM squad-building save on the list. The talent pool is big, the diaspora options are fascinating and the national ceiling is much higher than their World Cup history suggests. You could absolutely turn them into a long-term African powerhouse.

 

Scotland 

Your job is to end the glorious tradition of brave failure by actually getting out of a World Cup group.Scotland qualified for their first World Cup since 1998 after topping their UEFA group. With an experienced, hard-working core of Andy Robertson, John McGinn, Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour, plus Steve Clarke’s mix of resilience and efficiency. The group is horrible but not impossible. Haiti is winnable, Morocco is the true measuring-stick game and Brazil is the “try not to be embarrassed” fixture.

 

Haiti 

Haiti qualified for their first World Cup since 1974, ending a 50-plus-year wait. Sealing qualification with a 2-0 win over Nicaragua. Haiti is a brilliant save because it has two layers: surviving the tournament, then building a proper national pool. You will be relying on diaspora players, MLS/USL pathways, French lower-league scouting and a bit of chaos. The immediate World Cup group is brutal but gives you one massive target: beat Scotland, or at least make them sweat. 

 

Turkey

Turkey are a huge football nation with a golden young core and unfinished World Cup business. They are back at the World Cup for the first time since 2002, when they finished third. They have the experience of Hakan Çalhanoğlu and the high-end young talent of Kenan Yıldız and Arda Güler, who will both be 21 at the time of the tournament. Turkey should be strong enough to make a run, chaotic enough to be fun and young enough to build across multiple years. In FM terms, the tactical possibilities are excellent. Çalhanoğlu as the controller, Arda as the creator, Kenan as the chaos forward, and a huge domestic/diaspora pool behind them.

 

Conclusion 

There are so many options to choose from. But these countries have the best potential to be exciting and challenging saves. Have you chosen the country you’re going to manage yet? Who do you think will win the World Cup? Let me know in the comments! 

 

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