In a landmark move for the football simulation genre, Sports Interactive has fully integrated women's football into the latest edition of its globally popular game, Football Manager 26. The release, which launched last month, features a database of more than 30,000 female players and has made the significant decision to remove player weights from the game entirely.
A New Frontier in Football Gaming
The inclusion marks a pivotal moment after years of development. Initially planned for the 2025 edition, the feature was delayed when that version was cancelled, allowing the studio to focus its efforts on a comprehensive launch for FM26. The game now allows players to manage women's teams, such as Arsenal in the Women's Super League, navigating familiar challenges like transfer budgets, boardroom negotiations, and on-pitch tactics.
One journalist's hands-on experience highlighted the immersive detail: taking charge of Arsenal, they made a failed bid for Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí, successfully signed Alex Greenwood to cover for an injured Leah Williamson, and saw a last-minute move for Patri Guijarro collapse due to finances. Despite the off-field drama, a 5-0 opening win, powered by a Chloe Kelly hat-trick, showcased the engaging gameplay.
Breaking Down Barriers in a Male-Dominated Space
According to Chloe Woolaway, Sports Interactive's women's football research coordinator, the goal was to break down barriers. "Gaming can be seen as this male-dominated industry," Woolaway stated. "We wanted to break down those barriers and create a space for the women's football community within it." The move aligns Football Manager with other major brands like EA Sports FC and Panini in bringing women's football into the sport's broader cultural space.
The introduction serves a dual purpose: doing the "right thing" while also attracting new customers and offering fresh content to existing fans. Woolaway hopes it will encourage long-time players, some dating back to the Championship Manager era, to explore women's football, potentially sparking real-world interest in the sport.
The Monumental Task of Building a Database
The integration was a colossal undertaking, described by the team as "a bit of a madness." Unlike the men's game, where data is often readily available, researching female players required adapting methods and going to extra lengths. For each of the 30,000+ players, over 300 data fields—from contract details and wages to natural foot and potential ability—had to be meticulously filled.
The team also faced unique challenges moulding a database originally designed for the men's game. They had to find solutions for recording married names on kits, representing players who wear a hijab, handling dual registrations, and reflecting hair lengths. The decision to remove player weights was partly informed by the natural fluctuations women can experience, deeming it an inappropriate metric for the game.
"We were just going to create a computer game," Woolaway reflected. "Over time it came up in conversation more and more that we were and are creating one of the most extensive databases in the world for women's football. I don't think I quite realised that before and now that's something I'm really proud of."
This database is not a finished product but a living project. With football constantly evolving, the team acknowledges there will always be new leagues, players, and data to incorporate, ensuring the game continues to grow and develop alongside the sport it simulates.
