Football Manager 2026 has received another fresh update on Steam – although players will need to take a few extra steps to access it. The newest FM26 patch is presently accessible through the Steam Public Beta channel.

This allows supporters the opportunity to trial Football Manager 2026 update 2 ahead of its full launch. This enables develoeprs Sports Interactive to verify the update functions properly before rolling it out more widely. Those wishing to access the Public Beta channel for Football Manager 2026 should visit the Sports Interactive website for further details.

The development team has confirmed that FM26 update 2 delivers more than 200 bug fixes, alongside several important gameplay adjustments. The patch notes reveal this encompasses a “legacy preference option to continue through messages via the space bar”.

Whilst this may seem trivial to newcomers, veteran Football Manager enthusiasts will undoubtedly welcome the change, reports All Out Gaming.

One Reddit user on the r/footballmanagergames forum said: “Finally I can delete my notes app with my starting eleven/subs and can save the lineup in game lol. Can’t believe it took more than one week of official release to get it done.”

Another wrote: “Just installed this update. Being able to use the spacebar again is honestly SO nice.

“I know it’s ridiculous that “not using the mouse to click a message” makes such a difference, but with how much clicking this iteration of FM has, being able to just hit space instead of navigating with the mouse is appreciated.

“Keep it up SI. We’re not even close to there yet, it’s a long way still, but the progress is noticed.”

The fresh update also addresses numerous instances where the game would crash at critical junctures. Whilst these corrections are presently exclusive to the Public Beta channel, a full release is anticipated within the coming week.

Football Manager 2026 update 2 patch notes

• Added legacy preference option to continue through messages via the space bar.

• Numerous tile/card polish and alignment fixes.

• Numerous further fixes to translations.

• Substantial amount of other crash and stability fixes (some specific ones listed below).

• Fixed a crash when adding Club Affiliation via the Pre-Game Editor (PGE).

• Fixed a crash when user tries to change their manager’s team using the In-Game Editor (IGE).

• Fixed an issue in IGE where Transfer and Wage Budget edits wouldn’t take effect.

• Fixed a soft lock when trying to move a player other club using the IGE.

• Fixed a crash on M1/Intel Macs when attempting to start a match.

• Further fixes to Matches freezing during single player and online matches.

• Fixed slowdown in match when on 2D overview screen.

• Scroll bar will now save state when leaving and returning to a tile/card.

• Added Save Team Selection and Clear Squad/Subs options within Tactics.

• Fixed “Auto-size all Columns” leaving a large space to the right of the table.

• “Sort Attributes Using English Language Sorting” preference will now function correctly.

• Japan – Match Rules – Fixed foreign player limits having incorrect rules set.

• England – Fixed rare issue where season wouldn’t begin due to incorrect scheduling of the National League Playoff Final.

• USA – Updated Designated Player path rule to better reflect real life.

• Fixed an issue preventing user being able to sort by Role Ability in Player Selector during a match.

• Star Ratings widget has been added within Squad Planner.

• Body language of players will now correctly update during meetings.

• Global Search bar now closes when a hyperlink is pressed.

• Fixed an issue where club badges would be switched in Cup Final news items when venue was neutral.

• Acting on Opposition Instruction advice will now function correctly.

• Fixed an issue where Recruitment Focus would display as completed if cancelled.

• Fixed an issue where some clubs would be shown to have 0 people on the season ticket waiting list.

• Fixed an issue where NXGN award wouldn’t be handed out.

• Fixed an issue preventing the Place of Birth field to populate during manager creation.

• Fixed save game prompt appearing on screen causing an overlap during the Portal tutorial.

• Fixed an issue where clubs in Saudi Arabia wouldn’t renew player contracts often enough.

• Fixed issue where the ‘i’ profile preview would appear for non-players who shouldn’t be accessible.

• Agent feedback will now correctly display when prompted if user asks within “Ask Agent About Market Interest” dialogue option.

• Realigned columns of Interested Clubs within Player Offers.

• Fixed issue preventing user to return to the start screen if they deleted all managers present within the Manager Profiles tab.

• Realigned Career Milestones.

• Refined ‘Player Change in Registration’ card to fix cutoffs.

• Fixed issue where a message would open by default if user selected one of the Messages tabs.

• ‘Arrange Friendly’ will now appear as intended when opening Fixture Schedule for the first time.

• Pre-Match Lineups will now hide Form if there isn’t any data to show.

• Future Transfers filter within Transfer History will now function as intended.

• Change/Withdraw Transfer Offer action buttons will now function correctly immediately after user makes an offer.

• Management Style box during manager creator flow will now correctly store previous role and how well known you were for it.

• Mentality will now display correctly if updated within Match Tactics.

• Reworked the positional familiarity colouring on the player position map.

• The icon for ‘Really Good’ morale will now display properly.

• Team Priorities card will now function correctly.

• The Fixtures card will now properly distinguish between those that scored/missed during a penalty shootout.

• AI Club Fixtures will now display correctly if user is unemployed.

• Fixed issue displaying head coaches name during UEFA Women’s CL pre-match lineup graphic.

• Finances > Summary will now display correctly for teams without FFP.

• Recruitment > Player Database – Selecting a Role will now highlight the correct Key Attributes.

• Fixed the Ability and Potential columns not populating with any data in the Recruitment Focus General Info view

• Newly promoted teams should now receive a more reasonable wage budget reflecting new division and current financial state.

• Agreed Playing Time column will now populate with correct data.

• Multi-Select on “Available for U21/U18 match” portal item will now function correctly.