🔧 List of Files I Recommend for FM26

🧠 My Personal Setup

There are many great creations out there, but this list focuses on the files I personally recommend alongside my Increase Realism Megapack. My priority is to make the game as realistic as possible while keeping the setup stable and avoiding conflicts between different mods.

Updated: 10 October 2026

The October Update is my final update for FM26. My focus is now on FM27.

The Megapack now includes the league files, updated for the 2026/27 season. You no longer need to download additional league packs.

Because the Megapack changes so many interconnected parts of the database, compatibility with other editor-data files is extremely limited. I will not answer questions about compatibility issues.

The only external editor-data file I recommend is the sortitoutsi Contracts file listed below. No other external editor-data files are compatible with this setup.

A Real Name Fix completes the recommended setup. Graphics, skins and other visual customisations remain compatible, and FM Match Lab’s training mod is still recommended. The simatch mod is optional, with a more limited recommendation than in FM24.

📥 Installation

The Megapack download contains ALL required Megapack files, including the league files.

1. Close FM26 and delete ALL files from its editor data folder, including subfolders. Back up anything you want to keep outside that folder first.

2. Download and extract the ZIP.
Men’s football only: use ALL men’s files; delete the women’s folder and its contents.
Women’s football only: use ALL women’s files; delete the men’s folder and its contents.

3. Copy the selected .fmf files directly into editor data. Use one language version per file; for German, replace the matching files with those from German Version. The only optional external editor-data addition is the Contracts file specified below.

Windows: Documents/Sports Interactive/Football Manager 26/editor data
Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Sports Interactive/Football Manager 26/editor data

4. Start a NEW save and activate ALL files for your version in the editor-data selection, including ALL league files. Then choose your playable leagues, “Original” for transfers and a summer 2026 start date.

⚠️ All league files must be activated, even for leagues you do not load as playable. Otherwise, the promoted and relegated teams will not match. Activating the files has no significant impact on game speed.

Install the Real Name Fix, graphics and FM Match Lab mods according to their creators’ instructions, not in editor data.

🔄 Transfer Update by sortitoutsi

The sortitoutsi Contracts file is the only external editor-data file I recommend using alongside the Megapack. Use the free Basic Data Update. No paid version is needed for this setup.

✅ Use only: sortitoutsi. net FM26 Data Update - Contracts.fmf

Do not use any of the other editor-data files included in the download. This includes separate attribute changes, new-player files, league changes or other database adjustments. Do not add a second transfer update from another creator.

Download the free Basic Data Update from sortitoutsi

🏷️ Real Name Fix by sortitoutsi

Alongside the Contracts file, I recommend a Real Name Fix for naming and licensing corrections.

My previous recommendation to use all editor-data files included with the Real Name Fix no longer applies.

Use the naming and licensing components installed outside the editor data folder, following the creator’s instructions. Do not install any additional editor-data files bundled with the download. The Contracts file remains the only external editor-data exception.

🏷️ Real Name Fix by sortitoutsi

🌍 League Files: Already Included

No additional league downloads are needed. The men’s league files are included in the Megapack and have been updated for the 2026/27 season.

My earlier recommendations for separate league packs from MasterIgor or other creators are no longer part of this setup.

Use the league files supplied with the current Megapack. Do not add or replace them with external league files, even when a file appears to cover a different competition.

⚽ FM MATCH LAB’S TRAINING MOD — Recommended

FM Match Lab’s training mod remains compatible with the Megapack, and I still recommend using it in FM26.

I was part of the group that helped test and optimise this mod. It aims to create a more realistic attribute distribution and reduce the excessive development of certain heavily weighted attributes, helping to limit the number of overpowered players and physical monsters.

This recommendation specifically applies to the training mod. It does not mean that every FM Match Lab mod has the same recommendation for FM26.

The training mod is not an editor-data file. Follow the creator’s installation instructions.

FM Match Lab’s mods and installation information

⚙️ FM MATCH LAB’S SIMATCH MOD — Optional

My recommendation for the simatch mod is more limited.

You can use it alongside the Megapack, but its benefit in FM26 has not been fully established. I would not expect the same level of improvement that it offered in FM24.

I do not consider it harmful to this setup, but I also do not consider it essential. Treat it as an optional extra rather than something you need to install to get the intended Megapack experience.

This is separate from the training mod, which I continue to recommend.

FM Match Lab

🎨 Graphics, Skins and Other Visual Mods

The editor-data restrictions do not apply to graphics or skins. You can continue using your preferred kits, player faces, logos, trophies, newgen faces, stadium graphics and other visual customisations alongside the Megapack.

Use versions suitable for FM26 and follow each creator’s installation instructions. If a graphics download also contains optional editor-data files, leave those editor-data files out.

👕 Kits: sortitoutsi kit packs
👤 Player faces: sortitoutsi player faces — I recommend the Cut-Out Megapack.
🛡️ Logos: sortitoutsi logo packs
🏆 Trophies: sortitoutsi Trophies Megapack
👤 Newgen faces: URAN Newgen Faces for FM26
🏟️ 3D stadiums: BassyBoy’s downloads
🖥️ Skins: Mrtini23 FM26 Skin and ASF FM26 Skin
👕 Additional kits: FM Slovakia

🔧 Manual Workaround: Excessive English Club Reputation Growth

This is an in-game adjustment, not an additional file, so it does not conflict with the editor-data restrictions above.

In my long-term simulations, the Premier League’s reputation increased too strongly, which also pushed English club reputations too high. This can contribute to unrealistic transfers and weaken the competitive balance with other major leagues.

Using the official in-game editor, set the Premier League’s reputation back to 164 on 18 June each year. Check it again on 25 June and reset it to 164 if it has increased. Repeat these checks each year.

⚠️ Compatibility

The recommended setup is the complete Megapack, the sortitoutsi Contracts file, a Real Name Fix and FM Match Lab’s training mod. Add whichever graphics and skins you prefer. The simatch mod is optional. No other external editor-data files.

Updates to the game or third-party files may affect compatibility. A changed version is not automatically compatible just because an earlier version was recommended.

🙏 Thank you

Thank you to all the creators whose work helps make Football Manager a better experience!

A special thank you to MasterIgor for giving me permission to update his league files for the 2026/27 season.