How to Fix Real Names in FM 26: Step-by-Step Guide

Football Manager 26 is all set to be released on November 4, 2025. The exciting game will allow you to manage your favorite football teams and play as top stars. On October 24 (Friday), the game's beta version was released, so you can try out all the features before the official release. However, today we are here to discuss the names in the games. Sometimes the players' and clubs' names don't appear as they should because of licensing issues, showing fake or incorrect names instead. This can frustrate the players who are looking for an authentic experience.

In this article, we will tell you about the FM 26 Real Names Fix, which is an easy process and involves simple steps. After fixing real names, you can enjoy the game to the fullest and have an incredible football experience.

How to Fix Real Names in FM 26

FM 26 aims to bring back the authentic gaming experience, so they have restored all the real-world names from clubs to competitions and players. If you want to learn the process of fixing real names in FM 26, this is the right place for you. This guide will help you remove all the fake names caused by licensing restrictions in Football Manager. This will improve the overall experience and bring more realism to FM 26.

Step 1: Know Why Names are Fake

Sometimes the teams, players, or competitions in Football Manager 26 have made-up names because the game doesn't have the license or permission to use the real names. So as a result, FM hides the real names for unlicensed stuff. For example, Bundesliga teams or South American clubs to avoid legal issues. The game doesn't even add the player faces or kit names. So that's when name-fix files come into play and are also very easy to use.

Step 2: Find a safe Fix File

To begin the FM 26 Real Names Fix, go to a reliable and trusted Football Manager community website and find the name fix file for FM 26. Below, we have listed some of the most reliable websites from which you can download the Fix file and use it for your game.

• FMInside
• Passion4FM
• FM Scout
• Sortitoutsi

Make sure the file says it's for FM 26, not any older version. and never download from random websites, as they might come with harmful viruses.

Step 3: Download the File

Once you find the FM 26 real names fix file on any of those sites, you will see that they are usually a zip or fmf file. After the download is finished, save it where you can easily find it, like either the ‘Downloads’ folder or on the Desktop. Always remember to check the file's description to make sure it works with FM 26.

Step 4: Find the Right Game Folder

• You need to put the fix file in a special folder for FM 26. Open your file explorer first in Windows and press Win + E. For Mac: Finder; for Linux: File manager.
• Navigate to the Documents folder.
• Inside it, find the ‘Sports Interactive’ folder, then ‘Football Manager 26.’
• Look for a subfolder called ‘Editor Data.’

Here's what the paths for FM 26 Real Names Fix look like:

• Windows: C:\Users\[Your Username]\Documents\Sports Interactive\ Football Manager 2026\editor data
• Mac: ~/Documents/Sports Interactive/Football Manager 2026/editor data
• Linux: ~/.local/share/Sports Interactive/Football Manager 2026/editor data

Step 5: Install the Fix File

If your fix file is a .zip, you need to extract it.

• For Windows, just right-click the .zip > Extract all.
• For Mac, just double-click the zip.
• For Linux, use unzip filename.zip in the terminal.

You will get an .fmf file. Copy the file into the ‘editor data’ folder you found or created. If the pack has multiple files, copy all of them and double-check that the folder has your file in it.

If you want to know about the Football Manager 26 New Leagues, check out our other article as well.

Step 6: Launch the Game and Load the Fix

• After launching the game, start a new career/save, as old saves ignore editor data.
• On the ‘New Career’ screen, look for Database or Advanced Setup. Click on it to expand options.
• Under the ‘Editors Data Files’ or ‘Custom Database,' you will see a list. Tick the checkbox next to the fix file and proceed to select the nations' leagues, and more.
• Hit ‘Confirm’ and start the game. The fix will automatically load.

Step 7: Check if it worked

To check the FM 26 Real Names Fix, go to the database and search for any team like Borussia Dortmund. It should show the real name, not the made-up one, ‘Germania 04.’ Also check the competitions like the Premier League, Champions League, etc.; all of them should be real. Even look for the awards and stadiums, and if everything appears correct, then you are all set for an authentic FM experience.

Note: Usually the effect can be instantly seen in the new save, but sometimes the game takes a minute to load everything.

If you want to learn about the Football Manager 26 Manager Creation Mode, you can check our other article as well.

Step 8: Troubleshooting Problems

• File not showing in game: In case the file is not visible in the game, make sure it is in the exact editor data folder or restart the game. If you still can't see it, then it might be a corrupt file.
• Names still appear to be fake? Always double-check that you ticked the file in setup and started a new save. If there is a compatibility issue, try a different fix pack.
• Game Crashes: If your game freezes or crashes, remove the .fmf file and relaunch. In case you are using other mods like logos or faces, load the name fix alone first to test.

Step 9: Level Up the Game

Once the FM 26 Real Names Fix is done, you can also correct the logos, kits, and faces.

• Logos: Download from Sortitoutsi, put in graphics/config folder (create if needed). Enable in Preferences > Interface > Reload Skin.
• Kits/Faces: FM Scout has packs. Faces go in graphics/faces, and kits in graphics/kits. Clear the cache after (Preferences > Interface > Reload All Skin Files).
• Full Realism Mod: Combines everything search “FM26 custom realism mod.”

• Step 10: Keep it Fresh with Updates

• FM 26 will get patches during the early access, so after each patch, check your fix file and visit the download site for updates. If names break, just download the file again and reinstall it.