So, you’ve fired up Football Manager 26 and noticed something big: women’s football is finally here. If you’re wondering where to start, this guide to the best women’s clubs FM26 offers is the perfect place – whether you’re chasing trophies or building from the ground up.
We’ve got new leagues, new players, new challenges – and honestly? It can feel a bit overwhelming at first. Who’s good? Who’s fun? Who’s survivable if you’re new to all this?
That’s where this post comes in. We’ve pulled together a mix of ten clubs across different leagues – some famous, some hidden away, all worth your time. Think of it as a friendly starting point for anyone dipping their toes into women’s football for the first time. We’re learning too, so this is all about discovering together
Manchester United
Manchester United are a great way into women’s football: a huge name, a strong squad, and a clear goal: win their first Women’s Super League title.
They’ve been close for a while now. The 2024 FA Cup win felt like a big moment, but league glory still hasn’t come. You’ll have Maya Le Tissier leading from the back, Ella Toone running the show, and Melvine Malard buzzing around in attack.
The WSL itself is brilliant fun – fast-paced, competitive, and unpredictable. One week you’re beating City, the next you’re wondering why Leicester just nicked a 1-0.
- End the wait for United’s first WSL title and make history at Leigh Sports Village.
- Turn Toone into your creative heartbeat and build around her energy.
- Hold off the league giants once you’ve made it to the top — staying there’s harder.
Paris Saint-Germain
If you want star power, PSG are it. France’s Première Ligue is one of the most technically impressive leagues you’ll find, but Lyon have had it on lockdown for years. PSG finally broke that streak once in 2021, and the hunger to do it again is real.
You’ll have Romée Leuchter up top, Jackie Groenen pulling strings in midfield, and Rasheedat Ajibade on the wing making defenders dizzy. This squad’s built for silverware, but every league game feels like a duel with Lyon in the distance.
We love this as a “statement” save. It’s about proving PSG aren’t just the nearly team. Bring the league back to Paris, and maybe push for that elusive Champions League while you’re at it.
- Dethrone Lyon — and prove PSG can stay there.
- Make Leuchter the face of a new Paris dynasty.
- Turn domestic dominance into a European statement win.
Real Madrid
This one’s special. Real Madrid only formed their women’s team in 2020, which means in football terms, they’re still a baby – talented, ambitious, and desperate to catch up to Barcelona.
They’ve got a proper spine now: Athenea del Castillo, Caroline Weir, and teenage superstar Linda Caicedo. The potential is incredible.
If you’re like us and love a good project save, this is your club. You start with big expectations and a clear goal: win Real Madrid’s first major trophy. It’s not about rebuilding history, it’s about writing it from scratch.
- Close the gap on Barcelona — one result at a time.
- Develop Caicedo into a Ballon d’Or contender.
- Deliver Madrid’s first ever women’s trophy and start a new era.
Bayern Munich
Germany’s Frauen-Bundesliga is a masterclass in tactical football. Bayern are right in the thick of it – strong, efficient, and always one step away from dominating Europe.
Their 2025 squad feels well-rounded: Georgia Stanway, Lea Schüller, Giulia Gwinn, and the Scandinavian duo Pernille Harder and Magdalena Eriksson. That’s a Champions League-winning group if you can get the tactics right.
This is a great save if you like balancing short-term success with long-term planning. Wolfsburg will push you domestically, but that just adds fuel to the story.
- Take Bayern from challengers to Champions League winners.
- Rotate smartly to keep stars happy and the opposition guessing.
- Establish a ruthless, trophy-winning machine in Europe.
Juventus
Italy’s league has quietly become one of the most fun in Europe – technical, feisty, and full of personality. Juventus were once untouchable, winning five titles in a row, but Roma are giving them competition.
You’ve still got quality everywhere: Cristiana Girelli for goals, Barbara Bonansea for flair, and Lia Wälti ready to take over the midfield mantle. The challenge is keeping that winning DNA alive while modernising the squad.
If you like a save where you should win but still have to fight for it, Juventus are ideal. And honestly, who doesn’t want to rebuild a fallen empire in black and white?
- Restore Juve’s dominance in Italy and silence Roma’s challenge.
- Blend experience with new blood to refresh the dynasty.
- Bring European glory back to Turin for the first time.
FC Rosengård
The Damallsvenskan is one of the best leagues for first-time managers – smaller budgets, big stories, and loads of youth talent.
Rosengård are the top dogs, but not in a boring way. They’ve built their reputation on developing players – Hanna Bennison, Zecira Musovic, Amanda Ilestedt – and sending them on to bigger things.
It’s the kind of club where you build, sell, rebuild, and repeat. If you enjoy scouting, youth development, or the slow satisfaction of turning academy kids into internationals, this is your save.
- Win Sweden with a homegrown core of future internationals.
- Scout smart – your next superstar could be 17 and waiting in the academy.
- Reach a Champions League semi-final without losing your identity.
Portland Thorns
The NWSL is chaos in spreadsheet form – trades and salary caps make it unlike any other league in FM. But it’s also incredible fun, and Portland Thorns are the biggest name in it.
They pull crowds of 18,000+, have the best atmosphere in the world, and a roster full of talent. Sophia Smith leads the line, Sam Coffey runs the midfield, and the fans will adore you the moment you win your first home game.
If you want a save that feels alive – fans, rivalries, and unpredictable drama – this is it.
- Master the madness of the NWSL.
- Turn the Thorns into the NWSL’s first true dynasty.
- Keep fans onside and rivals furious – Portland love the theatre.
Tokyo Verdy Beleza
Tokyo Verdy Beleza are the blueprint of consistency in Japanese football – a club so dominant they’ve been setting standards since the late 1990s. Now part of the WE League era, they’re chasing new records rather than old ghosts.
This is a team built on rhythm and development. With Momoko Tanaka and Rihona Ujihara leading the next generation, the balance of tradition and progress is already there – it just needs guiding.
Managing Beleza is about evolution through calm control. You’re inheriting a legacy, not a project, and that brings a different kind of pressure entirely.
- Keep Beleza at the summit of the WE League and extend their title streak.
- Blend academy graduates with experienced internationals to stay ahead.
- Build a continental powerhouse worthy of Japan’s most decorated women’s team.
Sydney FC
Australia’s A-League Women is pure joy – young squads, high tempo, and a playoff system that makes even 4th place feel like a title shot.
Sydney FC are the model club: five-time champions with a blend of Matildas and up-and-comers. Natalie Tobin is the star, Mackenzie Hawkesby adds creativity, and the whole team plays like they’re enjoying it.
If you’re new to women’s football, this is one of the most welcoming saves you can start. You’ll learn fast, win often, and get hooked before you even notice.
- Regain the A-League Women title and restore Sydney’s dominance.
- Rebuild around the next generation of Matildas and local academy stars.
- Prove that style, identity, and consistency matter more than short-term success.
Wrexham
If you like your saves scrappy and emotional, this is the one. Wrexham’s women’s team are rising fast – newly professional, community-driven, and full of heart. You start small, but with the backing of Hollywood owners and crowds that most top-flight teams would envy.
The Welsh league gives you a shot at the Champions League if you win it, which turns this into a classic Road to Glory. It’s hard work, but that’s the fun.
You’ll build around local pride and a growing fanbase that believes in every kick. Progress won’t come easy, but that’s what makes it worth it.
- Take Wrexham from local heroes to European dreamers.
- Build a team of Welsh talent proud to play for the badge.
- Reach the Women’s Champions League — one miracle at a time.
Your Turn to Take Charge
Whether you’re chasing trophies with Manchester United or building something special at Wrexham, these clubs are the perfect way to step into the women’s game in Football Manager 26. Each save tells its own story, and that’s half the fun of FM.
If you’re just getting started, check out our Beginner’s Guide to Women’s Football for a quick introduction. You can also explore our Wonderkids Shortlist to strengthen your squad before that first friendly.
So pick your club, build your tactics, and start your journey into women’s football.
