Surviving your first top-flight season in Football Manager 26 is one of the toughest challenges the game throws at you. Promotion feels like a triumph — and it is — but the jump in quality, finances, and expectations hits the moment the new season loads. Suddenly, you’re in a league where even the midtable sides have deeper squads, bigger wage bills, and players capable of punishing every mistake you make. If you don’t adjust quickly, the same momentum that carried you up can drag you straight back down.
