How to Apply Football Manager 26 Real Name License Fix Easily

Football Manager 26 continues the series’ reputation for realism — but not every name in the game is officially licensed. Clubs like Inter Milan or Brazilian teams often appear under fake names, and even tournaments use placeholders due to licensing restrictions. Thankfully, the community has maintained a Real Name Fix that restores authentic club, league, and competition names across the entire game.

Licensing restrictions have always been a sticking point for Football Manager players. The base version of FM26 includes new partnerships — such as official women’s leagues and more regional licenses — but certain teams and competitions remain unlicensed.

With the Real Name Fix, every club, cup, and award displays its real name, significantly improving immersion. You can even fix renamed managers like Niko Kovač or Oliver Kahn, who appear under false identities in the vanilla version.

Before You Start

Make sure Football Manager 26 is closed before you modify any files. This prevents the game from caching the original data and ensures the fix is applied correctly when you relaunch it.

You’ll also need a Real Name Fix pack, which you can find on reputable modding sites like FM Scout or Sortitoutsi. These community mods are free and regularly updated after each patch.

Step-by-Step Guide to Install the FM26 Real Name Fix

The core idea is to delete the files responsible for fake names and replace them with corrected versions from the mod pack.

Step 1: Locate Your FM26 Database Folder

Depending on your platform, the installation path differs slightly:

Platform	Default Path
Steam (Windows)	C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Football Manager 26\shared\data\database\db\2600\
Epic Games (Windows)	C:\Program Files\Epic Games\FootballManager26\shared\data\database\db\2600\
macOS (Steam)	/Users/[username]/Library/Application Support/Steam/steamapps/common/Football Manager 26/fm.app/Contents/PlugIns/game_plugin.bundle/Contents/Resources/shared/data/database/db/2600/
Linux (Proton)	~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Football Manager 26/shared/data/database/db/2600/

If you’re playing through Game Pass, your folder will usually be under
Xboxgames\Football Manager 26\shared\data\database\db\2600.

Step 2: Open the Correct Subfolders

Inside the 2600 folder, locate and open the following subdirectories in order:

lnc → all

Delete the files listed below. These are responsible for the game’s fake naming system:

ac milan (wom).lnc
acc Inter unlic 26.lnc
acmilan unlic 26.lnc
fake.lnc
inter (wom).lnc
inter unlic 26.lnc
japanese names.lnc
lazio (wom).lnc
lic_dan_swe_fra.lnc
licensing club name_fm26.lnc
men lazio.lnc
men.atalanta.lnc

Then copy the .lnc files from your downloaded Real Name Fix into this same all folder.

Step 3: Remove Fake Manager and Player Files

Next, return two folders back and open:

edt → permanent

Delete the file named:

fake.edt

This corrects renamed managers and staff members (for example, changing “Max Freund” back to Niko Kovač).

Step 4: Fix Brazilian and Japanese Clubs

Go back again and navigate to:

dbc → permanent

Delete these files to fix issues with Brazilian and Japanese clubs:

1_japan_removed_clubs.dbc
brazil_kits.dbc
forbidden names.dbc
italy.dbc
japan_fake.dbc
j league non player.dbc

This step ensures teams no longer revert to three-letter codes and that authentic kits display properly.

Step 5: Clean Up Language Files

Finally, open:

language

and remove:

Licensing2.dbc
Licensing2_chn.dbc

This removes residual restrictions affecting regional databases.

Step 6: Restart the Game

Once you’ve finished deleting and replacing the necessary files, restart Football Manager 26.
You should now see the correct club, tournament, and award names across all regions.

Note: For Brazilian clubs, the fix only applies to new saves. If you already have an ongoing career, start a new one to see the corrected names.

Updating the Fix After Patches

Every time FM26 updates, it creates a new database folder (for example, 2610 or 2620).

You’ll need to repeat the same steps using that new folder to keep the names updated. Simply copy over the fixed files again, and your saves will remain compatible.

Can Console Players Use This Fix?

Unfortunately, no.

The Real Name Fix only works on PC (Windows, macOS, or Linux) because the console versions — PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch — do not allow custom mods or community files.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you still see incorrect names:

• Make sure you deleted the fake .lnc, .dbc, and .edt files completely.
• Verify that your mod files were placed inside the correct patch folder (like 2600 or 26xx).
• Restart Steam or Epic Games before reopening FM26.

The Real Name Fix is one of the most essential tweaks for Football Manager 26. It restores the full authenticity of clubs, leagues, and competitions — letting you experience the game as Sports Interactive originally intended.

Whether you’re managing Real Sociedad in La Liga or testing your tactics in the J-League, these fixes bring the world of football to life. Play Now!

Read More:

• Best Mods for EA Sports FC 26: Enhance Realism and Gameplay Depth
• Best Right Wingers in Career Mode EA FC 26: Top Players & Wonderkids to Sign
• College Football 26 Dynasty Recruiting Guide: Pipelines, Transfers & Tips