Shuffle Draft

1:50:24 Shuffle Draft is Football Manager 27's new multiplayer mode: developed with FIFAe, it "reimagines the Fantasy Draft mode from previous games," letting 2 to 32 managers draft squads in public or private online lobbies, or offline with AI managers filling the slots, and then play them in a Knockout Cup, a Group + Knockout tournament or a League. Each manager starts with a set of 20 players; everyone picks at the same time, and the sets pass on to the next manager after each round, within a time limit the host sets. Sports Interactive revealed it on Oct 27, 2026, and it is included in the free Launch Preview on PC and Mac until 6pm GMT Nov 3, 2026. The clip is the end of SI's Oct 22, 2026 First Look Livestream, where the mode was first named.

Quick facts

Sources: SI, Oct 27, 2026; SI on Steam, Oct 27, 2026; SI, Oct 29, 2026.

How does Shuffle Draft work?

2:09 A host creates an event, picks the format and the player pool, and sets the rules. The pool is then divided into sets of 20 players, as many sets as there are managers. Every manager picks one player from the set in front of them at the same moment, then each set passes to the next manager, so the best names go fast and you have to judge what your neighbors will take. You can bookmark players you hope will still be there in a later round. When squads are full, the matches begin. The clip is Omega Luke's first Shuffle Draft, posted Nov 1, 2026, from the World's Best pool.

Formats

Source: SI, Oct 27, 2026.

1:49 Empty slots can be filled by AI managers, who can also serve as practice opponents. In the clip Omega Luke finds no way to add a second human manager on one computer, so he and his dad draft one team against an AI manager.

Player pools

Hosts choose where the players come from. SI lists preset pools from the men's or the women's game (World's Best, Wonderkids, Veterans and Lower League Legends), pools built on a strength such as Leadership or Physical, and custom pools filtered by nationality, player reputation and club division. Each pool comes in Mixed, Higher or Highest quality. Men's and women's players cannot be mixed in one event. FM27's women's football is on Women's Football.

Squads, time limits and Re-Drafts

Squads hold 14, 16, 18 or 20 players; in the smaller sizes, picks must fit a formation set in advance. The host sets how long each pick may take.

Between matchdays, Re-Drafts let managers keep, replace or remove players: up to five per event, each with up to 20 returns or removals. A player sent back returns to the pool; one removed leaves the tournament. The host can turn Re-Drafts off entirely.

The matches

15:59 Matches use FM27's full tactics and match engine (Tactics, Match Engine), so Tactical Tweaks and Shouts work as in a career. All matches in a round are played at the same time, and players recover fully between matches: fatigue and injuries are cleared before each one. SI has not said how Tactical Effectiveness works for a squad drafted minutes earlier.

Is there online career mode in FM27?

SI's FM27 posts describe Shuffle Draft as the new online mode, and Steam lists Single-player, Multi-player, Online PvP and "Cross-Platform Multiplayer" for FM27. SI had not described a classic online career (several managers sharing one save) for FM27 as of Nov 1, 2026, nor said which platforms play with which. In Football Manager 26, FM26 Console had cross-play between Xbox and PS5 in Online Career. This page will add FM27's answer once SI gives it; platforms are on Platforms.

What is FIFAe's part?

FIFAe, FIFA's esports arm, is SI's partner on the mode: SI says Shuffle Draft was developed in collaboration with FIFAe. SI has not announced FIFAe tournaments, rankings or rewards for Shuffle Draft as of Nov 1, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is Shuffle Draft in the FM27 free trial? Yes. SI confirmed Shuffle Draft is included in FM27's free Launch Preview on PC and Mac, which runs until 6pm GMT on Nov 3, 2026.

How many players can play Shuffle Draft in FM27? FM27's Shuffle Draft takes 2 to 32 managers: up to 32 in a Knockout Cup or Group + Knockout event, and up to 20 in a League.

Can I play Shuffle Draft offline in FM27? Yes. FM27's Shuffle Draft can be played offline, with AI managers filling the empty slots.

Is Shuffle Draft the same as Fantasy Draft? Not quite. SI says FM27's Shuffle Draft reimagines the Fantasy Draft mode of earlier games, with player sets that pass between managers and Re-Drafts between matchdays.

Can I use women's players in FM27 Shuffle Draft? Yes. FM27's Shuffle Draft offers pools from the men's or the women's game, but the two cannot be mixed in one event.

Does FM27 Shuffle Draft have crossplay? SI had not said as of Nov 1, 2026. Steam lists "Cross-Platform Multiplayer" for FM27 without saying which modes or platforms it covers.

Is Shuffle Draft on FM27 Console? SI had not described Shuffle Draft on FM27 Console, Mobile or Touch as of Nov 1, 2026; its posts on those versions were still to come.

Sources

• FM27: Shuffle Draft, Sports Interactive, Oct 27, 2026
• FM27: Introducing Shuffle Draft, Sports Interactive on Steam, Oct 27, 2026
• Football Manager 27 is free to play until 3 November, Sports Interactive, Oct 29, 2026
• Football Manager 27, Steam store page, Nov 1, 2026
• FM26 Console now available with PlayStation Plus, Sports Interactive, Apr 21, 2026
• FM27 | First Look Livestream, Football Manager, Oct 22, 2026 (video)
• We Try FM27 New Draft Mode!, Omega Luke, Nov 1, 2026 (video)