Football Manager’s worst leagues to manage in that every player should avoid

One of the biggest factors in how much you enjoy a league in Football Manager is its registration rules. While the games don’t offer every real-world country or league, there’s a tonne of variety to play through with their own pros and cons.

You can fall in love with a team, only to realise you’ll never manage them because the league is so complicated and constraining. Some people enjoy the challenge of complex rules, but others just want to play the game without having to stress over a calculator, working out whether they’ve got the right players registered.

So, if you’re after an easier ride, I’ve compiled a list of leagues in Football Manager that are best avoided—leave these ones to the professionals (or the truly masochistic). If you want even more details, you can even read about the best registration rules to play for some truly awesome seasons.

MLS

No discussion about leagues that are impossible to navigate can start without mentioning the MLS. You practically need a PhD to understand the rules here, and even then, you’ll probably consult other experts to double-check you’ve got it right. There are salary caps, senior roster players, designated players, and limits on international players. And just when you think you’ve got it, there’s a draft and trading system that no other league in the game has.

I mean, just look at the screenshot below—even a cursory glance gives me a headache. And the worst part? Even if you somehow master these rules and turn yourself into an MLS guru, the AI hasn’t, which completely ruins the immersion.

The Highland / Lowland league in Scotland

From horrible registration rules to even worse promotion rules, the Highland/Lowland League in Scotland is a managerial nightmare. To get promoted, here’s what you have to do:

1. Win the league.
2. Win a playoff against the winner of the other Highland/Lowland League.
3. Then, finally, win another playoff against the Scottish League Two relegation playoff position.

It’s like a never-ending set of hoops to jump through, and by the end of it, you’ll question why you even bothered.

Indian National Football League

The Indian National Football League is bad simply because it doesn’t match real life at all. For whatever reason (probably licensing issues), Football Manager doesn’t include the Indian Super League. Instead, you’re stuck with the National Football League—basically the equivalent of having the Sky Bet Championship in the game without the Premier League.

This lack of realism ruins the immersion entirely. The league doesn’t include the country’s best teams, and there’s no promotion or relegation system to make things interesting. On top of that, you’re only allowed four non-Indian players in your squad. Have you seen the state of the Indian national pool? They’re currently ranked 127th in the world. It’s not like you’ve got many players capable of making you competitive in the Asian Champions League anytime soon.

Campeonato Brasileiro Série A

Now, this one’s controversial. People often tell me to manage in Brazil, but from everything I’ve read and seen, it’s brutal. The scheduling is chaotic, tournaments overlap constantly, and the season is an absolute slog—90+ games if you do well. NINETY GAMES.

Financial constraints and unbalanced wage structures make it tough to hold on to your best players, especially when European clubs come calling with their higher reputations and even higher wages. Combine that with tough transfer rules, and you’ve got yourself a league that’s as relentless as it is exhausting.

Don’t get me wrong—managing in Brazil for one season might be fun. Might. But multiple years? I’ll pass, thanks.

Chinese Pro League

The Chinese Super League is another headache-inducing experience. You’re limited to just five new over-21 Chinese players per season, which doesn’t sound too bad until you realise the pool of under-21 domestic talent is tragic. Building a strong team feels impossible.

Oh, and you’re only allowed three new foreign players per year, which means your ability to bring in top-tier reinforcements is severely restricted. So, you’re stuck relying on average local players who wouldn’t get near the bench in most other leagues.

To be honest, this problem isn’t exclusive to China. The Saudi league has a similar issue with foreign player limits. Basically, any league that combines strict foreign player rules with poor national talent is never going to be fun to manage.

If you’re someone who loves micromanaging complex rules and navigating footballing bureaucracy, then these leagues might just be for you. But for the rest of us? Avoid them. Life’s too short to lose your mind over registration rules, bizarre promotion playoffs, or leagues that aren’t even realistic.