This article summarizes and organizes the responses given by Director Funakoshi of Sakatsuku 2026 to user questions on the official Discord, presenting them in a Q&A format.
Table of Contents
This article organizes the information into the following categories.
You can jump to the section you want to read from the table of contents.
Career Mode Features
Q. How does the Youth Team work, and why do players stop joining?
A. We have not been able to determine if this is a bug as of yet.
For now, we will explain how the system works.
• The strength of players who join the Youth Team is determined by Scouting Expertise (viewable in Club Details).
• The higher your Club Lv. and Manager Lv., the higher your Scouting Expertise.
• Previously retired players that meet the conditions to reappear and have Max Stats close to your Scouting Expertise will join the Youth Team.
• Additionally, only eligible players from countries/regions associated with your current league will join the Youth Team.
• In other words, to join the Youth Team, players must have Stats close to your Scouting Expertise and be from a country/region connected to the league.
• As Scouting Expertise increases, there may be cases where no players meet these two conditions, resulting in no players joining the Youth Team.
Given the above, we are unable to determine whether this is a persisting bug or something that can occur temporarily at this time.
Q. Do you plan to add a skip feature for award ceremonies?
A. Yes, we plan to add a skip feature for ceremonies.
Unfortunately, we were not able to include an option to skip award ceremonies in the upcoming version. That will be one of our primary focuses for the following version.
We understand that having to press skip every time can get tedious, and we're doing our best to remedy this.
Q. Will the difficulty of training players with the Precocious growth type be adjusted?
A. We are considering possible measures, but at present we haven't found a solution yet.
We understand the issues and know what players are asking for, so we'll do our best to find a solution that doesn't mess with the game's overall balance.
(For example, players acquired from another club once they reach 20 may experience limited growth.)
Q. Are there any hidden players that are unlocked by increasing your League Level?
A. There are no hidden players.
Q. Are there plans to increase the number of fictional players in Career Mode?
A. We are planning to do so.
Due to the nature of the game, many changes are considered for season updates rather than being implemented mid-season.
Q. Are there any plans to add player introduction messages like in the past?
A. Unfortunately, not at this time.
Player comments based on growth stage are in the game, but we are not currently considering any manual additions or extra comments.
Q. Are there plans to expand the watchlist?
A. We don't plan to expand the watchlist right now.
However, we'll see if there is room in our development plans to fit this in.
Q. Are there plans to improve the search screen for Direct Offers and similar features?
A. Yes, improvements are planned.
Q. Are there plans to make transfer fees more realistic?
A. We apologise for not having this in order.
While we may be able to find a good calculation for it in the future, adding it in the current system might cause other issues, which could make this a difficult change to make.
Q. Are there plans to increase the number of save slots?
A. We are currently looking into the number of save slots and other underlying factors and will let you know more soon.
Q. Aside from stadiums and investments, are there any benefits to increasing your fans?
A. Fans count toward missions and other features, but within Career Mode itself, there are no specific benefits.
Q. The notification icon for one-on-one meetings is hard to see. Are there plans to fix this?
A. Yes, this will be addressed in the future.
We are currently working on a fix with the designers.
Since an update is required, we ask for your patience in the meantime.
Q. In Career Mode, is it possible to manipulate when retired players reappear in the Youth Team?
A. No, the timing of their reappearance cannot be manipulated.
Q. Are approach affinities also in Career Mode?
A. Approach affinities aren't a part of Career Mode.
Q. Is it possible to maximise the effects of investments for any club in any league?
A. Investments differ by league.
Increasing your fans allows you to expand the types of investments available.
In some cases, investment effects do not change beyond increasing League Lv.
Q. Is there an annual limit to the number of inheritance events?
A. No, there isn't a limit.
Q. Are there any plans to allow playstyle level to be specified when making a Direct Offer?
A. This is currently in development.
We're sorry this isn't already implemented. It'll be added in a future update.
Q. In Career Mode, is not receiving offers for over a year intentional?
A. Prioritising offers won't always guarantee you'll receive one.
There are various conditions involved, but we aren't able to share them.
Q. In Career Mode, if I transfer to another club, will my previous stadium and clubhouse levels, facilities, and fans be reset?
A. No, for the most part, they'll stay the same.
Club level (excluding custom clubs) will be adjusted accordingly.
This is to maintain consistency with the many elements tied to club level, including overall in-game balance.
Club level is corrected to a base value, so it could rise or fall depending on the circumstances.
This means your facilities could be affected.
If you notice any other behaviour, it may be a bug.
Q. Can a player acquire the trait 'Natural Leader' through training or appointment?
A. No, the trait can't be acquired later.
Q. How often is the World Championship held?
A. The first time around, it takes place in the following year once six seasons have passed.
After that, it takes place once every four seasons.
Q. Will new players be added to Career Mode?
A. The Career Mode player roster will undergo major changes during the semi-annual season updates.
Q. Will there be more seasonal rewards added to Career Mode?
A. There are no plans to add more rewards at this time.
Q. Is it intentional for the Keisuke Honda recruitment event to occur sometimes but not occur in other instances?
A. There are several conditions that trigger the event, but they are under wraps.
What I can say is that Keisuke Honda must be included in the lineup, and certain other conditions must be met.
Q. Are there any merits to training past Club Lv. 30?
A. Yes, there are several, but we'd like to keep them under wraps for now.
Q. During the three-month waiting period after a failed Direct Offer, will the player be on the Scouting List?
A. No, they will not be listed.
Q. Is it intended that players with the same growth type enter the Growing phase at different ages?
A. Yes, it is.
The remaining years for each phase will be easier to check in a future update.
Q. Theoretically, is it possible to reach Max Stats currently? Or will this be possible in the future?
A. It will be possible in the future.
Q. If a season ends with unclaimed Sponsor Mission rewards, will we receive these automatically?
A. Yes, you will receive them automatically.
Q. Are there plans to increase the maximum level for the stadium and clubhouse?
A. We are currently considering this for the seasonal update.
Q. Since English League Level 6 is not unlocked and English League 2 is capped, is clearing League Level 9 currently impossible?
A. Yes, this is due to a configuration error.
We are considering how to address this and will make an in-game announcement once fix has been found.
Q. When raising league levels, do clubs in other leagues also get stronger?
A. Yes, they get stronger.
Match mechanics
Q. Can you automate player substitutions when watching matches?
A. The plan for this feature has not yet been finalised, so it may take some time.
We will continue reviewing possible solutions.
Q. When selecting Skip to Results, are substitutions made without considering your Formation Combo?
A. The feature is designed to prioritise keeping Formation Combos active.
However, there are certain situations where this is not possible, meaning that your Formation Combo may be deactivated.
Q. Can skills activate outside of the slots highlighted in yellow?
A. Generally, they activate only within the designated slots, but that may change depending on various conditions.
Q. Do height and weight affect physical contact or contests for the ball?
A. We apologise, but these are hidden parameters that we'd like to keep under wraps.
Q. Does a player's stamina affect the way they move?
A. It's difficult to provide details about player behaviour during matches.
The matches are very complex in design, with many interconnected elements.
In other words, many factors influence match behaviour, so it's tough to pin down exactly what affects movement.
Q. If you have two overlapping skills that provide buffs for the same attribute, such as two kinds that boost Tackling for home matches, will both activate?
A. Abilities activate as long as the requirements are met, and their effects stack.
Skills are triggered at set times and cannot activate simultaneously.
However, because the draw occurs twice, there is still value in having both.
(We are unable to share what happens when both skills would activate.)
Q. What is the difference between gold and silver skills?
A. Gold is generally the better tier.
However, depending on the amount owned and your management calls, it is not always strictly superior.
Q. When a team receives an approach advantage, does the Team Stats bonus change if a substitution is made mid-match?
A. Yes, the bonus will change if a substitution is made mid-match.
Q. If a player in a key position is substituted with someone who doesn't meet the requirement, do the Team Stats change?
A. Yes, the Team Stats will change.
Q. If two players have the same stats and skills but different playstyle levels, will there be differences in how they move?
A. Yes, they'll move differently.
Players have internal parameters in addition to their displayed stats.
These internal parameters work in conjunction with their playstyle, so you shouldn't judge them purely on their stats.
Q. Does Trailblazer activate in Dream Team Mode?
A. No, Trailblazer is exclusive to Career Mode.
We will do our best to make our descriptions clearer in the future.
Q. Does teamwork have any significance in Dream Team Mode?
A. Yes, it does.
Q. How is the overall stat increase calculated for advantageous/disadvantageous approaches in Dream Team Mode?
A. We aren't able to disclose how this is calculated, but the effect scales with the number of players involved.
Prime Players and Scouting Features
Q. Are there plans to adjust the playstyle levels of Prime Players or change their rarities?
A. Yes, we plan to make adjustments.
(Adjustments include increasing or decreasing players' playstyle levels and changing their rarity from silver to gold, and vice versa.)
Q. Does strengthening Prime Players with items only raise the initial values and not their upper limit?
A. Their upper limit also increases.
You can check these under Attributes on the Player Details screen.
Q. Will there continue to be cards created in collaboration with the players themselves, such as the Keisuke Honda card?
A. Yes, there's a good chance.
Q. Will there be any re-release of players like Haaland or even Training Cards such as Junya Ito?
A. There are currently no plans to re-release them.
(This means you'll need to use pieces to limit break them.)
Q. Can medals from a Featured Prime Scouting be carried over to the next one?
A. Medals cannot be carried over.
Additionally, medals for permanent Scouting do not reset.
Q. Are there any changes for Prime Players planned?
A. Yes, we are considering some additions.
We do not plan to add additional playstyle levels as their star level increases, but we are exploring other additions.
Q. While scouting, is there any way to tell from the animation when the result is good?
A. If the manager stands up at the start, that's very promising.
Q. I've noticed that Prime Player cards use a photo of the actual player, but does this require special permission? Would it be difficult to add a player who has passed away?
A. All I can say is that it differs between Prime Players.
(Blogger addendum: It is implied that permission isn't needed for fictional players.)
Q. If I receive a standard card with the same name as an exclusive card, will it count as a limit break?
A. No, they will be treated as separate cards.
Q. Should I aim for perfect attributes when upgrading Prime Players with items? (For example, the CF's Defence attribute.)
A. The main attributes used depend on each player's position.
If resources were unlimited, aiming for perfection would be best, but that would only be possible far in the future, so it's unnecessary.
Other
Q. Will World Premiership be implemented for random matches and PvP?
A. Yes, it's currently under development but won't be ready for some time.
Q. Are there any plans for a large-scale PvP event?
A. Yes, we are planning one.
The details differ depending on whether the event uses live matchmaking or not (such as the current WPS), but both are in development.
Q. Are there plans to add more Formation Combos to the Formation Coin Trader?
A. Yes, we intend to add more.
However, we have no plans of adding an entirely new mechanic.
We're looking at possibly adding more in conjunction with new league additions or major updates.
Q. Up to what level of Formation Coin can be received based on each league?
A. The maximum for the leagues unlocked at the start of the game is Level 5.
The Netherlands and Portugal leagues go up to Level 4, France, Italy, and Germany to Level 3, and England and Spain to Level 2.
Q. Are there any plans to add a lock feature for Squads?
A. Yes. We cannot say when it will be added, but we are working on it.
Q. Are there plans to implement a feature that allows you to edit players?
A. We have no plans for this at the moment.
However, if it's highly requested, we may consider it.
Q. If a Squad is deleted, will the registered players I've trained also be deleted?
A. No, you won't lose any of your registered players.
Only Prime Players can become registered players.
Career Mode Players are registered to Squads but don't end up as registered players.
Therefore, even if a Squad is deleted and a Career Mode Player seems to have vanished, that is unlikely to be the case.
Q. How is the Activity Level calculated for MCO?
A. Unfortunately, we aren't able to go into specifics.
However, what we can say is WPS victories, Career Mode match victories, and the stats of your registered players at the end of the season all have an impact on the Activity Level.
Q. In tournament mode, is it possible to hold a tournament without the host participating?
A. No, this isn't possible at the moment.
It may be considered for a future tournament update.
Q. Will it be made possible to change the name of a Squad?
A. We are working to implement this as soon as possible.
It won't be ready in time for the next update, so please bear with us a little longer.
Q. How often is the World Championship held?
A. The first time around, it takes place in the following year once six seasons have passed.
After that, it takes place once every four seasons.
Q. Will AFE (Association of Spanish Footballers) leaving FIFPRO affect the game?
A. It is a complicated matter that needs to be addressed with care.
That is all we can say at this time.
Q. Will there be events where abilities activated by having a Good/Peak condition are advantageous?
A. We can't make any promises about specific events.
However, we plan to make sure that all cards are viable.
Q. For the daily 100 RB you get from the Monthly Pass, can I claim RB for missed days in bulk?
A. Unfortunately, they cannot be claimed in bulk.
If you were unable to receive rewards due to a bug or other reasons, please contact support for assistance.
Q. Are there plans for other collaboration clubs like the one with Manchester City?
A. Yes, we plan to add more in future season updates.
Q. Are there plans to implement a reset feature for Upgrade Boots?
A. Yes, we have received feedback on this and will consider it for the future.
Q. Are there plans for Mac support for the Steam version?
A. Unfortunately, not at this time.
Added 27 Feb
Q. Are there any plans to add a locking feature for Squads?
A. Yes, we are working on adding a feature like that.
Q. Aside from increased investment returns, are there any other benefits to raising your league level?
A. Currently, most of the benefits relate to the club's funds.
In terms of ability upgrades, we'll consider adding those in the future.
Q. Are there plans to allow formation combo changes during matches?
A. While not technically impossible, it wouldn't be an easy addition to make.
Implementing it could take some time, but we'll see if it's possible to squeeze it in.
Q. Will it be possible to enhance Prime Players' playstyles in the future?
A. We are thinking about introducing a system that would let users boost playstyle levels.
We'll let you know more soon.
Q. What does the expiry date in Coin Traders refer to?
A. It is the expiry date for your total exchanges.
Once the period ends, the total exchanges will be reset.
Q. Do you plan to add a feature for naming the team during Squad registration?
A. Yes, we are looking into adding this feature.
Q. Can you only create one custom club per save slot?
A. No, you can make one per league in each save file.
Q. How is the team on your profile, or that's used as an opponent in the WPS, determined?
A. It's the team that you most recently used in the WPS.
Q. Are there plans to allow separate Squads for when you play Dream Team Mode versus when your team is defending?
A. There are currently no plans for this, but the idea of a defence team could be interesting.
We will consider it in the future.
Q. Which has a higher success rate, Elite Scouts or Direct Offers?
A. This goes a little into internal mechanics, but players are selected at random from a specific pool.
This pool is influenced by multiple factors, including your current league and club, your Manager Lv., and retiring players.
Elite Scouts increase certain probabilities, but how noticeable this is may depend on the circumstances.
For that reason, there's no definitive answer for which rate is higher.
Q. Is the daily RB from the Rainbow Pass available for 28 days?
A. Yes, it can be claimed for 28 days.
(Blogger addendum: It may be set to 28 days rather than 30 so that users can still receive the full amount even if they don't log in for a couple of days.)
Q. Are approach advantages actually reflected in match results? Even with an advantage, I can't seem to win.
A. Yes, they are reflected in match results.
However, many factors influence the outcome, including team setup, skills, and abilities.
We attempted to quantify all of these factors, but doing so was just not feasible, which is why we went with the current system.
The numerical values are intended only as indicators and do not guarantee a win.
Q. Are there plans to add a feature to view your Scouting history?
A. We're considering this, but we've had to put it on hold to focus on other features.
We will revisit it soon.
Q. If attacking causes a player whose LB aptitude is red to move into the WF or WM positions, where their aptitude is yellow, will their attributes decrease?
A. No, attributes do not decrease when tactics cause a player to change positions.
Q. When you have an advantage in Dream Team Mode, does the opponent receive a debuff?
A. No, debuffs are not applied. There are only buffs.
Q. Will it be possible to leave bench slots empty in a Squad?
A. This could be difficult to implement, but we understand the demand.
We'll try to find a possible solution going forward.
Q. Are there plans to add new leagues, such as those in the Middle East?
A. All I can say is that Katsuya Hisai, the game's producer, is working on various initiatives.
Q. Are there plans to add tags for Prime Players?
A. Yes, we are currently discussing this.
Q. Do you plan to add a formation combo reset feature?
A. Not at this time.
Q. What factors affect fatigue?
A. Facilities and Manager Lv. can reduce fatigue.
Other factors that affect fatigue include:
• Team Training
• Investments
• Resting players
Q. Can users also use team-specific formation combos?
A. Formation combos that are exclusive to opposing teams in Career Mode cannot be used.
Q. What determines the strength of opponent-exclusive formation combos?
A. Their strength depends on the league level.
Q. Are players more likely to experience an inheritance event the longer they're in the club?
A. Yes, the longer they stay, the more likely an event will occur.
Q. Do the attributes that develop change depending on a player's position?
A. No, they do not change.
Q. In 1v1 matches, is approach affinity always enabled?
A. Yes, it's always enabled in 1v1 matches.
Q. Will opportunities to use 2★ Prime Players increase in the future?
A. Yes, we plan to create more opportunities to use 1★ and 2★ Prime Players going forward.
Q. Does the Manager Ability 'Transfer Specialist' also apply to players you bring over from a previous club?
A. No, it only applies during negotiations.
(Blogger addendum: Since you don't need to negotiate for players you bring over, it is inferred that they wouldn't be eligible.)
Q. Will there be any events using teams made entirely of Career Mode players?
A. Yes, this is in the works.
Player Links
This is an important system, so allow me to explain it.
1. The Player Link System
- Player links are determined by teamwork.
- The colour of each link is based on the teamwork between pairs of players.
- Teamwork increases in Career Mode.
- It goes up when players participate together in matches.
- It continues to accumulate until the player retires.
Growth modifiers include:
- Facilities
- Manager Upgrades
- Rapport
Accumulated teamwork is saved with the Squad, and those values are referenced to show player links in Dream Team Mode.
In other words, if players are properly used and trained until they reach the Declining phase in Career Mode, they'll naturally form red links.
However, player links are formed using lower teamwork values, so if you include a player who you've hardly used, no player links will appear.
This is where improving teamwork through Manager Lv. and facilities comes into play.
2. Link Colours and Effects
Depending on the link colour, players can receive buffs during matches.
For example, an attribute could increase when passing.
The exact values of these increases are under wraps, but they'll have a bigger impact on matches than you'd expect.
Summary
While we have taken care to preserve the original meaning as much as possible, there may be slight differences in nuance.
If you would like to check the information more accurately, please refer to the “Ask the Director” channel on the official Discord.
👉 Here is the official Sakatsuku Discord.
We will continue to share strategy and gameplay information for Sakatsuku 2026.
If you have any feedback or questions, feel free to contact プリスキン on X (formerly Twitter)!
Note: This article uses in-game screenshots. All copyrights belong to their respective rights holders.
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