This year’s edition of the game releases globally on Friday, September 25, just under two months into the new 2026/27 football season.

It includes new features like ‘The Grounds’, an open-world football hub which supports up to 100 players and is split into English, French and Argentinian-inspired street football cultures.

Ahead of the release, Oxford’s player ratings have been announced following their return to League One.

The U’s were relegated from the Championship last season, with a handful of the players seeing their ratings decrease in this year’s edition of the famous game.

The club’s highest-rated player this year is captain Cameron Brannagan who stays as a 71-rated card, joint with Brian De Keersmaecker who is out on loan at Bristol City and jumped up a rating from last season.

The duo are the joint-fifth highest rated players in League One.

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Last year’s highest rated United player, South Korean winger Jeon Jin-woo, has been downgraded from 72 to 70 and is the joint-third highest rated card at the club alongside injured summer signing Frankie Kent who saw the same decrease to his ratings.

Oxford United defender Jack Currie (Image: Darrell Fisher)

Other downgraded players include Siriki Dembele (70 to 67), Michal Helik (70 to 69), Ciaron Brown (70 to 69) and Jamie Cumming (69 to 68).

Elsewhere, academy graduate Tyler Goodrham has risen from a 66 to 68 rating and January signing Aidomo Emakhu has grown from a 64 to a 67.

This year’s senior debutant Mo Missanga, who has burst into the side under Aaron Ramsey with a goal and two assists in his first five senior appearances, is a new addition to the game and has been given a rating of 55.

In the rest of the division, Leicester City’s Wout Faes (74) is the highest rated player in the league, with the Foxes’ Wes Burns and Sheffield Wednesday’s Barry Bannan (both 72) in joint second.

Here is the full list of Oxford’s ratings:

Cameron Brannagan – 71

Brian De Keersmaecker (out on loan) – 71

Jeon Jin Woo – 70

Frankie Kent – 70

Ciaron Brown – 69

Michał Helik – 69

Greg Leigh – 68

Mark Harris – 68

Jamie Cumming – 68

Brodie Spencer – 68

Tyler Goodrham – 68

Jack Currie – 68

Oxford United striker Mark Harris (Image: Darrell Fisher)

Ole Romeny (out on loan) – 67

Louie Sibley – 67

Jamie McDonnell – 67

Aidomo Emakhu – 67

Sam Long – 67

Siriki Dembélé – 67

Ruben Roosken – 66

Peter Kioso – 66

Simon Eastwood – 63

Gatlin O’Donkor – 61

James Golding – 60

Mo Missanga – 55

Andrews is one of five Oxford players who have been selected for international duty after receiving a call-up to the Wales Under-21 setup, with teammate Mark Harris chosen to feature for the senior side during the international break.

Ciaron Brown, Brodie Spencer and Jamie McDonnell have all been called up for Northern Ireland, however, McDonnell did pick up an injury last time out against Cambridge United which will likely see him miss out.

Wales international Andrews has previously played three times for the senior team, making his debut in September of last year as his country were defeated 1-0 by Canada in a friendly.

The Wales first team face reigning Nations League champions Portugal before games against Denmark and Norway.

New Oxford United loan signing Kai Andrews (Image: James Holyoak/PA Wire)

The 20-year-old, who is eligible for Wales through his maternal grandmother, is keen to get back into the fold after missing out on this occasion.

“There are a lot of games coming up, there’s a lot of opportunity with the international team, and I think that’s just my next step, to hopefully try and break in there and get as many minutes as I can there,” the Coventry City loanee said.

Andrews arrived in OX4 on loan from Premier League side Coventry last month and already had links to key U’s personnel.

After playing for the Welsh youth sides, the Birmingham-born midfielder was already familiar with new Yellows head coach Aaron Ramsey who had previously worked with the nation’s youth setup.

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Furthermore, striker Mark Harris, who is a consistent feature in the Wales squad, had played alongside during his previous senior camp call-ups.

“Mark Harris has been in the set-up with me since I joined, so it was good to come here and see a familiar face as well,” the on-loan U’s man continued.

“We’ve kind of already got that link, the Welsh link, so that was nice.”

The already-established Welsh connection between Andrews and Ramsey played an important role in bringing the youngster to the club on a free loan move.

“We had the conversation quite early into pre-season, to be fair, once the gaffer made the move.”

Oxford United midfielder Kai Andrews on loan from Coventry City (Image: Oxford United)

“And obviously there were all the issues with embargo and stuff like that, so it was just a case of, when can I get in through the door?

“So he’s given me a lot of confidence coming in, and obviously since I’ve been in, it’s really helped me to settle in as well.”

Andrews has played four times for Oxford since joining, securing two assists on his first start for the club in a 4-0 away win against Leicester City.

He had made his debut three days earlier with a 28-minute substitute appearance at Huddersfield Town where Ramsey’s side were defeated 3-1.

New tapes from Ferguson’s early interviews have been released, detailing new information from the difficult first years of the manager’s reign at Old Trafford.

The Scotsman was appointed Red Devils boss in November 1986, replacing Oxford legend Ron Atkinson in the dugout, with his first match in charge coming against the Yellows.

The U’s beat Man United 2-0 in Ferguson’s first ever game, John Aldridge and Neil Slatter getting on the scoresheet in the Division One victory at the Manor Ground.

Extracts detailed by The Telegraph, coming from Wayne Barton’s book ‘Fergie: the Lost Tapes’, include tape recordings of interviews between the famous manager and late Red Devils reporter Tom Tyrell who worked for Piccadilly Radio.

Before Ferguson arrived in the red half of Manchester, former Oxford midfielder Ron Atkinson – he played over 500 games for the U’s – would allow team bus driver Derek “Sooty” Sutton to sit on the bench during matches alongside the coaching staff.

Sutton would also brew tea which he would then hand out at half time.

John Aldridge scores from the penalty spot against Manchester United in Sir Alex Ferguson’s first game in charge of the Red Devils (Image: Oxford Mail archive)

This came as a shock to Ferguson when he first took to the dugout at the Manor Ground.

“I had done my team-talk and was going into the dugout when I saw the bus driver sitting there,” the now-retired manager told Tyrell.

“He was even giving the tea out at half-time.

“Let’s say that quickly stopped.”

In 2004, Sutton looked back at Ferguson’s arrival.

“Ferguson never told me to my face that he didn’t want me in the dressing room,” the driver recalled.

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“He did that behind my back to my bosses at the coach firm… I hate the man – he is a very hateful person.

“I was always in the dugout until Ferguson came along.

“I always served the tea at half-time.

“Atkinson brought me in and he was always sound with me.

“I’d have passes to walk anywhere around Old Trafford and sat on the bench for the 1985 FA Cup final at Wembley when United beat Everton.

Sir Alex Ferguson (Image: PA)

“When Ferguson came in, he wanted to stamp out all the old regime.”

The former Man United manager went on to have what is regarded by many as one of the greatest managerial reigns of all time.

In his first season, Ferguson steered the Red Devils away from relegation and, after a tough first few years, eventually won his first league title in 1992/93, the inaugural Premier League season.

The 84-year-old went on to win 13 league titles, five FA Cups and two Champions Leagues, amongst a host of other honours.