Why will September international break be longer from 2026?

September international breaks are getting longer from 2026, in a move that will bring the disappearance of the October international break.

The change is being made for a number of reasons.

These include the 2026 World Cup final having the latest date for a summer World Cup since 1966, with the match due to be played on 19 July.

Player welfare also featured in the discussions that took place with stakeholders and all Fifa’s confederations prior to approval.

Travel considerations are a factor in the change. The reduction in breaks will reduce the number of journeys where players from one continent have to travel to another for their international fixtures – such as African or South American players who play their domestic football in Europe and have to travel cross-continent to fulfil international fixtures.

There are currently five international breaks each year, lasting two weeks each – in March, June, September, October and November.

Each break means there is no league football in the top divisions for two weeks as countries play two matches each.

There are some exceptions, such as when there is a major tournament like the World Cup, Africa Cup of Nations or European Championship.

Starting next year, there will instead be an increased September break, with no October break and a regular November break.

There will be a three-week gap for domestic matches in September and countries will play four international matches instead of two.

The move to switch to an extended September break was approved by the Fifa Council in March 2023. The council is made up of representatives from all six Fifa confederations and is discussed with football stakeholders prior to making and approving changes.

The extended September break and abolished October break mean the final round of Premier League fixtures will take place on the weekend of 19-20 September 2026 and resume on 10-11 October 2026.

The longer break will allow countries to play four matches in the window instead of two before players return to their clubs.

For European nations, this will be the first four group matches of the 2026-27 Nations League campaign.

No, the number of matches countries play remains the same.

At present, nations play six matches across the September, October and November windows.

This will stay at six in 2026, but with four taking place in the first extended break and two in November, as opposed to three breaks of two matches.

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