The September/October international break will be 16 days long starting from 2026, making it longer than the traditional 9 days international window.

The break will run from 21 September to 6 October, with FIFA combining the September and October international windows into one extended period. During this extended period, national teams can play up to four matches instead of the usual two. 

But, why has the international break changed? and what does the new format mean for the football calendar?

What has FIFA changed about the September/October international break?

Previously, September and October had two separate 9 day international breaks, with teams limited to 2 matches. Now, from  2026, FIFA has combined them into a single 16-day period.

This means national teams can play up to four matches during the extended window, rather than the usual maximum of two during a traditional nine-day window

Club competitions, including the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and others, pause for roughly three weeks. In England, the final fixtures before the break take place on the weekend of 19-20 September, with the league resuming on 10-11 October.

The change was approved by the FIFA Council in March 2023 as part of the calendar running through 2030.

Why did FIFA make changes to the September/October International Break?

FIFA cites several factors. One of the reasons is player welfare. The expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup ran later than usual, stretching the tournament to six weeks with the final on 19 July. The 2026 World Cup is therefore the latest summer World Cup final since 1966. This left players who went deep into the competition with far less recovery time before their club seasons resumed.

FIFA’s response was to build more breathing room into the calendar that follows. Rather than asking players to report for two separate international windows in quick succession during September and October, federations agreed to combine them into one longer block.

Another reason is the travel demands. Many African and South American players based in Europe previously faced two separate long-haul trips in consecutive months. Consolidating the windows reduces the number of cross-continental journeys and the overall number of interruptions to domestic seasons early in the campaign. We now have from three breaks to two between the start of the season and the end of the year.

Fewer transatlantic flights mean less jet lag and reduced fatigue, theoretically allowing players to perform at their peak for both club and country.

FIFA has said the format will be reviewed after the first three years of implementation, with the option to revert if necessary. For now, the structure is fixed until at least 2030.

Will there be another international break in October?

No. The September and October windows have effectively been combined into one period.

Once the 16-day window ends on 6 October, club football can resume without another scheduled men’s international interruption later in the month.

The next international window comes in 9-17 November 2026, during which teams cannot play more than 2 matches and run for 9 days. 

How Many International Breaks Do We Now Have in a Year?

Previously, there were five international breaks in a year: March, June, September, October, and November. By merging the September and October windows into a single extended break, FIFA has reduced the number of international breaks to four (4) from 2026-2030.

Here’s a quick look at how the international window calendar looks like now: 

International window	Length	Maximum matches
March	9 days	2
June	9 days	2
September/October	16 days	4
November	9 days	2

What competitions take place during the international break?

The exact schedule will vary between national teams because different teams will have different competitions and fixtures.

In Europe, UEFA utilizes all four match slots to advance the group stage of the 2026–27 Nations League. Concacaf teams contest Nations League group fixtures alongside scheduled friendlies, while African nations conduct Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Conmebol and Asian confederations will primarily stage international friendlies. 

What does the change in international break mean for players, clubs, fans and agents?

The effects of the new calendar extend beyond the dates themselves.

For players, fewer international windows mean fewer separate cycles of international travel. This is particularly relevant to players who regularly travel between continents for national-team duty. At the same time, players selected for several matches could spend a longer continuous period away from their clubs.

Clubs lose players for a longer continuous stretch, which can disrupt squad planning and rhythm early in the domestic season. For clubs, combining September and October into one window means fewer separate interruptions and momentum to the domestic season.

For fans, this means having to wait over roughly three-week, and two weekends, without club football in September/October. The trade-off is that there will be no separate October international break later in the month.

For agents and scouts, the international window can create opportunities of its own.

International football provides another platform for players to increase their visibility and demonstrate their ability outside the club environment. It can also be an important period for identifying emerging talent. U17, U19 and U21 international football can bring younger players to the attention of scouts, clubs and representatives who may not regularly watch them at domestic level.

Agents can use the period to monitor clients, assess potential targets and explore commercial opportunities around players who gain increased exposure.

September/October international break FAQs

Q: How long is the September/October international break in 2026?

A: The 2026 September/October international break lasts 16 days, running from 21 September to 6 October.

Q: Why is the September/October international break 16 days?

A: FIFA has combined the September and October international windows into one extended 16-day period as part of its revised men’s international match calendar.

Q: How many matches can national teams play during the September/October international break?

A: National teams can play up to four matches during the 16-day window.

Q: Will there be a separate October international break?

A: No. The September and October windows have been combined, so there will not be a second men’s international break later in October.

Q: Why did FIFA combine the September and October windows?

The revised calendar is designed to streamline the international match calendar. Player travel is also a consideration, as fewer international windows can reduce the number of occasions players have to make long-distance journeys for international duty.

Q: When is the next international break?

After the September/October window ends on 6 October, the next men’s international window is in 9-17 November 2026.

Q: Will the 16-day September/October window continue?

A: Yes. The extended September/October window forms part of FIFA’s men’s international match calendar through 2030.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the September/October international break is no longer two separate interruptions. From 2026, FIFA has brought September and October together into one 16-day window, allowing national teams to play up to four matches.

If you are preparing for the 2027 FIFA agent exam, the international break is under Annexe 1 of the FIFA RSTP, and is one of the most frequently tested topics in the FIFA Agent Exam. 

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