Photo via BBC Sport

Why will September international break last three weeks?

Fifa is overhauling the men's international calendar for the 2026-27 campaign by combining two autumn windows into a single three-week block. Historically, the schedule featured five fortnight-long pauses in March, June, September, October, and November, outside of major tournament disruptions like the World Cup, European Championship, or Africa Cup of Nations.

Under the revised plan greenlit by the Fifa Council in March 2023, the October hiatus has been eliminated, replaced by an extended window spanning late September and early October where national teams will contest four fixtures rather than two.

Several considerations drove the adjustment, notably the 19 July final of the 2026 World Cup, which represents the latest calendar conclusion for a summer edition since 1966. Following talks with confederations and other key groups, officials prioritized player welfare alongside travel demands, aiming to spare South American and African talent competing in Europe from having to make multiple cross-continental journeys within a matter of weeks.

The restructuring also frees up an additional week across the season for domestic club competitions.