Several times during a Premier League season, the competition pauses for “international breaks”, periods when national teams participate in qualifying competitions or friendly matches.
The breaks were established in 2002 and first used for qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
In what became known formally as the "FIFA International Match Calendar", FIFA introduced fixed periods in the season when clubs were required to make players available for their national team, due to the increasing number of fixtures.
But for the first time in years, the international breaks will look different this season.
International break 2026/27 key dates
| Dates | Matches | Between Matchweeks |
| 21 Sep-6 Oct | 4 | 5-6 |
|---|---|---|
| 9-17 Nov | 2 | 10-11 |
| 22-30 March | 2 | 30-31 |
Why have the September and October international breaks merged?
Previously, there were four breaks of nine days during the Premier League campaign – in September, October, November and March. Each country played two matches per window.
This season, the September and October international breaks will be merged into one 16-day period, running from 21 September to 6 October. Countries will play four matches rather than the standard two.
The Premier League will play up to the end of Matchweek 5 on 20 September, then pause, before Matchweek 6 recommences on 10 October. The November and March international breaks will remain the same length.
Premier League matches are not held on a Monday night ahead of an international break or a Friday night after the break.
The breaks tend to feel more like two weeks – or three weeks in the case of the new longer window – as players return to clubs and do not play until the following weekend.
The changes were unanimously approved by the FIFA Council in 2023, with player welfare a factor in the decision.
Fewer disruptions to the season
With many players in Europe representing countries in Africa and South America, the idea behind the new calendar is to reduce the number of separate periods in which players fly across continents.
It will also reduce disruption by cutting the number of breaks between the start of the season and the end of the year from three to two.
Though they are not often considered international breaks because they fall in the Premier League off-season, summer FIFA World Cups and other continental major tournaments take place within these windows, too.
When the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) fell between December and January last season, clubs had to release players in a specific window for the tournament, though the Premier League did not take a break.
There had been discussions about reducing the number of international breaks further, but the current system will remain in place until at least 2030.
What matches will be played?
During the upcoming international break, UEFA will stage Nations League fixtures, with four matches played in the extended window.
African countries will contest Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, each playing two matches. CONCACAF teams – in North and Central America – will play a mixture of Nations League group stage games and friendlies. The USA and Mexico, already qualified for the quarter-finals, will play friendlies.
The AFC Asian Cup qualifying has concluded, so Asian nations will play friendlies in preparation for the tournament in January 2027.
Several South American sides are also scheduled to play friendlies.
In November, European countries will continue in the Nations League, playing two matches in the two-week window. AFCON qualification will progress with two more fixtures. The USA and Mexico will join the other qualified sides in the CONCACAF Nations League quarter-finals. South American and Asian nations will play friendlies.
The final international break during the season, in March, will see the start of EURO 2028 qualifying for some countries, alongside UEFA Nations League knockout matches, including the League A quarter-finals and League A, B and C playoffs.
AFCON qualification will continue, and the CONCACAF Nations League final will be staged. With no official competitions scheduled, Asian and South American countries will play friendlies.