Sports
FIFA's merged international break opens the season's longest match window
September 21, 2026 at 08:27 PM
Coverage
3 reports · 2 in Arabic, 1 in English · over 3 hours
YKYalla Kora
بداية مشوار جديد لمصر وبطولات دولية خلال 16 يومًا.. ماذا سيحدث في التوقف الدولي المقبل؟
(opens the publisher’s site)YKYalla Kora
أجندة حافلة.. ماذا سيحدث في التوقف الدولي المقبل؟
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ESESPN
Why this 3-week international break is longest ever (and why that's a good thing)
(opens the publisher’s site)FIFA's reconfigured match calendar takes effect with a 16-day international break running Sept. 21–Oct. 6, the season's first and longest window.
- FIFA approved the calendar changes unanimously in 2023, merging the former September and October breaks into one window allowing national teams four matches.
- The window hosts AFCON 2027 qualifiers (Sept. 24–Oct. 6), the Gulf Cup in Jeddah (Sept. 23–Oct. 6), and the UEFA Nations League's opening rounds.
- A second international break runs Nov. 9–17, restoring the traditional two-match window.
- Arsène Wenger, FIFA's chief of global football development, proposed in 2021 cutting the five breaks to one or two per season.