Upcoming modifications to the international football schedule reveal unexpected alterations for Premier League spectators
In a significant shift for international football, FIFA has agreed to a permanent change in the men's international match calendar, effective until at least 2030. One of the most notable modifications is the introduction of a double September/October international window, marking a departure from the usual maximum of two matches per team per international window.
This change means that the September and October breaks will be merged into one, resulting in a two-week absence for players during the September/October international break. This represents a big shift from the usual routine, as each international window offers a maximum of two matches per team. However, each national team will play up to four fixtures during this break.
The first international break of the 2026-27 season will occur between September 21 and October 6, followed by another international window for England in the second week of October. The September international match window for football in 2021 runs from September 1 to September 9.
The penultimate men's international window of 2025 runs from October 6 to October 14, and the last men's international window of the year runs from November 10 to November 18. The two-game November match window remains unchanged.
England will face Andorra and Serbia during the September international match window. The traditional two-match international windows in late March and early June will take place before the World Cup in the summer of 2026. Ending each season with a pair of internationals in June can leave the impression that there's rather a lot of international football.
It's important to note that the international football windows for national team matches in 2026 and 2027 generally align with FIFA's designated match calendar, but exact UEFA/FIFA international windows for these years are not directly detailed in the provided search results. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. International match windows typically adjust around such tournaments.
International football is a divisive matter among Premier League supporters, with some advocates disliking the September match window. The introduction of a double window to each season is bound to cause consternation for clubs.
The double September/October international window is just one of the changes in FIFA's agreed men's international match calendar. The 2026-27 season will see a shift in the usual routine, with only two international match windows in the first half of the season, and a merged September and October break. These changes will remain until at least 2030, according to FIFA's agreed calendar.
