FIFA approved a reform of the international calendar: starting from autumn 2026, the September and October international breaks will be combined into a single window.
The main goal is to reduce the workload on players and cut down on flights between clubs and national teams.
This new window will run from September 21 to October 6, during which national teams can play up to four matches. FIFA stressed that combining the breaks will decrease stress on players while maintaining enough matches for national teams.
The reform will be in effect at least until 2030. Here's how the international dates for 2026 will be distributed:
- March 23-31 – up to two matches;
- June 1-9 – up to two matches;
- June 11 - July 19 – World Cup in USA, Canada, and Mexico;
- September 21 - October 6 – up to four matches;
- November 9-17 – up to two matches
This reform, beginning in autumn 2026, is FIFA’s first step toward optimizing the global football calendar.
