Premier League Introduces 16-Day International Break
The Premier League will experience its first-ever 16-day international break from September 21 to October 6, 2026, as FIFA has merged the traditional September and October international windows. The league will complete Matchweek 5 on September 20 before pausing, with Matchweek 6 set to resume on October 10.
During this extended break, European countries will engage in UEFA Nations League fixtures, while African nations will participate in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with each country playing two matches. This new calendar aims to reduce the number of separate international breaks, cutting them from three to two before the year's end.
The FIFA Council unanimously approved these changes in 2023, considering player welfare. The Premier League indicated that the breaks may feel longer for clubs since players return from national duty before the following weekend's matches.
Future international breaks are scheduled for November 9 to 17 and March 22 to 30, 2027.
Plus234Feed summary based on reporting from Punch Newspapers. Read the original report below.
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