FIFA officially make international break change from 2026/27 season
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Image Credits: Imago ImagesFIFA have made a big change on how the September and October international breaks will work in the 2026/27 campaign.
Liverpool supporters know all too well the frustration that Jurgen Klopp used to vent about international breaks.
The German manager made no secret of his disdain for these regular disruptions multiple times during his nine-year reign at Anfield.
His concerns were always centered around player welfare and the way these breaks disrupted the rhythm he and his staff worked so hard to create.
The transition from Klopp to Arne Slot hasn’t eased these concerns.
In fact, Liverpool’s struggles with post-international break performances have continued into the new era.
This past weekend’s narrow 1-0 victory over Burnley perfectly encapsulated the ongoing challenge.
Despite securing their fourth consecutive Premier League win, Liverpool looked sluggish and struggled to break down a well-organised Burnley defence for most of the match.
But it seems that finally, those in power have decided to address the issue.
FIFA have officially confirmed the decision to merge the traditional September and October international windows into a single, extended break lasting 16 days.
This shift means that instead of two separate two-match windows, countries will now play four international fixtures in one consolidated period running from September 21 to October 6, 2026.
The FIFA Council unanimously approved this change in March 2023 following extensive consultations with stakeholders and all six FIFA confederations.
The decision was driven by several key factors, most notably player welfare concerns and travel logistics.
FIFA argued that reducing the number of separate international breaks would minimise the disruptive journeys required for players, particularly those from Africa or South America who compete in European leagues.
The new calendar structure will see the final Premier League fixtures before the break taking place on September 19-20, 2026, with domestic action not resuming until October 10-11, 2026?
This represents nearly three weeks without club football
For fans, that wait without club football can be painful, but it is arguably better than having two separate international breaks in two months as is the current setup.
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