FIFA, calendar shake-up: single three-week break for national teams | OneFootball

It is a true turning point for international football. FIFA has officially announced a substantial change to the national team calendar that will come into effect immediately after the 2026 World Cup and will remain in place at least until 2030.

From 2026 to 2030, farewell to double breaks: four matches concentrated in autumn

Starting from the next season, the traditional breaks in September and October will be merged into a single, longer break lasting about three consecutive weeks. This is an epochal change, designed to reduce commitments and especially the exhausting travels that players are subjected to. Often, players have to face intercontinental trips with prohibitive time zones that affect their performance in clubs and their physical condition. With the new formula, coaches will have the opportunity to work longer with their players, planning training and matches in a more organized manner.

In detail, in the next season, the championships will stop from September 21 to October 6, with the resumption scheduled only for the following weekend, from October 10 onwards. During this window, national teams will be able to play four official or friendly matches, the same number that is currently divided between two separate breaks. The reform has a dual objective: on one hand, to favor better preparation of teams for the European Championships, World Cup, and continental tournaments; on the other hand, to lighten the travel load that puts a strain on the players and, consequently, the clubs that sign them. However, the first concerns are emerging. Some national championships will have to revise their scheduling, with the risk of calendar congestion in the following months. But for FIFA, this is the necessary step for more sustainable and less exhausting football.

Andrea Alati

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.