FIFA have confirmed a new international break schedule that will come into force next year
International breaks can often disrupt the flow for managers attempting to establish a rhythm at the start of the season.
It remains to be seen if Hull City will benefit from the current two-week pause in action. Sergej Jakirovic’s team are languishing in the lower reaches of the Championship table after an inconsistent start to the 2025/26 campaign.
Back-to-back defeats to Blackburn Rovers and Bristol City have seen the Tigers fall to 17th in the standings. There are big defensive issues that need to be ironed out, with the Tigers shipping in seven goals in their past two outings.
While international breaks aren’t standard in League One, they are a common occurrence in the Championship and Premier League. The September international window arrives too swiftly for some, with additional breaks in October and November fragmenting the domestic season.
However, FIFA has revised this approach for future seasons, reducing the number of international windows to three per season post next year’s World Cup, reports Birmingham Live.
The governing body has opted to merge the September and October international windows into one extended period, prioritising international football over club matches.
This will mark the final time players convene with their national teams at the start of September, as the new measures will be implemented next year.
An extended 16-day international window, running from 21st September to 6th October next year, will allow up to four fixtures for each nation.
This will be followed by the customary nine-day, two-match windows in November and March, ensuring nations play an equal number of matches while minimising disruption to club football.
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