FIFA announced today, Tuesday, the change in the international match schedule for men by merging the two international break periods in September and October into one single period.

In the current system, there are two separate international break periods: the first begins in the first full week of September, and the second in the second full week of October. Each country plays a maximum of two matches during each period.

Starting from 2026, the two periods will be merged into one period that extends from the last full week of September to early October, allowing each team to play a maximum of four matches during this time.

According to this change, the major European league clubs will experience a break of about three weeks without football starting from September 21.

Although this amendment does not change the number of international matches played during the "September - October" period, it reduces the overall duration of international break periods, while keeping the November and March breaks unchanged.

FIFA aims with this amendment to reduce the number of stoppages during the season, while providing national teams with more time to play high-quality competitive or preparatory matches, without harming the progress of local tournaments.