FIFA Confirms Major Calendar Overhaul: National Teams to Play Four Matches During Autumn Break

FIFA has officially announced sweeping changes to the international match calendar, starting from the 2026/27 season. The upcoming September window will be the last under the current format, with a new structure coming into effect next year following the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

One of the most significant changes is the reduction of international breaks from four to just three per season. As part of this overhaul, FIFA will merge the September and October international windows into a single, extended break.

The new autumn window will span 16 days — from 21 September to 6 October — allowing each national team to play up to four matches instead of the usual two.