FIFA calendar extends the international break, Bundesliga nearly three weeks off

From Monday, the new FIFA calendar starts, which in the autumn only provides two international match windows, with the first window lasting almost three weeks. Due to this extension, the Bundesliga will have to pause later in the season for the first time and will take a break of almost three weeks.

New FIFA Calendar and Extended Nations Window

The new FIFA calendar provides only two international match windows for the autumn, with the first window being significantly longer. It begins on September 21 and ends on October 6, 2026, meaning that national teams are active for almost three weeks. The Nations League season starts on September 24, with most of the matches being played in Europe.

For the first time, the Bundesliga will be interrupted later than before. In 2025, the break occurred after the second matchday, whereas in the current season it will only start after four matchdays. This gives the league 18 days without games – almost three weeks – and only 14 matchdays are available before the winter break, compared with the usual 15.

Implications for the Bundesliga and the Players

The longer break reduces travel days for international players, especially those from more distant countries. Instead of three trips to other continents, only a second journey is now sufficient. Players now have 24 days off in the autumn, compared with 27 days previously.

"The perspectives of all key stakeholders were taken into account," said FIFA President Gianni Infantino in a statement following the decision on the new calendar format in 2023.

The European leagues association European Leagues, of which the Bundesliga is also a member, filed a complaint with the EU Commission and is demanding a stronger say in calendar planning. The associations feel sidelined in the negotiations.

The calendar has already become heavily congested due to 50 percent more Champions League matches, the expanded Club World Cup, and the enlarged World Cup. This development has, for years, led to tensions between the national leagues and FIFA.

The almost three‑week international break does provide relief, but it also highlights the ongoing dispute over scheduling in international football.