When Is the Next International Break? 2026/27 Dates

The next men's international break runs from Monday 9 to Tuesday 17 November 2026. Club football stops after the weekend of 7 and 8 November and returns on the weekend of 21 and 22 November. Below are all the international windows left in the 2026/27 season, what is played in each one, and when your club is back.

International break dates for 2026/27

Each team can play a maximum of two matches in the November, March and June windows.

November 2026: the next break

This is the last international window of the calendar year. In Europe, the Nations League league phase finishes on 17 November, with the final two rounds of group matches deciding who reaches the quarter-finals and who faces relegation. In Africa, matchdays 3 and 4 of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers are played in the same window.

The Champions League returns straight afterwards, with Matchday 5 on 24 and 25 November.

March 2027

The March window runs from 22 to 30 March. The Nations League quarter-finals and the promotion and relegation play-offs are played from 25 to 30 March, and qualifying for Euro 2028 also begins this month. The last two rounds of Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers are played in the same window.

Club football returns on the weekend of 3 and 4 April, and the Champions League quarter-finals start on 6 and 7 April.

June 2027

The June window, from 7 to 15 June, comes after the club season has ended. It includes the Nations League Finals. It is followed by two summer tournaments: the Africa Cup of Nations starts on 19 June in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and the Women's World Cup starts on 24 June in Brazil.

Why the autumn break changed in 2026

Until this season there were separate breaks in September and October. From 2026 they were combined into one longer window of about three weeks, which ended on 6 October. That is why the season now has one long autumn pause, followed by shorter breaks in November and March.

Why there are international breaks

FIFA sets an international match calendar that every league follows. During these windows clubs must release players who are called up by their national teams, so the top divisions do not schedule matches.

Common questions

When is the next international break?

From Monday 9 November to Tuesday 17 November 2026.

When does club football return after the November break?

On the weekend of 21 and 22 November 2026. Exact kick-off dates depend on each league's fixture list.

How many international breaks are left this season?

Two during the club season, in November and March, and then the June window after the season ends.

Is there an international break in October 2026?

The autumn window ended on 6 October. There are no more international matches until 9 November.

What is played in the March 2027 international break?

The Nations League quarter-finals and play-offs, the first Euro 2028 qualifiers and the final Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

How the Nations League fits into all this is covered in The Nations League, Explained. For club football in between, see our Champions League league phase explainer and the live scores and tables.