When are the next international breaks, then? There's never long before the next one, though there's a longer lay-off until the next one this time around.
The powers that be pencilled in three breaks for international football before Christmas 2024, in order to play the Nations League groups, of which England qualified. That means that there won't be another break for a little while yet, with lots of domestic football to play.
Get ready, though. We already know when all international football is kicking off between now and the start of World Cup 2026…
When is the next international break?
The next international break is scheduled for the weekend of March 21-22 2025.
This will be the first matchday for qualification for the 2026 World Cup, of which the groups have already been drawn. England have Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra in their group, with Thomas Tuchel getting a first proper look at the players he's got to work with when he names his England squad.
The full list of international breaks up until World Cup 2026
When are the international breaks this season?
| Dates | Fixtures |
|---|---|
| 20–25 March 2025 | Nations League quarter-finals / World Cup qualifying |
| 6–10 June 2025 | Nations League finals / World Cup qualifying |
| 4–9 September 2025 | World Cup qualifying |
| 9–14 October 2025 | World Cup qualifying |
| 13–18 November 2025 | World Cup qualifying |
| 26–31 March 2026 | World Cup qualifying play-offs / friendlies |
The World Cup qualifying groups consist of six groups of four and six groups of five: that's 54 nations altogether.
Some of the teams drawn in the four-team groups are still taking part in the Nations League – so World Cup qualifying Groups A-F (the four-team groups) will begin in September, with four matchdays left in the Nations League. Groups G-L (the five-team groups) begin in March.
In November 2025, we will know the 12 top-placed teams heading to the World Cup. The 12 runners-up will get a chance in the play-offs, along with the best four Nations League group winners, based on the Nations League interim overall ranking, who finish outside the top two of their qualifying group.
Of these 16 teams, only four more will get a chance to make the World Cup. The World Cup will kick off on June 11 2026, with Mexico in Group A.
FAQs
What is an international break?
An international break is a gap in the domestic footballing calendar – usually just consisting of a single weekend – in which club football pauses to allow countries to play.
Why are there so many international breaks?
Given that there is a lot of international football to be played, there are regular breaks across the season for international managers to call up players based on how they're performing at club level. Qualification for an international tournament is undertaken during these breaks throughout the season – as is UEFA's Nations League competition, which has been running since 2018.
Can players opt out of international breaks?
Yes, players can always opt out of international football – but most will jump at the chance to represent their nation at any given opportunity. Plenty, however, choose to withdraw from international squads in order to nurse injuries that they've sustained prior to callups, in order to maintain their fitness.
Which leagues pause for an international break?
In England, only the Premier League and Championship stop for the international break. League One and League Two both continue during the international break.
