The Premier League is set for an unusual pause later this month after FIFA merged the traditional September and October international windows into a single 16-day period.
The extended international break will run from September 21 to October 6, meaning Premier League clubs will complete Matchweek 5 on September 20 before domestic action resumes with Matchweek 6 on October 10.
The change means national teams will have four matches during the window instead of the usual two. European countries will continue their Nations League campaigns, while African teams will play Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Teams from the CONCACAF region will combine Nations League matches with friendlies, while several South American countries are also scheduled to play friendly games. Asian teams will use the period for preparations ahead of the 2027 Asian Cup.
The new calendar was approved by the FIFA Council in 2023, with player welfare and the reduction of international travel among the reasons behind the change. Instead of players making separate long-distance trips for September and October fixtures, the two windows have been combined.
The adjustment also means there will be fewer interruptions to the Premier League during the first part of the season. The league previously had separate international breaks in September, October, November and March, but the September and October windows have now been brought together.
For Premier League clubs, however, the domestic pause will effectively stretch beyond the 16-day international window. There will be 20 calendar days between the completion of Matchweek 5 on September 20 and the return of league football on October 10.
The next international break will take place from November 9 to 17, followed by another window from March 22 to 30, 2027. The revised calendar therefore creates a longer uninterrupted period of domestic football between the November and March breaks.
The extended September-October window is also the first major international scheduling change of the 2026/27 Premier League season, which follows the disruption caused by the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With several Premier League players expected to represent their countries during the break, clubs will have to manage the return of players before domestic matches resume in October.