Football fans are bracing for an unusually long interruption to domestic league action after this weekend’s matches. At the end of the week, the Premier League will stop play on September 20, 2026, after Matchweek 5. There will be a long break before the next round of league games on October 10, as the league will not take place until Matchweek 6 resumes on October 10.
The extended gap is tied to a big change in the international football calendar. Rather than having separate September and October international breaks, the two windows have been combined into one longer period.
When does the long break begin?
The extended international window runs from September 21 to October 6, 2026.
The Premier League has confirmed Matchweek 5 will be completed on September 20 before the competition pauses. Matchweek 6 will be resumed on October 10.
The wait between domestic games is a long one for fans who’d been watching their clubs every weekend, and that is not only not a great wait for fans who are used to seeing their clubs every weekend.
Why is the International Break so long?
The main reason is a change to the international calendar.
Previously, September and October featured separate international windows. FIFA's calendar now puts them together in one 16-day period from the 2026/27 season onwards.
During the window, national teams can play up to four games rather than the usual two in each individual international break. The change is partly to reduce the number of times players have to travel internationally during the season.
The change in system means that there are fewer breaks in the club season, but the individual break is much longer.
Nations League takes centre stage
European football fans will have plenty of international football to follow during the pause.
The 2026/27 UEFA Nations League starts on September 24. UEFA's official fixture list confirms that the League A campaign begins with matches including Netherlands vs Germany, Serbia vs Greece, Norway vs Denmark and Portugal vs Wales.
England will also be heavily involved. Thomas Tuchel's side will play Spain at Wembley on September 26 before travelling to Czechia and Croatia. England will then meet Czechia again on October 6.
Fans face a long wait for club football.
And the timing will test those fans who have only just gotten started in the new domestic season.
The 2026/27 Premier League campaign started in August, and clubs and fans have only a handful of matchweeks before the long interruption.
There are practical concerns for clubs too: players will travel across the world for their international duty before they return to their teams. Managers will then have little time to prepare their teams for the restart.
Why Some Fans Are Worried
Supporters will miss the weekly rhythm of weekend league football, after the transfer activity and excitement of the first weeks of the campaign.
At the same time, the extended window provides an opportunity for national teams to start their Nations League campaigns and play several matches in one international period.
The Premier League said it is designed to reduce the number of periods when players travel internationally with the new system.
