International Break: 20 Must-Watch Matches as Club Football Takes a Pause
Football fans face an unusually long wait for domestic action as the 2026/27 season enters a 16-day international window from September 21 to October 6. The new FIFA calendar has combined the traditional September and October international breaks, allowing national teams to play as many as four matches during the period while reducing the disruption caused by separate international windows. With Premier League action paused after the September 20 fixtures and set to return on October 10, international football will take centre stage across Europe, Africa and other regions. Among the standout fixtures are Netherlands versus Germany on September 24, marking Jürgen Klopp’s first match as Germany coach and Xavi Hernández’s start with the Netherlands. Portugal will host Wales the same day, while Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana renew their West African rivalry in an AFCON 2027 qualifier. France, under Zinedine Zidane, will face Türkiye on September 25, while Italy meet Belgium and Morocco take on Gabon. Other notable games include Australia versus Brazil, England versus Spain, Czechia versus Croatia, USA versus Peru and Mexico versus Colombia. UEFA has also identified Netherlands–Germany, England–Spain and Italy–France among the key fixtures to watch during the new Nations League campaign.
The action continues into the second week with Belgium facing France, Türkiye meeting Italy, Spain taking on Croatia and England travelling to Czechia. Argentina will also feature during the window, with friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin, while Japan face Ecuador and Brazil meet India. For Nigerian supporters, the AFCON qualifying fixtures will provide additional interest alongside the major European encounters. The extended window means national teams will have more opportunities to assess players, introduce new coaches and work on tactics before domestic football resumes. In Germany’s case, Klopp has selected 44 players across two squads for four Nations League fixtures, beginning with the Netherlands on September 24. The Premier League is scheduled to return on October 10, when fixtures including Arsenal versus Leeds, Manchester United versus Tottenham and Liverpool versus Manchester City are due to take place. Until then, the spotlight shifts from club football to national teams as qualification campaigns, Nations League contests and international friendlies fill the football calendar.
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