When's the next international break, then? There's never long before the next one, though there's a longer lay-off until the next one this time around.
It's the bane of Premier League and Championship fans, but actually, managers probably don't mind them too much. The domestic football calendar pencilled in three between the start of the season and Christmas, with the Nations League 2024/25 largely completed in that time - the finals will come next summer, just before the Club World Cup expansion – so it's looking like a busy one for players.
With FIFA updating the calendar to give us a super-break, with four internationals per team to be played from 2026, meaning international breaks are only going to get longer and more tiresome, too - so enjoy the regular domestic season being back and make the most of it.
With the next internationals scheduled in 2025, England's next game will be with Thomas Tuchel as the new manager. The German will have plenty of decisions to make for his first England squad - though he has plenty of time to figure that out.
World Cup qualfying will kick in soon, too, as nations all look to secure their spots in the showpiece tournament in USA, Canada and Mexico next summer.
FourFourTwo will be bringing you everything you need to know when it comes to international football over the coming months, from the breaks to international squads and competitions that countries are entering. After all, it's a lot to get your head around. Without further ado, let's jump into it…
The full list of international breaks for 2024/25
When are the international breaks this season?
| Nations League quarter-finals and playoffs Championship qualifiers | March 20, 2025 | March 23, 2025 |
| World Cup qualfiers | March 21, 2025 | March 25, 2025 |
| Nations League finals | June 4, 2025 | June 8, 2025 |
| World Cup qualfiers | June 6, 2025 | June 10, 2025 |
The Nations League league phase is now over, with Portugal, France, Germany, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Denmark and the Netherlands all set to compete in the quarter-finals in March. Sides that finished third in their respective groups, meanwhile, face a play-off to remain in the same league against a team from the league below that finished second.
Group winners are automatically promoted while bottom-side teams are relegated, giving them all one game less to have to contend with. England fall into that category after topping their respective group. Instead, they'll play World Cup qualifiers in March.
June will see the finals of the Nations League, while those who don't make it will have World Cup qualifiers to look forward to.
The World Cup qualification groups haven't been confirmed by UEFA yet, with 12 groups of either four or five teams set to determine who progresses to the main tournament in USA, Canada and Mexico in June 2026. With an expansion to 48 nations competing in the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026 though, there will be a whopping 16 places on offer to European countries at the next tournament.
Each group winner will automatically qualify for the 2026 World Cup, with each group runner-up heading into the play-offs. Four group winners in the Nations League will also compete in the play-offs, with those 16 sides whittled down to the four who will join the 12 group winners at the World Cup.
Simple, eh? Either way, we should have plenty of international football to fill in those blank Premier League rounds over the next season.
Northern Ireland should have a good chance of at least competing in the World Cup play-offs after topping their Nations League group. England, Wales and Scotland, though, will have to rely on finishing either first or second in their World Cup 2026 qualifying groups, which are drawn on December 13.
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.
