EPL: Full list of 2026/27 international breaks, dates, fixtures

The Premier League has entered its second international break of the 2026/27 season, with domestic football suspended to allow players to represent their countries in international competitions and friendly matches.

The November break began after Matchweek 10, with international fixtures scheduled through November 17.

According to a release on the EPL website on Sunday, Premier League action is expected to resume on Saturday, November 21.

The break is the second of three scheduled international windows during the 2026/27 campaign, following an extended September-October period in which national teams played four matches instead of the usual two.

According to information published by the Premier League, the international calendar for the season was adjusted to reduce the number of separate interruptions to domestic football and limit the disruption caused by players travelling across continents to represent their countries.

Why the September and October breaks were merged

Previously, the Premier League season featured four international breaks, usually lasting nine days each, in September, October, November and March. National teams generally played two matches during each window.

However, for the 2026/27 season, the September and October breaks were combined into one 16-day window, running from September 21 to October 6.

During the extended period, countries played four matches instead of the usual two, while the Premier League paused after Matchweek 5 on September 20 and resumed with Matchweek 6 on October 10.

The adjustment followed a decision unanimously approved by the FIFA Council in 2023, with player welfare considered among the factors behind the change.

The revised calendar also reduced the number of international interruptions between the beginning of the Premier League season and the end of the year from three to two.

Fixtures during the November international break

During the November window, European countries will play UEFA Nations League matches, with each team scheduled to play twice.

African countries will feature in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, while the United States, Mexico and other qualified teams will participate in the CONCACAF Nations League quarter-finals.

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South American and Asian countries are expected to play international friendly matches during the period.

The Premier League will not stage matches during the break, with the competition scheduled to resume on November 21.

When is the next international break?

The final international break of the 2026/27 Premier League season will take place from March 22 to March 30, 2027, between Matchweeks 30 and 31.

The March window will feature the beginning of UEFA Euro 2028 qualifying for some European countries, alongside UEFA Nations League knockout fixtures, including League A quarter-finals and League A, B and C play-offs.

African countries will also continue their AFCON qualification campaigns, while the CONCACAF Nations League final will be staged during the period.

With no official competitions scheduled for them in that window, Asian and South American countries are expected to play friendly matches.

Why are Premier League matches not played around international breaks?

The Premier League adjusts its fixture schedule around international windows to give players time to join their national teams, participate in matches and return to their clubs.

The breaks can feel longer than their official duration because players often return to their clubs without immediately featuring in domestic matches until the following weekend.

As part of the scheduling arrangement, Premier League matches are not played on Monday nights before an international break or Friday nights immediately after one.

International breaks were established in 2002 and first used for qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

They became formally recognised under FIFA’s International Match Calendar, which introduced fixed periods during the season when clubs were required to release players for national team duties.

Although discussions have taken place about further reducing the number of international breaks, the current arrangement is expected to remain in place until at least 2030.