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FIFA International Match Calendar

Association football scheduling agreement


Association football scheduling agreement

The FIFA International Match Calendar (sometimes abbreviated as the FIFA Calendar) is an outline agreement between FIFA, the six continental football confederations, the European Club Association, and FIFPro, which sets out which dates can be used for "official" and "friendly" international matches. Individual periods of these dates are commonly referred to as "international breaks".

The current dates are within five windows: in March, June, September, October, and November. The match calendar also determines when international competitions such as the AFC Asian Cup, Africa Cup of Nations, Copa América, CONCACAF Gold Cup, OFC Nations Cup, UEFA European Championship, FIFA World Cup, and the Summer Olympics can take place.

Official matches have a release period of four days, which means that players can take up to four days away from club duties to partake in national team duties. If a player participates in an official match on a different continent from their club's, the release period is five days. Friendly matches are deemed less important and the release period is 48 hours.

FIFA insist that official and friendly matches take precedence over domestic matches. However, they state that international friendlies that take place outside the designated dates do not.

The calendar was first used during the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification.

Upcoming match windows

Men's International Match Calendar

DatesMatches or tournaments
23–31 March 20262
1–9 June 20262
11 June – 19 July 2026[2026 FIFA World Cup](2026-fifa-world-cup)
21 September – 6 October 20264
9–17 November 20262
7 January – 5 February 2027[2027 AFC Asian Cup](2027-afc-asian-cup)
22–30 March 20272
7–15 June 20272
June – July 2027[2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup](2027-concacaf-gold-cup)
[2027 Africa Cup of Nations](2027-africa-cup-of-nations)
20 September – 5 October 20274
8–16 November 20272
20–28 March 20282
29 May – 6 June 20282
June – July 2028[2028 OFC Men's Nations Cup](2028-ofc-men-s-nations-cup)
[2028 Copa América](2028-copa-america)
UEFA Euro 2028
18 September – 3 October 20284
13–21 November 20282
19–27 March 20292
4–12 June 20292
June – July 2029[2029 CONCACAF Gold Cup](2029-concacaf-gold-cup)
24 September – 9 October 20294
12–20 November 20292
18–26 March 20302
3–11 June 20302
June – July 2030[2030 FIFA World Cup](2030-fifa-world-cup)
23 September – 8 October 20304
11–19 November 20302

Women's International Match Calendar

The women's international match calendar sets out which dates can be used for "official" and "friendly" women's international matches.

The current dates are within six windows: in February or March, April, June or July, September, October, and November.

DatesWindow typeNumber of matches
23 February – 5 April 2026Blocked period
24 February – 7 March 2026Type II3
1–21 March 2026[2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup](2026-afc-women-s-asian-cup)
17 March–3 April 2026[2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations](2026-women-s-africa-cup-of-nations)
7–18 April 2026Type II3
1–9 June 2026Type I2
5–13 October 2026Type I2
24 November – 5 December 2026Type II3
23 February – 6 March 2027Type II3
13–24 April 2027Type II3
7–15 June 2027Type I2
24 June – 25 July 2027[2027 FIFA Women's World Cup](2027-fifa-women-s-world-cup)
4–12 October 2027Type I2
23 November – 4 December 2027Type II3
21 February – 2 April 2028Blocked period (except UEFA)
22 February – 4 March 2028Type II3
4–15 April 2028Type II3
29 May – 6 June 2028Type I2
10–30 July 2028Women's Olympic Football Tournament
2–10 October 2028Type I2
21 November – 2 December 2028Type II3
22 January – 4 March 2029Blocked period (except UEFA)
20 February – 3 March 2029Type II3
10–21 April 2029Type II3
June 2029Type I2
4 June – 29 July 2029Blocked period
15–23 October 2029Type I2
27 November – 8 December 2029Type II3

Notes

References

References

  1. (5 March 2012). "International match calendar – major step made towards final agreement". FIFA.com.
  2. "Release of players for national association representative matches in accordance with the Coordinated International Match Calendar". FIFA.com.
  3. "Men's International Match Calendar 2023-2030".
  4. (18 January 2024). "Women's International Match Calendar 2024-2025".
  5. (18 July 2024). "Women's International Match Calendar 2026-2029".
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