England face new-look international break as Nations League brings four matches into one window

Fahad Redha

September 21, 2026
2 min read

England face new-look international break as Nations League brings four matches into one window

England are heading into an unusually long international interruption this autumn, with the start of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League bringing four fixtures into a single 16-day window. The change replaces the traditional September and October breaks with one extended international break running from late September into early October. FIFA’s men’s international calendar for 2025-2030 introduced the 16-day, four-match window from 2026, alongside shorter two-match windows in March, June and November.

For England, the international period begins on September 21, with Thomas Tuchel’s squad preparing for four Nations League matches before returning to their clubs. The Three Lions start against newly crowned world champions Spain at Wembley on Saturday, September 26. England then travel to Prague to face Czechia on September 29 before heading to Croatia for a meeting with the World Cup bronze medallists on October 3. The window concludes at Wembley against Czechia on October 6.

The remaining two Nations League fixtures will be played in November, with England hosting Croatia on November 12 before travelling to Spain on November 15.

The new arrangement was agreed before the 2026 World Cup, which ran until July 19 and featured an expanded 48-team format. FIFA said the revised international calendar was developed with player welfare among its considerations, while also seeking a clearer global football schedule.

Tuchel has selected a 27-man squad for England’s first four matches of the new Nations League campaign. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer return, while Lewis Hall, Rio Ngumoha, and Myles Lewis-Skelly are among the players included.

The new international break calendar means there will no longer be separate September and October men’s international windows under the current FIFA schedule. Instead, four matches can be concentrated into one longer period, with the arrangement set to form part of the international calendar through 2030.

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About Author

Fahad Redha

Fahad is the Content Editor at EyeOnLondon, overseeing the publication’s editorial output across news, culture, and lifestyle. With a background in journalism from the University of the Creative Arts, he brings a broad range of experience from local London reporting in Kensington & Chelsea, where he held roles including motoring, events, and health editor. At EyeOnLondon, Fahad plays a central role in shaping content and maintaining editorial standards. His work spans everything from daily news to feature coverage, with a particular strength in motoring and events. He also incorporates photography into his reporting, adding a visual layer to many of his stories. Fahad joined EyeOnLondon in February 2021.