FIFA International Match Calendar explained

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,[1] 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, May or June, August or 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 CupUEFA 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 his or her club's, the release period is five days. Friendly matches are deemed less important and the release period is 48 hours.[2]

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.[2]

Upcoming match windows

Men's International Match Calendar

Dates[3] Matches or tournaments
2–10 September 2024 2
7–15 October 2024 2
11–19 November 2024 2
17–25 March 2025 2
2–10 June 2025 2
14 June – 6 July 2025 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup
1–9 September 2025 2
6–14 October 2025 2
10–18 November 2025 2
21 December 2025 – 18 January 2026 2025 Africa Cup of Nations
23–31 March 20262
1–9 June 2026 2
11 June – 19 July 2026 2026 FIFA World Cup
21 September – 6 October 2026 4
9–17 November 2026 2
January 2027 2027 AFC Asian Cup
22–30 March 2027 2
7–15 June 2027 2
June – July 2027 2027 CONCACAF Gold Cup
20 September – 5 October 2027 4
8–16 November 2027 2
20–28 March 2028 2
29 May – 6 June 2028 2
June – July 2028 2028 OFC Men's Nations Cup
2028 (CONMEBOL) Copa América
UEFA Euro 2028

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.[4]

Dates Window type Number of matches
21–30 October 2024 Type I (all) or II (except UEFA) 2 or 3
25 November – 7 December 2024 Type I (all) or III (only AFC) 2 or 4
17–26 February 2025 Type II 3
31 March – 8 April 2025 Type I 2
26 May – 3 June 2025 Type I 2
June/July 2025Type I (all), II (except UEFA), or
III (only AFC)
2 or 3 or 4
23 June – 3 August 2025 2025 (CONMEBOL) Copa América Femenina
2–27 July 2025 UEFA Women's Euro 2025
20–29 October 2025 Type I (all) or II (except UEFA) 2 or 3

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: International match calendar – major step made towards final agreement. https://web.archive.org/web/20120309001053/http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/news/newsid=1594531/index.html. dead. 9 March 2012. FIFA.com. 29 August 2012. 5 March 2012.
  2. Web site: Release of players for national association representative matches in accordance with the Coordinated International Match Calendar. https://web.archive.org/web/20070915032800/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/ps%5f792%5fen-annex%5fii%5f74.pdf. dead. 15 September 2007. FIFA.com. 29 August 2012.
  3. Web site: Men's International Match Calendar 2023-2030. FIFA . 12 June 2024.
  4. Web site: 18 January 2024. 27 January 2024. Women's International Match Calendar 2024-2025. FIFA.