When is the next international break?
- International breaks arriving thick and fast at the start of the new season
- 2024/25 Nations League groups draw to a close before the end of the year
- Lee Carsley continues interim spell as England manager in October
Dread them, run from them, but international breaks continue to arrive all the same.
But hey, perhaps some international action will do us some good given the unrelenting club schedules at the start of the 2024/25 campaign.
Frequent breaks have been regular at the start of new seasons in recent years and there's still plenty of international football to enjoy - or endure - before 2024 is out. Here's an overview of the upcoming international games, including the fixtures you can't afford to miss and when Lee Carsley's Three Lions will be blessing our screens.
Why is there another international break?
It's a great question. After a summer festival of international football, do we really need three breaks within the first three months of the 2024/25 campaign?
Well, kind of. There are matches that need to be played. There was no time to begin the latest UEFA Nations League over the summer, as was the case in 2022, so the group fixtures must be played throughout the autumn ahead of the finals next June.
Across the globe, nations are continuing their bids to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. CONMEBOL, OFC, AFC and CONCACAF all have fairly protracted qualifiers with multiple stages and will continue during the October break. Over in Africa, qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations progresses beyond the halfway mark.
Best games to watch this international break
We've not yet entered crunch time in the Nations League or the World Cup qualifying campaigns across the globe, but there are several high-profile international bouts to enjoy this month.
In the Nations League, Denmark's clash with Spain on Saturday 12 October in Group A4 could be entertaining given the start the Danes have made to their campaign. Spain are hunting all three points to usurp Kasper Hjulmand's side at the top of the group.
There's a Flemish derby between Belgium and France on Monday 14 October, but you may have to get multiple screens out if you also want to enjoy a bitter clash between longtime rivals Germany and the Netherlands.
The CONMEBOL qualifiers this month are bereft of a blockbuster encounter, but plenty of intrigue surrounds Brazil's upcoming games given the woeful start they've made to qualifying. Dorival Junior's side should benefit from facing the current bottom two in Chile and Peru, but this Brazil team have made nothing look simple in 2024 and are now under immense pressure.
Over in the AFC, it's the third round of 2026 World Cup qualifying and there's a standout fixture between Japan and Saudi Arabia in Group C. On Thursday 10 October, the two nations will collide in a bid to take control of the group.
Who are England playing in the international break?
Lee Carsley's interim reign got off to a fairly serene start on the pitch as England bypassed the Republic of Ireland and Finland by 2-0 scorelines.
There should be no national anthem discourse this time around with the Three Lions continuing their Nations League campaign against Greece at Wembley before they take on Finland in Helsinki.
Having been relegated to League B last time out, England cannot compete in next year's finals. They're instead vying to return to League A, but Greece have matched the Three Lions' 100% record and currently lead Carsley's side at the top of the group. They're going to be England's biggest test and their two duels will likely decide who climbs into League A from B2.
England's October fixtures
Date | Kick-off Time (BST) | Fixture | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
Thursday 10 October | 20:00 | England vs Greece | Wembley Stadium, London |
Sunday 13 October | 17:00 | Finland vs England | Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki |
When does the Premier League return after international break?
Don't worry, folks, the Premier League will soon be back. It's just one weekend you have to survive without it.
The English top flight returns on Saturday 19 October with Tottenham Hotspur taking on West Ham United in the lunchtime kick-off. There are road trips for title hopefuls Arsenal and Manchester City as they face Bournemouth and Wolves respectively, but the standout fixture of the next Premier League gameweek arrives on Sunday 20 October as Liverpool welcome Chelsea to Anfield.
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