The domestic season has barely found its rhythm, yet French clubs are preparing for an unusually long silence. Ligue 1 and the other national competitions will pause for close to three weeks as FIFA compresses its autumn international programme into a larger September window.
A reshaped international calendar
FIFA has removed the international break that had traditionally fallen at the end of October, reducing the number of autumn call-up periods from three to two. The change is designed to cut down on repeated travel between clubs and national teams.
- Previously, international windows were scheduled in late September, late October and November.
- The October break has been scrapped.
- The remaining autumn matches have been concentrated into the September period, while the second break will be held in mid-November.
- National leagues will be halted for nearly three weeks, rather than the roughly two-week interruption seen in recent seasons.
It means a much longer early-season pause than clubs and supporters would usually expect only around a month after the campaign begins.
France face four Nations League matches
Zinédine Zidane’s France side will play four Nations League fixtures during this extended break instead of the usual two. Their sequence begins away from home before returning to the Stade de France for two matches.
- Turkey away: Friday.
- Belgium away: Monday.
- Italy at the Stade de France: 2 October.
- Belgium at the Stade de France: 5 October.
November brings the final ties
France will resume their Nations League campaign in mid-November, travelling to Italy on 12 November. Their final match of the group programme is scheduled for 15 November in Bordeaux, where Turkey will be the opposition.
