International breaks explained: schedule and impact of the Nations League

The introduction in 2018 of the Nations League, in which similarly ranked teams play a group stage against each other, before the four top-tier group winners advance to a mini-final, has not led to an increase in the number of players. of international matches or breaks.

Instead, Nations League matches have replaced some of the friendlies, meaning the number of international matches in the annual calendar remains the same.

The international football calendar is set by FIFA, the world governing body, and agreed upon by the six continental football associations: AFC (Asia), Caf (Africa), Concacaf (North and Central America), Conmebol ( South America), OFC (Oceania). , and UEFA (Europe), as well as the European Club Association and the players’ union Fifpro.

Clubs must release their players to international teams when they are called up to a team. A player has the right to be away from the club for up to four days per international match, rising to five days for matches played on a different continent, meaning players tend to train with their international teammates for around 10 days during breaks.

The frequency of international breaks – particularly the three that take place in consecutive months in the autumn – often draws the ire of fans of clubs competing in the world’s major domestic leagues.

But the national football associations of countries lower in the FIFA rankings often rely heavily on revenue from broadcast rights to matches played against other nations. That money plays a key role in the maintenance and development of football infrastructure in those nations.

In recent years, increased attention has been paid to the wellbeing and workload of football’s elite players, who in many cases are playing more games than ever before.

But while top-level club competitions such as the UEFA Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup have seen significant expansions, the number of international matches has remained largely the same.