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During an international break, all major domestic League matches are paused, normally a country plays two games each. A football season calendar consists of five international breaks, one each in September, October, November, March and June. The international break means matches/games involving different countries, the main aim of these breaks is to enable the scheduling of international matches for tournaments like the World Cup, Euros, African Cup of Nations, AFC Asian Cup and other events.

Apart from competition qualifications, the national teams also participate in international friendlies during the break, FIFA the governing body also schedules International breaks for famous tournaments such as the UEFA National League where the competition involves top European teams, the National League fixtures have replaced some of the friendlies games since the year 2018. FIFA in collaboration with the football leagues and other organizers worldwide, FIFA schedules the International break calendar in advance even before a new football season commences.

Over the years the three International breaks in September, October and November have been the same but from 2026 the September and October International break will be combined into a single window of four matches. Football clubs are required to release their players once they are named in the National squad team who is supposed to take at least four days away from club duty per International fixture.

FIFA is the football governing body that helped with other six continental football bodies which are AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), CONCACAF (North and Central America), CONMEBOL (South America), OFC (Oceania), and UEFA (Europe) together with the assist from the European club Association and players’ union (FIFPro).

The next international break for the 2024/25 season will take place from 23-31 March 2025.