FIFA Weighs Merging September and October Windows Into One Long Break

Three straight weeks without league soccer. For any player who hates packing a bag every other day, that sounds like heaven. And that's exactly the plan FIFA has on the table: merge the September and October international windows into one long break and, if it works, do the same with November and March.

The logic is simple and, for once, it actually makes sense. By combining two windows into one, teams save on the back and forth travel between club and national team, so just as many matches can be packed into three weeks as used to fit into two separate two week windows. Fewer flights, less jet lag, the same amount of soccer. It's one of those rare changes that actually makes life easier for players instead of harder.

If the format catches on, and if it's paired with the trick Jurgen Klopp already uses of calling up two separate squads to split matches between them, club schedules could get a lot more breathing room in the fall. Now it remains to be seen whether the rest of international soccer gets on board.

Ten Matches Not to Miss

With this window already underway, there's something for everyone: UEFA Nations League action, Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, USA friendlies and even an emotional farewell. Here are the ten matchups drawing the most attention:

1. September 25: Cape Verde vs. Mali (Africa Cup of Nations qualifying). Cape Verde faces a Mali side featuring names like Mamadou Sangare (Brentford) and Lassine Sinayoko (Paris FC).
2. September 26: Spain vs. England (Nations League). The reigning world champions kick off their campaign at Wembley, no less, against a semifinalist from the last World Cup.
3. September 26: Mexico vs. Colombia (friendly). Rafa Marquez's debut as El Tri's head coach, returning to action after falling in the Round of 16 to England at the World Cup. It'll be worth watching how much the team's identity shifts.
4. September 26: Peru vs. United States (friendly), a chance to get a look at some new faces in the U.S. squad.
5. September 27: Portugal vs. Norway (Nations League). Only two of four teams (Portugal, Denmark, Norway and Wales) will advance from the group, so Norway can't afford a slip up. And yes, Cristiano Ronaldo is still in the squad, despite all the noise of recent weeks.
6. September 29: Spain vs. Croatia (Nations League). Slaven Bilic takes charge of Croatia following the departure of Zlatko Dalic, the coach who led the Croats to the 2018 World Cup final.
7. October 2: Italy vs. France (Nations League). The second stage of Roberto Mancini's tenure kicks off with a brutal schedule: Belgium, a trip to Turkey, a trip to France and Turkey again. Half of his 34 called up players are 24 or younger.
8. October 3: Mexico vs. United States (friendly). Needs no introduction.
9. October 6: Benin vs. Argentina (friendly), shaping up to be the most emotional match of the entire window: Lionel Messi's final dance with the Albiceleste.
10. October 6: Canada vs. United States (friendly), closing out the window with a matchup that always carries a special edge for the United States.

Two weeks of soccer with something for every taste: coaching debuts, historic farewells and qualifiers coming down to the wire. Now it's just a matter of seeing whether, once the window wraps up, the optimism over the new format holds up as well as it looks today.