Day 26 – Soccer season (national team)

Topic Point: National teams do not have an official season compared to clubteams. Instead, there are points through the year that are designated‘international windows’ when national teams will schedule friendlies(exhibition matches), World Cup qualifiers, and regional/continentaltournaments (European Championships, CONCACAF Gold Cup, etc). Generally, thewindows are March, June, July, September – October, and November. Appendix 6shows the continental zones and competitions for national teams.

UEFA (Europe) and CONCACAF (North andCentral America, and Caribbean) now have their Nations League competition inaddition to a continental cup. This competition is new and designed to creatematches that have greater impact compared to friendlies with seeminglysomething valuable at stake. It remains to be seen how popular and significantthis competition will be.

World Cup qualifying was discussed earlier(Day 6) since it has direct impact on what is currently being played – the 2026FIFA Men’s World Cup.

Ted Lasso: Thereis minimal discussion of national team football since the show focuses on aLondon club team. In S1E6, Sam Obisanya mentions wanting to make the NigerianNational team. In S3E10, the EPL and AFC Richmond have a break for a weekenddue to the international window. Several players are called up for nationalteam duty.

Soccer-related note: The first use of the international window started in 2002 and wasused for 2006 World Cup Qualifiers.

The increase in games through variouscompetitions for club and country is a stress on players with limited time forrest and recovery, along with increased risk of injury due to the additionalgames and fatigue. The top players often play for a club that is top 5 in theirleague. This means in addition to a traditional competition schedule within aleague, the athletes compete in the club domestic cup, club continental cup,and then also play for their country in World Cup qualifying and othercompetitions. While top clubs are playing 60-70 games a season, top playerscould play (at least dress) for 80-90 games. Appendix 9 shows top playersaround the world and lists their games played (dressed) for their club andcountry.

American Sports comparison: The closest we experience to national team sports and breaks/windowsis with basketball in the Olympics. Several notable star players have skippedthe Olympics because of the length of the NBA season, especially if they arecontending for the NBA championship. In that scenario, they finish in June,have the Olympics in July, and therefore less time for rest and recovery beforethe next NBA preseason begins. There is also the concern for injury. Sinceplaying for a club is the major source of an athlete’s income (salary andendorsements), many NBA players are anxious about risking injury and losingtheir prime earning years.

‍Interactive Day 26

Below are tables and links to the 2025-26 schedules for two national teams: Norway and France. On their respective Wikipedia pages, you will find more information about each time (history, kit sponsor, stadiums, etc) but scroll down to find their 2025-26 schedules which will include World Cup Qualifying, Nations League (Norway was eliminated before France in the 2024-25 season), and friendlies. Consider that two "Players to Watch" (Appendix 10) in this World Cup are Erling Haaland (Norway and Manchester City) and Kylian Mbappé (France and Real Madrid). Yesterday you saw their club team schedules (Jan-May 2026 only but the links will show you 2025 as well). Today you see their national team schedules (2025 and 2026 to highlight World Cup Qualifying, friendlies, and UEFA Nations League which is this fall). Note these players will have 2026 club schedules starting back up in August shortly after the World Cup is finished. These two players are valuable to both of their respective rosters (club and country). They log a lot of minutes and play under a lot of pressure!

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