Extended International Breaks: What It Means For Lincoln City

From 2026, September’s international break will stretch to three weeks while the October window disappears altogether.

That shift in the calendar, approved by FIFA, could have a significant knock-on effect for League One clubs such as Lincoln City.

What’s Changing?

For decades, the football calendar has been dictated by international windows. Currently, there are five breaks each year, each lasting a fortnight in March, June, September, October and November. They are designed to allow national teams to play two matches at a time, but for club football, they represent disruption. The Championship on Premier Greed both give up, while clubs in League One battle on. It’s controversial, Exeter City suffered three player losses last season ahead of a fixture with us, but couldn’t cancel.

From 2026, that landscape changes. FIFA has approved a longer September international break, which will now last three weeks, giving nations the opportunity to play four games in that spell. The October window, meanwhile, will be scrapped entirely. The November break remains, meaning there will now be four pauses across the calendar instead of five.

The reasoning is partly logistical. With the 2026 World Cup final scheduled for 19 July – the latest ever for a summer tournament – the governing body wanted to ensure players’ welfare and minimise the stop-start nature of the domestic season. There is also the matter of travel: with fewer breaks, players flying from Europe to South America or Africa have fewer long-haul trips to contend with.

The upshot is one week fewer lost to international football overall. In theory, that should make domestic schedules smoother.

In practice, for the Imps and the rest of League One, it could be quite different.

League One’s International Dilemma

Unlike the Premier League and Championship, League One does not automatically pause during international windows. Instead, fixtures continue unless clubs apply for postponements after meeting the threshold of call-ups. That has led to an uneven playing field. Some teams play on, banking points and momentum, while others see games moved into an already congested calendar.

For Lincoln, that issue has become more acute in recent seasons. Once upon a time, we lost fixtures with the likes of Dylan Duffy being called up, which gave us a nice break. Recently, we played Wigan without Ivan Varfolomeev, Dexter Lembikisa and Justin Obiwu, but the latter pair hadn’t appeared for us at all.

There is a real possibility we could see an international break with just Varfolomeev and Reeco Hackett called up, particularly in 2026, and that would be a blow, if he developed as we expect.

The current system means it is often just one weekend lost to postponements. From 2026, the longer September break could create bigger headaches. If the Imps lose enough players to warrant rearrangements, they could end up with three matches delayed in a row, falling weeks behind rivals in the table before autumn is even underway. It creates an imbalance in the table now, already clubs have games in hand, and a harsh winter can make those who have played fewer cram them into a hectic spring.

That does not just affect the players and coaches. Fans who plan away trips could find them wiped out with little notice, only to be shifted into awkward midweek slots later in the season. Clubs lose revenue from those weekend gates, and the rhythm of the league is broken.

Put simply, if there is going to be a longer break, there needs to be a break in the calendar. One possible solution would be to schedule EFL Trophy games on those weekend, clearing a midweek slot and giving clubs a chance to play reserve sides and fringe players, which they almost always do.

How Will It Affect Lincoln?

For the Imps, much depends on the make-up of the squad by 2026. The club has made no secret of its strategy: recruit talented players with resale value, often from younger age groups or overseas markets. That naturally increases the likelihood of international recognition.

Already, we have seen three players called up. If we continue to progress and push towards the Championship, the proportion of internationals in the squad will only grow. That raises the chance of hitting the postponement threshold more frequently.

In the short term, a three-week September break would be hugely disruptive if not implemented for everyone. If City had to reschedule three matches, it could mean a backlog of six or seven fixtures by the winter if cup runs are added into the mix. That might place enormous strain on resources and force Skubala to rotate heavily at critical points in the season.

There is, however, a potential silver lining. The removal of the October break means there should be a smoother run through the autumn months. Instead of two stop-start periods close together, there will be one clear interruption followed by a more consistent flow of games. For a side that thrives on rhythm, that could prove beneficial.

A Call for Change?

The question that lingers is whether League One should finally align itself with the higher divisions and pause fully during international windows. It would create fairness across the league, prevent congestion, and make it easier for supporters to follow a coherent fixture list.

So far, the EFL has resisted. The traditional 46-game season is already crowded, and adding automatic pauses could stretch the calendar into late May or force more midweek games. But with FIFA’s changes coming into force, the current halfway house may no longer be sustainable.

For Lincoln, the coming years could see the club’s progress measured not just on the pitch, but in how it manages the demands of a shifting international calendar. Balancing ambition with practicality will be key. If the Imps continue to recruit international-standard players, the impact of September’s extended break could be felt more keenly than ever.