How football league calendars will change in 2026

In 2026, football league calendars will undergo some adjustments due to the World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in the summer from 11 June to 19 July.

Unlike what happened with Qatar 2022, there will not be a break in the middle of the sporting season, but the 2025/26 leagues will need to end by the end of May.

FIFA has set the start of the mandatory player release period for national teams on 25 May, with possible exceptions only for players involved in the finals of continental competitions.

The main European leagues are therefore organising their schedules to end the season before the start of the World Cup.

Serie A, Premier League and LaLiga 2026: what will change?

Serie A, the Premier League and LaLiga are expected to end around the weekend of 23-24 May 2026, while the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 will finish one week earlier, around 16 May.

Domestic and European cups will also have to fit into a very tight calendar: the 2025/26 Champions League final, for example, is scheduled for 30 May, a date that falls within the exceptions allowed for international club commitments.

The most noticeable impact will be seen above all in the following season.

How will the football league calendar change?

After the World Cup final, set for 19 July, clubs will have less time for recovery, transfers, athletic preparation and summer friendlies. For this reason, some leagues will start slightly later: the 2026/27 Premier League will begin on 22 August, the Bundesliga on 28 August, and Serie A is also expected to restart on the weekend of 22-23 August.

In addition, from 2026 the national team calendar will also change, with one long international window between September and October instead of two separate breaks.