​Is it a blessing or a curse? Fans may disagree depending on whether they primarily support a club or prefer to watch the international game. Whatever their feeling, the soccer calendar has just entered the longest non-tournament men’s international break.FIFA restructured its international match calendar, taking input from other stakeholders, and found that top clubs and players preferred fewer interruptions in the fall.”FIFA’s objective in this process is to make a football calendar that is ‘fit-for-purpose’ for modern needs, contributing for the improvement of the quality of players, clubs and national teams and giving both incentive and opportunity for the detection and development of talent outside a small number of countries,” the organization stated when it released the calendar.International managers, too, may prefer the change. Most national team coaches are pining for more time with their players. This longer camp gives them the chance to work on concepts longer, get to know their squad better and get data from up to four matches.Once players return to their clubs, they can keep their full focus there before another November international window – then it’s full steam ahead in the club game until March.Full FIFA men’s international match calendar through summer 2028DatesMatches or tournamentsToday – Oct. 6, 20264Nov. 9-17, 20262Jan. 7 – Feb. 5, 20272027 Asian CupMarch 22–30, 20272 (Concacaf Nations League Final Four)June 7-15, 20272June 19 – July 17, 20272027 African Cup of NationsJune – July 2027 (Dates to be confirmed)2027 Concacaf Gold CupSept. 20 – Oct. 5, 20274Nov. 8-16, 20272March 20-28, 20282May 29 – June 6, 20282June – July 20282028 Africa Cup of NationsJune – July 20282028 Copa AméricaJune – July 20282028 OFC Men’s Nations CupJune 9 – July 9, 2028UEFA Euro 2028This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why is the September-October FIFA international window so long?