Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterFour Four TwoGet the FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member features.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.You are now subscribedYour newsletter sign-up was successfulWant to add more newsletters?Five times a weekFourFourTwo DailyFantastic football content straight to your inbox! From the latest transfer news, quizzes, videos, features and interviews with the biggest names in the game, plus lots more.Signup +Once a week...And its LIVE!Sign up to our FREE live football newsletter, tracking all of the biggest games available to watch on the device of your choice. Never miss a kick-off!Signup +Join the clubGet full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in.Subscribe to our newsletterTeams in England's top two divisions are set for a break over the Easter 2027 holiday weekend due to FIFA's scheduling of next season's international breaks.According to the Daily Mail, an international window will take place towards the end of March, replacing the domestic fixtures usually played on Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday.Its a decision which could bring about considerable pushback from domestic stakeholders, due to the anticipated schedule disruption against a backdrop of fixture pressures for several teams. You may like Why is there only one Premier League game on Boxing Day this year? Explained: How the Premier League and EFL are helping players observe Ramadan Last minute Premier League tickets! Five big games with great seat deals available this weekend FIFA enact major shift to traditional English football calendarThe top flight and the Championship, both of which are usually staples of the Good Friday and Easter Monday calendar, will be halted following March 20, 2027 fixtures.Leagues One and Two are still expected to continue as normal. The domestic schedule is then slated to resume with the FA Cup quarter-final weekend on April 3.According to the Mail, clubs were not consulted by FIFA in the decision to subsume the traditional Easter weekend, which is likely to rankle with executives already dissatisfied with the level of fixture congestion in England's top flight.The move also follows a newly merged three-week international break across September and October, which comes into force next season.Get the FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.This proposed shift brings a century of footballing history to an end. Since 1892, Easter Monday has been a cornerstone of the English game - now, that heritage is being sacrificed at the altar of the international calendar.Further structural changes have also come to light, via the Mail's report. As previously suggested, the EFLs curtain-raiser will now be on August 8 with the Carabao Cup First Round, followed by the league kick-off on August 15. Meanwhile, the Premier Leagues return after the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup will be on August 22.Fans can, however, expect a more traditional Boxing Day schedule next year, as the Saturday slot makes a return to the festive lineup with 26 December, 2026 falling on the weekend.Joe DonnohueSocial Links NavigationSenior Digital WriterJoe joined FourFourTwo as senior digital writer in July 2025 after five years covering Leeds United in the Championship and Premier League. Joe's 'Mastermind' specialist subject is 2000s-era Newcastle United having had a season ticket at St. James' Park for 10 years before relocating to Leeds and later London. Joe takes a keen interest in youth football, covering PL2, U21 Euros, as well as U20 and U17 World Cups in the past, in addition to hosting the industry-leading football recruitment-focused SCOUTED podcast. He is also one of the lucky few to have 'hit top bins' as a contestant on Soccer AM. It wasn't a shin-roller.
