Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has said September’s extended international break is a concern because players will be unavailable to the club for three weeks. He is particularly worried about players travelling to join national squads without playing, as well as the increased risk of injuries during or immediately after international duty.

The 2026-27 calendar combines the usual September and October windows into a three-week period in late September and early October, during which countries will play four matches rather than two. The change reflects scheduling pressures following the 2026 World Cup final on 19 July, alongside player welfare and travel considerations; Mourinho said Real are managing the workloads of players including Jude Bellingham, Marc Cucurella and Kylian Mbappe after demanding summers.