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Clubs across the Championship and EFL are set to be impacted by a change by FIFA that will be implemented from next year after the World Cup.
While clubs across the EFL compete in competitions organised by UEFA and the FA, this change will have a significant impact upon clubs in the EFL.
The change is set to impact more clubs in the Championship than in League One and League Two.
Whether it will be considered a positive or a negative by clubs across the EFL and those who are directly impacted by the change to the footballing calendar by FIFA.
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FIFA to make changes to the international window
As reported in the Stoke-on-Trent Live, FIFA are going to combine the September and October international windows to make one extended period where international football takes priority over club football, meaning there will only be three international windows per season.
The move is set to take place after the World Cup in 2026, due to the footballing calendar already being set ahead of the competition in America, Mexico and Canada this summer.
A longer, 16-day international window will run from September 21 to October 6 next year that allows for up to four fixtures for each nation.
That will be followed by the usual nine-day, two-match windows in November and March to ensure that countries play the same number of matches whilst minimising the disruption to club football.
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How this will impact Championship clubs
The majority of Championship clubs have several players on international duty this September, so the change will have a major impact upon clubs in the second tier, as they will lose part of their squad for longer; however, it will be on fewer occasions across the season.
League One and League Two clubs are obviously going to be impacted too, with several players in these divisions also representing their nations during the international break.
Clubs across the EFL will be without some of their players for two weeks just as the season was getting underway and will have to train, work on tactics and plan for oppositions without their stars.