The International Match Calendar (IMC) sets the dates of national teams matches and the days in which the players must be released by their clubs to join international squads. It therefore has a central role in the sustainable growth of football in all regions of the world and at all levels.
There is an agreement in place on the IMC until 2024. As of then, nothing is decided, and FIFA is hearing - and will hear over the course of the next months - views and opinions from all the key stakeholders, including fans, about how to make the calendar better for each IMC men’s, women’s, and youth competitions.
FIFA´s Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger, is leading a process which includes an analysis of football development around the world in view of giving every potential talent on the planet a better chance to emerge.
For women’s football, two-times FIFA Women’s World Cup winner, Jill Ellis, will spearhead the consultation and studies.
On the IMC, several current issues have to be looked into, namely the progressive competitive imbalance, the absence of a mandatory rest period for players, the excessive number of travels and matches endangering player health and well-being and the constant interruption of domestic leagues disrupting club competitions.
The frequency of men’s, women’s and youth national team competitions will also deserve attention particularly after, in May 2021, 166 FIFA member associations gathered at the FIFA Congress and voted in favour to examine the feasibility of a men’s and women’s World Cup every two years.
Throughout the analysis and discussions, sporting elements will be the first and foremost priorities.
The long-term goal is to have 50 national teams and 50 clubs competing at the highest level of both the men’s and women’s game, in line with the FIFA President’s Vision (2020-2023).