Israeli Soccer League Faces Record 20-Day Break Due to FIFA Schedule Changes

The Israeli Premier League is experiencing an unusually long 20-day break between matches, a hiatus that began after the fifth round concluded on Sunday. This extended pause, which will see the league resume on October 10th, is significantly longer than the typical 8-9 day break usually observed during the early season for international fixtures.

The extended break is a direct consequence of a new FIFA policy implemented this season. Previously, national teams had separate breaks in September and October, each allowing for two matches. To create more continuous league play, FIFA has consolidated these into a single, longer international window.

This new window, starting September 21st and concluding October 6th, allows national teams to play up to four matches. While the official break is 15 days, the Israeli league's schedule is further extended due to an early start before the Yom Kippur holiday and the league's return to play on a Saturday, pushing the total gap to 20 days.

This consolidated international break is expected to allow for an additional league match between the current break and the next international window in November, a change aimed at reducing mid-season interruptions and providing fans with more consistent club action.