FIF~
Far the Game. Far the WarLd.
To the members of FIFA
Circular 1355
Zurich, 6 May 2013
SG/mfa
Men's international match calendar for the September 2014 to July 2018 period
Dear Sir or Madam,
At its meeting on 20 March 2013, the FIFA Executive Committee ratified the international match
calendar for the September 2014 to July 2018 period (these dates can already be found on
FIFA.com - cf. enclosure).
As you will already be aware, this international match calendar has been drawn up after a vast
consultation process involving representatives of the confederations, leagues and clubs.
Consequently, this circular outlines the main aspects of the calendar as weil as the information you
will need to understand the calendar before it comes into force in September 2014.
Period: as mentioned above, this international match calendar will be in force between September
2014 and July 2018 (i.e. the final day of the 2018 FIFA World CUpTM). The period has been divided
into two cycles, 2014-2016 and 2016-2018. Each cycle has nine double-dates, each corresponding
to aperiod stretching from a Monday to the Tuesday of the following week. All of the
confederations - with the exception of UEFA - mayaiso use an extra double-date that is scheduled
for June 2016 .
Matches: national teams may only playa maximum of two international matches in any one
international match period . There shall also be at least three days between two matches of any
national team. In other words, if a national team plays its first match on a Thursday, it cannot play
its second match until the following Sunday. It should be noted that if anational team 's two
matches are not played on the territory of the same confederation, the maximum flight time for the
national team between the venues of the two matches shall be five hours over a maximum of two
time zones.
Release of players: players shall be released to their national teams on Monday morning at the
latest and be released back to their clubs on Wednesday morning of the following week at the
latest (NB. exceptions may be granted to "outlying" confederations) . For final competitions, players
must be released to their national teams on the Monday of the week before the week in which the
competition begins, and be released back to their clubs on the day after their team's final match in
the competition at the latest.
Confederation final competitions: competitions taking place in the June-July period must be
completed by mid-July. Competitions taking place in the January-February period must start as early
Federation Internationale de Football Association
FIFA-Strasse 20 PO. Box 8044 Zu rich Switzerland Tel.: +41-(0)43 -222 7777 Fax: +41-(0)43-222 7878 www.FIFA com
FIF.
For the Game. For the World.
as possible in January. Furthermore, players may only compete in one final competition per year
with anational" A" team. Exceptions may, however, be granted to teams participating in the FIFA
Confederations Cup.
In addition, at the same meeting on 20 March, the Executive Committee approved amendments to
Annexe 1 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players in order to bring these
regulations in li ne with the new principles of the international match calendar. You will receive
details of these amendments in aseparate circular letter.
We believe that we have given you all of the information you need on the new international match
calendar for 2014-2018 so that you can prepare your national" A" teams for the challenges that lie
ahead.
Nevertheless, if you do have any questions in regard to the international match calendar, please do
not hesitate to contad the FIFA Competitions Division or the FIFA Legal Affairs Division.
We wish all of your teams every success.
Yours faithfully,
Jerö e Valcke
s.lcretary General
ce. Confederations
End: International Match Calendar 2013-2018
2
International Match Calendar
FIFN
FIXED DATES FOR INTERNATIONAL "A" MATCHES 2013-2018
INTERNATIONAL MATCH CALENDAR 2013-2018 (Including amendments to 2014)
Date(s)
Year
Official matches
Friendly matches
Number of
(release period for
(release period for players:
48 hours)
match dates
players: 4/5 days)
19 January-
2013
CAF Africa Cup of Nations - South Africa
10 February
6 February
-
1
1
22-26 March
2
-
2
April
-
-
-
May
-
-
-
4 June
-
1
1
7-11 June
2
-
2
14-18June
2
-
2
15-30 June
FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013
July
-
-
-
14 August
-
1
1
6-10 September
2
-
2
11-1 5 October
2
-
2
Intercontinental Playoff Match Dates
13-14
AFC vs CONMEBOL
November
CONCACAF vs OFC
15-19
November
2
-
2
Intercontinental Playoff Match Dates
20 November
CONMEBOL vs AFC
OFC vs CONCACAF
December
Total
-
-
-
12
3
15
Update March 2013
mfa/ial
International Match Calendar
FIXED DATES FOR INTERNATIONAL "A" MATCHES 2013-2018
Official matches
Friendly matches
(release period tor
playe rs 4/5 days)
(release period for
players 48 hours)
Number .cf
match dates
January
-
-
-
February
-
-
-
5 March
-
1
1
April
-
-
-
Year
2014
Date (s)
May
12 June-13 July
Final date for national competitions
18 May 2014 (except UEFA CL Final)
Official rest period 19-25 May 2014
Release of players on 26 May for the
2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™
2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™
Official or Friendly Matches
(release of players to national teams Monday
morning at the latest and release back to
clubs Wednesday morning following week at
the latest)
August
-
-
1-9 September
2
2
6-14 October
2
2
10-18 November
2
2
December
-
-
Total
7
7
Update March 2013
mfa/ial
International Match Calendar
FIFN
FIXED DATES FOR INTERNATIONAL UA" MATCHES 2013-2018
Official or Friendly Matches
Year
2015
Dates
9-31 January
Number of
match dates
(release of players to national teams Monday
morning at the latest and release back to clubs
Wednesday morning following week at the latest)
AFC Asian Cup - Australia
February
-
-
23-31 March
2
2
April
-
-
May
-
-
8-16 June
2
2
July
-
-
August
-
-
31 August- 8
September
2
2
5-13 October
2
2
9-17 November
2
2
December
-
-
10
10
Total
Update March 2013
mfa/ial
International Match Calendar
FIFN
FIXED DATES FOR INTERNATIONAL RA" MATCHES 2013-2018
Fot tIM Gt.N. Fot' tM Wurlet.
Official or Friendly Matches
(release of players to national teams Monday
morning at the latest and release back to clubs
Wednesday morning following week at the latestl
Number of
match dates
January
-
-
February
-
-
21-29 March
2
2
April
-
-
May
-
-
30 May - 7 June
2 (for non UEFA confederations)
2
10 June - 10 July
European Championship Euro 2016
Year
2016
Dates
-
-
September
2
2
3-11 October
2
2
7 -18 November
2
2
December
-
-
10 for non UEFA Conf. & 810r
UEfA
100r8
August
29 August- 6
Total
Update March 2013
mfa/ial
International Match Calendar
FIFN
FIXED DATES FOR INTERNATIONAL "A" MATCHES 2013-2018
Official or Friendly Matches
Year
Dates
(release of players to national teams Monday
morning at the latest and release back to clubs
Wednesday morning following week at the latest)
2017
Number of
match dates
January
-
-
February
-
-
20-28 March
2
2
April
-
-
May
-
-
5-13 June
2
2
Ju ly
-
-
August
-
-
28 August5 September
2
2
2-10 October
2
2
6-14 November
2
2
December
-
-
10
10
Total
Update March 2013
mfa/ial
International Match Calendar
FIFN
FIXED DATES FOR INTERNATIONAL "A" MATCHES 2013-2018
For , ,.. G"JIIJ't.
Official or Friendly Matches
Year
Dates
2018
Number of
match dates
January
-
-
February
-
-
19-27 March
2
2
April
-
-
May
-
-
June - July
Total
•
(release of players to national teams Monday
morning at the latest and release back to clubs
Wednesday morning following week at the latest)
Tor,,,. WOIlQ'.
2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™
2
2
Continental Championships will be added to the International Match calendar 20152018 once the exact dates are communicated to FIFA by the respective confederations.
Update March 2013
mfa/ial