"Overall, this step to restructure the international schedule makes sense from a sporting perspective, both for the national teams and the clubs: For example, the national team coaches have longer time windows to practice, while at the same time, the league schedules are no longer interrupted as often. However, the opportunity could have been used to take a broader view, perhaps to consider further release periods in greater detail, and to make additional adjustments,"
"The Oktoberfest, to those who somehow do not know, is one of Munich's greatest events every year, a Bavarian traditional beer festival that spans from mid-to-late September to early October. It is along standing tradition that Bayern would release new kits during Oktoberfest, wear them for the Oktoberfest match and then spend a day at the festival. That will no longer be the case. The international break occurs right during the span of the Oktoberfest. Eberl, who is all too experienced with the long standing tradition that is Bayern's relationship to this special event, acknowledges what a shame it is that this tradition has now been "affected.""
FIFA will consolidate the three short autumn international breaks into a single late-September to early-October window from 2026. National teams will gain longer training windows and leagues will face fewer schedule interruptions, potentially benefiting coaches and clubs. Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl welcomed the sporting rationale but suggested planners could have considered broader release periods and additional adjustments. The new window coincides with Munich's Oktoberfest, a longstanding event when Bayern traditionally unveil new kits, play an Oktoberfest home match and attend the festival. That overlap forces Bayern to abandon that tradition, which Eberl described as a shame.
Read at Bavarian Football Works
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