Portsmouth manager John Mousinho condemns FIFA’s decision before the three-week international break.

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho has made it clear that he is unhappy with the unusual three-week international break that will interrupt the Championship season, arguing that the new schedule could have a negative effect on clubs across the division.

The Pompey head coach has criticised FIFA’s decision to alter the international football calendar, believing the governing body has moved from one extreme to another with the latest changes.

This season, the first international window has been extended to three weeks so national teams can play as many as four fixtures during the period. Mousinho feels such a lengthy interruption is not ideal for domestic clubs, particularly so early in a campaign.

John Mousinho. | Jason Brown

FIFA’s New International Calendar

Traditionally, the domestic football calendar includes three international breaks before Christmas, usually taking place during September, October and November. Each of those windows normally lasts around two weeks, allowing national teams to complete their fixtures while domestic competitions temporarily pause.

A fourth international window is generally scheduled in March.

However, the structure has been changed for the current campaign.

Rather than having separate September and October breaks, those two windows have effectively been combined into one extended period. International teams will then gather again during the autumn from November 9 to November 17 before another window arrives in the spring between March 22 and March 30.

The changes mean Portsmouth face a significant interruption to their Championship campaign.

Portsmouth Face 22-Day Gap

The Blues are scheduled to play Blackburn Rovers at Fratton Park this Saturday before travelling to face south-coast rivals Southampton on Sunday, October 11.

That creates a remarkable 22-day gap between the two fixtures.

Mousinho does not believe having such a long pause is beneficial, especially when it arrives only a short time after the beginning of the new season.

The Portsmouth boss believes his team needs regular competitive football to maintain rhythm, momentum and consistency. A three-week period without a Championship fixture could make it more difficult for players and coaching staff to maintain the level of performance they have been building during the opening weeks.

Mousinho also suggested that the timing of the break makes the situation even more frustrating.

Mousinho Wanted a Different Solution

Rather than extending the first international window, Mousinho would have preferred FIFA to move one of the pre-Christmas international breaks to the period after Christmas.

The manager believes that adjustment could help reduce some of the fixture congestion clubs regularly encounter during January and February.

He explained that the current structure appears to have swung from having three international interruptions before Christmas and one afterwards to a system featuring an unusually long three-week pause early in the campaign.

Mousinho does not believe that arrangement will necessarily help clubs produce their best football.

Speaking before Portsmouth’s meeting with Blackburn, he said that a three-week break in the middle of the season was not something he considered positive.

He also argued that shorter interruptions would be preferable because teams benefit from remaining in a regular competitive rhythm.

Pompey Want to Maintain Their Flow

For Portsmouth, the timing of the break could be particularly important as Mousinho continues to shape his team during the early stages of the Championship campaign.

The Blues have played six league matches and currently sit 18th in the table with seven points.

Southampton, meanwhile, are three points ahead in ninth place, although the Saints have played one additional match.

The two clubs will eventually meet in the highly anticipated south-coast derby, but Portsmouth will have to wait more than three weeks before getting the opportunity.

Mousinho accepts that the players and staff will have to adapt to the unusual circumstances, but he remains concerned about losing the competitive momentum developed through regular matches.

He believes teams generally perform better when they are able to play consistently rather than experiencing lengthy periods away from competitive action.

The manager acknowledged that the new system will be an interesting adjustment and that clubs will have to wait to see how it works in practice.

England’s International Fixtures

The extended break will not mean that football completely stops for everyone involved with Portsmouth.

International players will continue competing for their respective countries during the period.

England, for example, are scheduled to play four UEFA Nations League fixtures during the extended window.

The Three Lions are due to face Spain on September 26, before meeting Czechia on September 29. England will then play Croatia on October 3 before another fixture against Czechia on October 6.

The additional international matches are one of the reasons behind the calendar change, with national teams being provided with a larger window in which to complete their schedules.

However, from the perspective of domestic managers such as Mousinho, the arrangement creates a different set of challenges.

A Major Test for Championship Clubs

The three-week pause will give Portsmouth time to prepare for their next major league assignment, but Mousinho believes the absence of regular matches could make maintaining momentum more difficult.

His preference is clearly for shorter international interruptions spread more evenly across the season.

The Portsmouth manager also believes moving one pre-Christmas break into the post-Christmas period would help ease the pressure clubs often experience during the busiest part of the campaign.

For now, however, the new calendar is set.

Portsmouth must face Blackburn before beginning their extended period without a Championship fixture, with the Southampton derby waiting at the other end.

Mousinho will hope his squad returns from the interruption ready to continue improving, despite his concerns that the unusual three-week break could disrupt the rhythm and flow that Championship clubs need.