September 2024 international window: key games, competitions, USMNT, Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo…

Kylian Mbappé is up and running for Real Madrid with his first two LaLiga goals but he will have to wait almost two weeks to continue his club momentum because of the September international window, the first break of the season in Europe’s top leagues, also including the Premier League.

It feels as if club soccer has only just returned after the 2024 Copa América and Euro 2024, but attention already turns back to national teams across the globe, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada now less than two years away.

Who do the USMNT play in September 2024?

The USMNT, eliminated from the Copa América in the group stage, begin life after Gregg Berhalter - and before Mauricio Pochettino, it seems - with two friendly games.

The Stars and Stripes face Canada at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City on Saturday, September 7 (kickoff at 4pm ET) before taking on New Zealand at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati on Tuesday, September 10 (kickoff at 7pm ET).

The United States will also play two friendly matches in the October window, before returning to competitive action in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Nations League in November (the draw has yet to be made).

Former Real Madrid veterans Ronaldo and Modric play on

There is, however, UEFA Nations League action coming up this week in Europe, which will be partially linked to 2026 World Cup qualification, supplying four teams.

Despite not being at his best at Euro 2024, 39-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo will continue to play for Portugal, who will host Croatia on Thursday, September 5 (2.45pm ET) and Scotland on Sunday, September 8 (2.45pm ET). Former Real Madrid teammate Luka Modric, 38, is expected to feature for the Croats.

Best UEFA Nations League fixtures in September 2024

Other stand-out ties in the UEFA Nations League this month see France play at home to Italy (Friday, September 6, 2.45pm ET) and then Belgium (Monday, September 9, 2.45pm ET), while the Netherlands and Germany face off in Amsterdam on Tuesday, September 10 (2.45pm ET).

European champions Spain, also the most recent Nations League winners, have two away matches against Serbia (Thursday, September 5, 2.45pm ET) and Switzerland (Sunday, September 8, 2.45pm ET).

All of those matches are in Group A, but beaten Euro 2024 finalists England have dropped down into Group B for the first time. They visit the Republic of Ireland on Saturday, September 7 (12pm ET) and then take on Finland at Wembley (Tuesday, September 10, 2.45pm ET).

Is Lionel Messi playing for Argentina in the September international window?

As for South America, 2026 World Cup qualification continues with matchdays 7 and 8 (out of 18). Injured Inter Miami star Lionel Messi is not in the Argentina squad as they get ready for games at home to Chile (Thursday, September 5, 8pm ET) and away to Colombia (Tuesday, September 10, 4.30pm ET).

Arch rivals Brazil host Ecuador (Friday, September 6, 9pm ET) before visiting Paraguay (Tuesday, September 10, 8.30pm ET).

Argentina lead the standings after winning five and losing one of their opening six qualifiers. Uruguay are in second spot, two points behind, while Brazil are all the way down in sixth after three defeats in six games. The top six teams qualify for the World Cup, with the seventh going into an intercontinental playoff.

2026 World Cup and 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification games

The third round of 2026 World Cup qualification begins in Asia (AFC) and will lead to six nations qualifying for the World Cup, while the first round (of three) will be played in Oceania (OFC). Qualifying for the African Cup of Nations gets underway in Africa (CAF), with the final tournament to be held in Morocco in December 2025 and January 2026.