Football
How do teams deal with longer international window?
With the international window extended to four games, how do nations like Northern Ireland deal with the additional demands on players and staff?
· 3 min read
Northern Ireland are two games into the four-match international window
In years gone by, the final whistle would have blown in Northern Ireland's Nations League game with Hungary and the players would have been heading back to their clubs.
Instead, Michael O'Neill and his squad are back on the road to Slovakia to face Ukraine in the extended international window.
For 2026, the September and October breaks have been amalgamated into one 16-day window, with four fixtures instead of two.
Northern Ireland have made a strong start to the campaign with four points from two matches, but it isn't without its challenges.
But how does it impact a nation like Northern Ireland, who do not have the squad depth or resources of some of Europe's heavy hitters?
Szoboszlai's Hungary latest to draw blank in Belfast
O'Neill 'positive' as NI maintain unbeaten start
