I know; we just got back to MLS, and we’ve already got a weekend off? Never fear, my dears, for international soccer is here to keep your viewing schedule from being totally clear. Sure, there’s going to be six MLS games on Saturday, and you should watch Columbus vs. Seattle at the very least, but this isn’t a “what other MLS games should I watch while the Loons are off” guide; this is an international soccer watch guide, dang it! Respect the international break, and the international break will respect you. Little bit of wisdom for you there—that one’s for free.

I’ve done the research once again, and I must say, I’m incredibly excited for what’s coming up over the next week and a half. I’m talking qualifiers, friendlies, Nations Leagues, and… well, that’s it, but that’s quite the bunch of competitions, eh? Read on to make your own customized viewing schedule from the selections I’ve so carefully curated, and try to enjoy yourself during this break. You deserve it!

Loons

We’ve got 10—yes, you heard that right, 10—Loons going global this window. That’s the most in the league. Not too shabby! The usual suspects made the list, including our pairs of Finnish and Canadian internationals. We’ve got four players taking on the Concacaf Nations League, and two first-time call-ups for Puerto Rico’s Enrique Nieves and Palestine’s Tamer Ibsais. Captain Michael Boxall gets to skip his usual trip across the world for a pair of New Zealand friendlies right here in the USA, facing off against El Tri and the Stars and Stripes. Check out the full list below and visit the club’s official announcement for more information on each of the call-ups.

• Dayne St. Clair - Canada
• Tani Oluwaseyi - Canada
• Alejandro Bran - Costa Rica
• Robin Lod - Finland
• Teemu Pukki - Finland
• Joseph Rosales - Honduras
• Michael Boxall - New Zealand
• Zarek Valentin - Puerto Rico
• Enrique Nieves - Puerto Rico
• Tamer Ibsais - Palestine U20

I’ve slotted the details for each of our Loons’ matches into their corresponding competitions, so you’re going to have to do a bit more work in this watch guide. But—seeing as I’m endlessly empathetic—I've bolded every game that could feature a Loon for you. Some say I’m too kind, others don’t; you decide.

Concacaf Nations League

Nations League games start today, at least in our neck of the woods. The heavy hitters of Concacaf won’t be participating in this round of matches, leaving teams primarily from tiers B and C to battle it out this window. That includes four of our Loons, and beyond catching their games, I recommend keeping an eye on Jamaica. They’ve got a ton of talent to draw from, and they’re always capable of playing some pretty soccer. Do they always live up to their potential? Nah, but who does? You can catch Concacaf Nations League matches on Univision or Paramount+.

Matchday 1

• Costa Rica vs. Guadeloupe on Thursday, September 5 at 7:00 p.m.
• Puerto Rico vs. Haiti on Friday, September 6 at 7:00 p.m.
• Jamaica vs. Cuba on Friday, September 6 at 7:00 p.m.
• Honduras vs. Trinidad and Tobago on Friday, September 6 at 9:00 p.m.

Matchday 2

• Aruba vs. Puerto Rico on Monday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m.
• Guatemala vs. Costa Rica on Monday, September 9 at 9:00 p.m.
• Honduras vs. Jamaica on Tuesday, September 10 at 9:00 p.m.

UEFA Nations League

They’re copying us across the pond. Or maybe we’re copying them? No, our Nations League games start first, so we win this round, Europe. We’ve got plenty of exciting matchups in this UEFA Nations League window, including defending Euros champions Spain taking on Switzerland and Serbia, two underrated national teams that should believe they stand a chance against the top dogs. These matches will be available via the Fox Sports family, but I wasn’t able to pinpoint the exact channels for each game. If you need extra help, I’ll post on Reddit.

Matchday 1

• Serbia vs. Spain on Thursday, September 5 at 1:45 p.m.
• Denmark vs. Switzerland on Thursday, September 5 at 1:45 p.m.
• Portugal vs. Croatia on Thursday, September 5 at 1:45 p.m.
• France vs. Italy on Friday, September 6 at 1:45 p.m.
• Greece vs. Finland on Saturday, September 7 at 1:45 p.m.

Matchday 2

• Switzerland vs. Spain on Sunday, September 8 at 1:45 p.m.
• France vs. Belgium on Monday, September 9 at 1:45 p.m.
• Norway vs. Austria on Monday, September 9 at 1:45 p.m.
• Netherlands vs. Germany on Tuesday, September 10 at 1:45 p.m.
• England vs. Finland on Tuesday, September 10 at 1:45 p.m.

World Cup Qualifying: CONMEBOL and AFC

The 2026 World Cup is creeping closer and closer, and that means it’s time to sort out qualification. Both CONMEBOL and the AFC will be playing qualifiers during this window, and while both federations are still fairly early on in the process, we’ve already got some big matchups to enjoy in both regions. Watch on Telemundo, Fubo, and check out FIFA+ for all AFC matches at the crack of dawn.

AFC: Third Round

• Japan vs. China on Thursday, September 5:35 a.m.
• Iraq vs. Oman on Thursday, September 5 at 11:00 a.m.
• Qatar vs. United Arab Emirates on Thursday, September 5 at 11:00 a.m.
• Oman vs. South Korea on Tuesday, September 10 at 9:00 a.m.
• United Arab Emirates vs. Iran on Tuesday, September 10 at 11:00 a.m.

CONMEBOL: Matchday 7 and 8

• Argentina vs. Chile on Thursday, September 5 at 7:00 p.m.
• Brazil vs. Ecuador on Friday, September 6 at 8:00 p.m.
• Colombia vs. Argentina on Tuesday, September 10 at 3:30 p.m.
• Venezuela vs. Uruguay on Tuesday, September 10 at 5:00 p.m.

AFCON Qualifying

Qualifiers of a different sort will be taking place in Africa as 48 nations fight for their spot in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Some of the world’s best players will be showcasing their skills in these qualifiers, so don’t sleep on the CAF fixtures this international break. I think beIN Sports is your best bet for watching these games, but you might have to be a bit creative if you plan on watching any AFCON qualifiers this week.

Matchday 1

• Morocco vs. Gabon on Friday, September 6 at 1:00 p.m.
• Senegal vs. Burkina Faso on Friday, September 6 at 2:00 p.m.
• Egypt vs. Cape Verde on Friday, September 6 at 2:00 p.m.

Matchday 2

• Gambia vs. Tunisia on Sunday, September 8 at 10:00 a.m.
• Rwanda vs. Nigeria on Tuesday, September 10 at 8:00 a.m.
• Chad vs. Ivory Coast on Tuesday, September 10 at 2:00 p.m.

International Friendlies

Now, international friendlies aren’t at the top of everyone’s watchlist, and that’s for good reason. They’re not the most competitive or compelling games, but they can be pretty fun if you’ve got the right attitude! Watch some new players get their first chance with their national team, maybe a few new tactics in a low-stakes environment, and everyone comes out of it with a few wins, regardless of the final scoreline.

• USA vs. Canada on Saturday, September 7 at 3:00 p.m.
• Mexico vs. New Zealand on Saturday, September 7 at 8:00 p.m.
• USA vs. New Zealand on Tuesday, September 10 at 6:00 p.m.
• Mexico vs. Canada on Tuesday, September 10 at 7:30 p.m.

There you have it: the most extensive list I was willing and able to put together for this international window. There are quite a few games to catch, regardless of your international allegiances or preferences. You’re going to have to make some tough decisions now. For instance, is it worth getting up at five in the morning to watch Japan play China? You be the judge!