The international break is often seen as a quiet spell in the football calendar, a time when club action pauses, and fans are left watching national teams in matches that, outside of major tournaments, can sometimes lack the intensity and passion of domestic league play. With fewer high-stakes moments and a scattered fixture list, many supporters find it hard to match the same level of engagement they feel for their club.
For Barcelona, the break brings both opportunity and challenge. A large portion of the first-team squad has joined their national teams as the World Cup qualifying campaign ramps up ahead of next summer’s tournament in North America.
Arguably one of the most intriguing fixtures of the international break for Barcelona fans will take place in Rotterdam, where two Barça teammates are set to go head-to-head on opposing sides.
Frenkie de Jong vs Robert Lewandowski
Tonight, the Dutch midfield maestro of his generation takes on Poland in a key World Cup qualifier, with Robert Lewandowski returning to the national team as a hero after a brief hiatus due to a dispute with the former manager.
Group C remains finely balanced, with the Netherlands boasting a perfect record, two wins from two, while Poland also sit on six points, albeit having played one game more. A win for the Netherlands would put them firmly in control of Group C, while Poland can ill afford another setback, with Finland already emerging as strong contenders for the playoff spot.
Barca stars elsewhere
Barcelona fans around the world will be keeping a close eye on Spain this week as La Roja continue their World Cup qualifying campaign with two away trips to Bulgaria and Turkey. Several Barça stars are expected to feature, including Pau Cubarsí, Pedri, Fermín López, Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, and Lamine Yamal. Supporters will be hoping for a productive and injury-free international break for all involved.
Elsewhere in Europe, Marcus Rashford, Andreas Christensen, and Jules Koundé are also set for action with their respective national teams, with all three expected to get valuable minutes.
In South America, Ronald Araújo will represent Uruguay in crucial qualifiers against Peru and Chile, while Raphinha is set to don Brazil’s iconic yellow as they aim for back-to-back wins. Both nations will be looking to strengthen their path toward qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.