There is no off-season for soccer. Unlike many other sports that have a clearly defined playing season, soccer has a schedule that is almost continuous, with various leagues, tournaments and international competitions overlapping throughout the calendar year.
Depending on whether it’s played on lush outdoor grass fields in summer or controlled indoor arenas in winter, soccer can be a year-round sport.
With a worldwide fanbase and enormous commercial appeal, resistance to interruptions to the soccer calendar is also about economics — there are league matches, cup competitions, international tournaments and friendlies filling a calendar bursting with games.
This means professional players and die-hard fans have little to no downtime.
In this article, we’ll look into why soccer is played year-round, the seasons of different leagues, what players do in the off-season and how the soccer calendar is organized to keep a steady stream of matches.
Why is Soccer Played Year-Round?
Soccer is one of the biggest sports that can be played all year round as it is played in all weather conditions.
With the proper facilities and equipment, games can be played in the heat of summer or the cold of winter.
And, of course, different leagues run at different times of the year, meaning there is always competitive soccer somewhere being played.
Three factors that give soccer a year-round appeal:
Indoor and Outdoor Play
The versatility of soccer is one of the main reasons the game can be played all year long. The sport isn’t confined to outdoor grass fields.
In the winter months or in areas with extreme climate, soccer goes indoors or onto artificial turf.
Indoor soccer arenas and turf fields offer players year-round training and play opportunities, no matter the forecast. This flexibility means the sport doesn’t need to stop for rain, snow or stifling heat.
Worldwide Popularity and Profitability
Soccer is the world’s most popular sport, with billions of fans and billions of dollars in revenue. And this popularity creates a need for steady content – matches, tournaments, events.
Leagues, clubs and broadcasters exploit this by cramming the calendar with games 12 months a year.
Soccer fans can rejoice, thanks to a busy schedule with plenty of action from local leagues to international competitions.
Diverse Competition Formats
Soccer is not one league or one kind of competition. It’s a rich ecosystem of tournaments and matches that mutually overlap and complement.
Here’s a breakdown of the different types of competitions that keep soccer going all year:
- Local Leagues: This is where the soccer action operates, with matches occurring every week in-season.
- International Club Competitions: Tournaments such as UEFA Champions League, CAF Champions League and Copa Libertadores operate concurrently with domestic leagues.
- Friendly or Preseason Matches: Played during the off-season, these are used to keep players fit and fans entertained.
- National Team Matches: One-off events such as the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro, AFCON and CONMEBOL Copa América that take place in periods in between the club calendar.
This guarantees that even when one tournament is on a break, a new one is just starting to kick off.
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When Does Soccer Season Start and End?
Unlike some sports — many of them, actually — with well-defined off-seasons, soccer’s leagues and tournaments run on varying calendars, depending on the country and the competition.
Here’s a breakdown:
- European Leagues: Most European domestic leagues from the English Premier League (EPL), La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1, are played between August and May.
- Major League Soccer (MLS): The MLS season in the United States and Canada operates on a different schedule, running from March to November.
- South American leagues: Many countries in South America, including Argentina and Brazil, have split seasons, called Apertura and Clausura, which usually spans from February to December.
- International Tournaments: Major international tournaments, like the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship (Euros), and Copa America, typically take place in the summer months (June-July) but occasionally disrupt domestic seasons, as seen with the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar (Nov -Dec)
- Winter Break: Some leagues have winter breaks (the Bundesliga in Germany, for example) while others play through winter like the English Premier League, which is famed for its heavy Boxing Day schedule.
What Do Soccer Players Do During the Off-Season?
Soccer is a sport that is played year round, but players still get some time off. The off-season is league- and player-dependent, but it generally takes a few weeks.
- European Off-Season: May-August for most European Leagues.
- MLS Off-Season: MLS players experience their off-season between December and February.
- South American Off-Seasons: South American leagues often have two short breaks, one mid-year and another at the end of the year.
Here’s how players spend the break:
1. Vacation and Recovery
After such a long schedule, it’s important for players to take a break. Most go on holiday with their families; their bodies get a chance to recover from the physical rigours of the game.
2. Light Training
Although rest is of utmost importance, players don’t actually cease training entirely. Quite a few do casual workouts just to keep fit and get ready for the approaching preseason.
3. National Team Duties
Anyone participating in international tournaments will see their off-season shortened.
They often report to their national teams for tournaments such as the World Cup or continental championships, which can lengthen their season.
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What Happens During Pre-Season?
The preseason is a critical period for soccer players and teams. It’s not just about getting back in shape—it’s about building the foundation for the entire season.
Here’s what goes down in the preseason:
1. Physical Preparation
The early stages of preseason are spent reacquiring match fitness. Bringing endurance, strength, and agility takes much training for players.
2. Friendly Matches
It’s a process that involves several friendlies to test tactics and incorporate new players. These games are definitely less about winning and more about preparation.
3. Pre-Season Tournaments
Clubs that don’t compete in preseason tournaments (like the International Champions Cup or the Emirates Cup) have to take some time off. These tournaments provide a different level of competition and help teams adjust their game plan.
4. Transfer Activity
All this is happening against the backdrop of a busy transfer period as clubs overhauled their squads during the offseason. During this time, clubs dabble at signing fresh faces and racing to make their roster more competitive for the next season.
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How Often Do Soccer Players Play Matches?
Soccer players have one of the toughest schedules in sports. Because of the high-intensity nature of the game, players need 48-72 hours to recover between matches.
Most leagues play games:
- Once or twice a week during the regular season.
- Up to three matches per week during congested schedules, such as when clubs compete in domestic and international tournaments simultaneously.
- Breaks during holidays: Some leagues have short breaks, but others play during festive periods like Christmas (EPL’s Boxing Day fixtures).
The full body nature of soccer, such as sprinting, jumping, tackling, and constant movement, makes recovery time crucial. But with tight schedules, rotation and squad depth are essential to alleviate player fatigue.
Who Creates the Soccer Calendar?
The global soccer calendar, a complicated system of overlapping leagues and tournaments, is governed by different bodies:
- FIFA: Sets the dates for international tournaments and FIFA-recognized matches.
- Continental Confederations: Organizations like UEFA (Europe), CONMEBOL (South America), CAF (Africa) and CONCACAF (North America) create calendars for their competitions.
- National Federations: Each country’s soccer federation (e.g, English FA, Spanish RFEF) determines domestic league schedules.
All scheduling decisions must consider factors like player recovery, travel demands, and commercial obligations. However, due to soccer’s global nature, conflicts and tight schedules are common.
