International

Who's playing and when in the international break?

Riccardo Calafiori playing for Italy

A trio of Gunners will be hoping for UEFA Nations League bragging rights when they return to the Sobha Realty Training Centre following the international break, as they all face off during the window.

The action in Group A2 is hotting up, with Riccardo Calafiori’s Italy leading the way with maximum points after two games. They’ll look to maintain that 100% record when they host Leandro Trossard’s Belgium on Thursday, who have three points so far.

Following that, Leo's Red Devils return to Brussels for a fixture against William Saliba’s France, who head to Budapest to take on Israel before their clash with their neighbours. The Azzuri will host Israel on the same day, when the group will really take shape.

Also in League A, Spain will be looking to claim top spot and a place in the Nations League finals by beating Denmark on Saturday, after taking four points from their first two games. David Raya and Mikel Merino are in the reigning European and Nations League champions’ ranks for that game, as well as their fixture against Serbia three days later.

Meanwhile, Jakub Kiwior’s Poland host Portugal in Warsaw, looking to move level on points with them at the top. Three days later Croatia come to town to complete a pair of massive games for the Poles.

In League B, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka have been named in Lee Carsley’s England squad for their fixtures against Greece at Wembley and away to Finland. The Three Lions won their first two fixtures last month, as did the Greeks which has left Thursday’s clash nicely poised as Rice and Saka aim to win promotion back to League A.

Over in South America, Gabriel Martinelli returns to the Brazil squad alongside Gabriel for a pair of 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Peru. The Selcao are fifth in the standings with 10 points from eight matches, with the top six set to qualify directly. With their opponents occupying the bottom two spots of the table, this is a great chance for the five-time world champions to boost their chances.

In Africa, Thomas Partey is set to captain Ghana in a double-header against Sudan as the Black Stars aim to reach the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morroco. After taking one point from their opening two games, Ghana will be looking to bounce back with a pair of wins to stay in contention for the tournament, which begins in December 2025.

FULL LIST OF CALL-UPS

all times BST

Thursday, October 10
Israel v France (Saliba)
Nations League | Budapest, Hungary | 7.45pm

Italy (Calafiori) v Belgium (Trossard)
Nations League | Rome | 7.45pm

England (Rice, Saka) v Greece
Nations League | London | 7.45pm

Friday, October 11
Peru v Brazil, Martinelli, Gabriel)
World Cup qualifiers | Santiago | 1am

Ghana (Partey) v Sudan
AFCON qualifier | Accra | 5pm

Saturday, October 12
Spain (Raya, Merino) v Denmark
Nations League | Murcia | 7.45pm

Poland (Kiwior) v Portugal
Nations League | Warsaw| 7.45pm

Sunday, October 13
Finland v England (Rice, Saka)
Nations League | Helsinki | 5pm

Monday, October 14
Sudan v Ghana (Partey)
AFCON qualifier | Benina, Libya | 2pm

Belgium (Trossard) v France (Saliba)
Nations League | Brussels | 7.45pm

Italy (Calafiori) v Israel
Nations League | Udine | 7.45pm

Tuesday, October 15
Spain (Raya, Merino) v Serbia
Nations League | Cordoba | 7.45pm

Poland (Kiwior) v Croatia
Nations League | Warsaw | 7.45pm

Wednesday, October 16
Brazil (Martinelli, Gabriel) v Peru
World Cup qualifier | Brasilia | 1.45am