{"id":7143,"date":"2024-10-06T13:51:31","date_gmt":"2024-10-06T13:51:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/?p=7143"},"modified":"2024-10-07T08:13:49","modified_gmt":"2024-10-07T08:13:49","slug":"what-to-watch-during-the-october-international-break-key-fixtures-and-storylines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/what-to-watch-during-the-october-international-break-key-fixtures-and-storylines","title":{"rendered":"What to Watch During the October International Break: Key Fixtures and Storylines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The October international break brings another pause to domestic football, allowing national teams to take center stage. From crucial World Cup qualifiers in South America to high-stakes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/uefa-nations-league-7016\">UEFA Nations League<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/football\/league\/uefa-nations-league-7016\"> <\/a>matchups, this break is packed with exciting fixtures. Here\u2019s a rundown of the key matches and storylines to follow from October 7 to October 15, 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. <strong>Brazil\u2019s Crucial World Cup Qualifiers: Time to Climb<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In South America, all eyes will be on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/brazil-2379\">Brazil<\/a>, currently sitting 5th in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/conmebol-wc-qualification-613\">CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers,<\/a> 8 points behind their rivals and leaders, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/argentina-2378\">Argentina<\/a>. This break is pivotal for the Sele\u00e7\u00e3o as they face two must-win matches, first <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/match\/conmebol-wc-qualification-613\/brazil-chile-2379-5074-613#id=3877890\">against Chile<\/a> and then <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/match\/conmebol-wc-qualification-613\/brazil-peru-2379-5076-613#id=3877896\">Peru<\/a>. With pressure mounting, Brazil need to secure maximum points to stay on course for qualification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/raphinha-39789\">Raphinha<\/a> and the new generation of Brazilian stars rise to the occasion and close the gap on Argentina?<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"508\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-4-508x1024.png\" alt=\"CONMEBOL World Cup Qualification standings in 365Scores\" class=\"wp-image-7144\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-4-508x1024.png 508w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-4-149x300.png 149w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-4.png 635w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 508px) 100vw, 508px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Via 365Scores)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<div data-widget-type=\"predictions\" data-entity-type=\"game\" data-widget-id=\"0.q6i27dj0pm8\" data-lang=\"en-US\" data-entity-id=\"3877890\" data-publisher-id=\"125\" data-show-odds=\"true\" data-odds-type=\"decimal\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"powered-by\">Powered by<a id=\"powered-by-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">365Scores.com<\/a><\/div>\n<script src=\"https:\/\/widgets.365scores.com\/main.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. <strong>Messi\u2019s Quest with Argentina<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, Argentina, the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/fifa-club-world-cup-5096\"> World Cup<\/a> holders, continue their journey to the 2026 tournament. With <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/lionel-messi-874\">Lionel Messi<\/a> still at the heart of the squad, they will face <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/match\/conmebol-wc-qualification-613\/argentina-venezuela-2378-5072-613#id=3877889\">Venezuela<\/a> and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/bolivia-5077\"> Bolivia.<\/a> These games provide a chance for Messi and Argentina to solidify their lead in the CONMEBOL standings. Argentina\u2019s impressive form makes them favorites, but no World Cup qualifier is ever easy, especially with the high-altitude challenge of Bolivia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"717\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-1323574227-717x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Lionel Messi of Argentina\" class=\"wp-image-7146\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-1323574227-717x1024.jpg 717w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-1323574227-210x300.jpg 210w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-1323574227-768x1097.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-1323574227-1075x1536.jpg 1075w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-1323574227-scaled.jpg 1434w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 717px) 100vw, 717px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> (Photo by Wagner Meier\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div data-widget-type=\"predictions\" data-entity-type=\"game\" data-widget-id=\"0.thax9co3v7p\" data-lang=\"en-US\" data-entity-id=\"3877889\" data-publisher-id=\"125\" data-show-odds=\"true\" data-odds-type=\"decimal\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"powered-by\">Powered by<a id=\"powered-by-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">365Scores.com<\/a><\/div>\n<script src=\"https:\/\/widgets.365scores.com\/main.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. <strong>Nations League Showdowns: European Powerhouses Collide<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Europe will see some blockbuster matches in the UEFA Nations League, where the biggest names in football are set to clash:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/match\/uefa-nations-league-7016\/belgium-italy-2373-2375-7016#id=4051188\">Italy vs Belgium<\/a>: Two of Europe\u2019s top teams meet in a game full of history and talent. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/italy-2375\">Italy<\/a> will be eager to bounce back after recent struggles, while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/belgium-2373\">Belgium<\/a>, led by their golden generation, will look to make a statement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/football\/match\/uefa-nations-league-7016\/belgium-france-2373-5061-7016#id=4051219\">Belgium vs France<\/a>: Another marquee fixture, pitting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/ousmane-dembele-39779\">Ousmane Demb\u00e9l<a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/ousmane-dembele-39779\">\u00e9<\/a><\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/france-5061\">France<\/a> against Belgium\u2019s experienced squad. This is a must-watch as both teams push for a spot in the Nations League finals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/match\/uefa-nations-league-7016\/poland-portugal-5028-5038-7016#id=4051205\">Poland vs Portugal<\/a>: A showdown between two of Europe\u2019s most iconic players \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/robert-lewandowski-1857\">Robert Lewandowski<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/cristiano-ronaldo-817\">Cristiano Ronaldo<\/a>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/match\/uefa-nations-league-7016\/germany-netherlands-2372-2377-7016#id=4051222\">Germany vs Netherlands<\/a>: A classic European rivalry, this match promises to be a tactical battle between two teams eager to prove themselves on the road to future tournaments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div data-widget-type=\"predictions\" data-entity-type=\"game\" data-widget-id=\"0.yr51qkbxjns\" data-lang=\"en-US\" data-entity-id=\"4051219\" data-publisher-id=\"125\" data-show-odds=\"true\" data-odds-type=\"decimal\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"powered-by\">Powered by<a id=\"powered-by-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">365Scores.com<\/a><\/div>\n<script src=\"https:\/\/widgets.365scores.com\/main.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-left\">4. <strong>USA\u2019s Nations League Title Defense<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The USA, reigning <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/concacaf-nations-league-7165\">CONCACAF Nations League<\/a> champions, will not be in action this month, as they, along with the other top-ranked teams, have been given a bye to the quarterfinals. These matches will take place in November, but for now, the rest of the CONCACAF teams will battle it out in the group stage for a chance to compete against the champions.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2102855426-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Christian Pulisic #10 of United States and Tyler Adams #4 of United States \" class=\"wp-image-7150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2102855426-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2102855426-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2102855426-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2102855426-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-2102855426-1-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Shaun Clark\/ISI Photos\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. <strong>AFC Asian Qualifiers 2026: Asia\u2019s Rising Stars<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In Asia, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/afc-wc-qualification-605\">AFC World Cup Qualification<\/a> matches will see some of the continent\u2019s top teams battle for a place in the 2026 tournament. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/japan-2382\">Japan<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/south-korea-2383\">South Korea<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/australia-2380\">Australia<\/a> are all strong contenders, but can emerging nations like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/saudi-arabia-5087\">Saudi Arabia<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/football\/team\/saudi-arabia-5087\"> <\/a>and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/qatar-5079\">Qatar<\/a> make an impact?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A key match to watch will be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/match\/afc-wc-qualification-605\/japan-saudi-arabia-2382-5087-605#id=4159855\">Saudi Arabia vs Japan<\/a>, a fixture that could determine which team takes control of their group. Both teams have their eyes set on securing qualification as early as possible, and with players like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/takefusa-kubo-67424\">Takefusa Kubo<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/salem-al-dawsari-4641\">Salem al Dawsari<\/a> leading the way, this promises to be a high-quality contest.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-1653672772-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Salem Al-Dawsari (#10) of Saudi Arabia \" class=\"wp-image-7148\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-1653672772-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-1653672772-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-1653672772-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-1653672772-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-1653672772-scaled.jpg 1366w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Richard Callis\/MB Media\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. <strong><strong>Africa Cup of Nations Qualification: Race to <\/strong>Morocco <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In Africa, the qualifiers for the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/football\/league\/africa-cup-of-nations-qualification-588\"> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/africa-cup-of-nations-qualification-588\">Africa Cup of Nations<\/a> continue as nations battle for a spot in the 2025 tournament, set to be held in Morocco. Powerhouses like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/match\/africa-cup-of-nations-qualification-588\/malawi-senegal-5102-7051-588#id=4170385\">Senegal<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/nigeria-2386\">Nigeria<\/a>, and the host <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/morocco-5093\">Morocco<\/a> will look to secure their place in the competition, but underdog teams are eager to make a statement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div data-widget-type=\"predictions\" data-entity-type=\"game\" data-widget-id=\"0.r3osq08jab\" data-lang=\"en-US\" data-entity-id=\"4170392\" data-publisher-id=\"125\" data-show-odds=\"true\" data-odds-type=\"decimal\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"powered-by\">Powered by<a id=\"powered-by-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">365Scores.com<\/a><\/div>\n<script src=\"https:\/\/widgets.365scores.com\/main.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. <strong>Emerging Storylines to Follow<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Brazil\u2019s Response Under Pressure<\/strong>: With their World Cup qualification campaign in a precarious position, can Brazil rally to regain their dominance in South American football?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Messi\u2019s Leadership<\/strong>: Will Lionel Messi continue his run of brilliance with Argentina as they cruise towards qualification for the 2026 World Cup?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Nations League Drama<\/strong>: With top European teams clashing, who will take a step closer to Nations League glory, and which stars will shine in the spotlight?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. <strong>What\u2019s Next After October?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>After this break, the final international window of 2024 will take place in November, featuring more World Cup qualifiers and Nations League deciders. As we inch closer to major tournaments, the stakes will only rise.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The October international break brings another pause to domestic football, allowing national teams to take center stage. From crucial World Cup qualifiers in South America to high-stakes UEFA Nations League matchups, this break is packed with exciting fixtures. Here\u2019s a rundown of the key matches and storylines to follow from October 7 to October 15, &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":6215,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"","rank_math_canonical_url":"","rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_facebook_image":"","rank_math_robots":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[2541,1750,266,2540,2539,26,159,719,2158,591],"content-tags":[],"article_type":[],"entity_type":[],"inspiration":[],"class_list":["post-7143","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-soccer","tag-afc-asian-qualifiers","tag-african-cup-of-nations","tag-argentina","tag-concacaf-nations-league","tag-conmebol-world-cup-qualifiers","tag-cristiano-ronaldo","tag-lionel-messi","tag-mohamed-salah","tag-selecao","tag-uefa-nations-league"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7143","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7143"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7143\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6215"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7143"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7143"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7143"},{"taxonomy":"content-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-tags?post=7143"},{"taxonomy":"article_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article_type?post=7143"},{"taxonomy":"entity_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity_type?post=7143"},{"taxonomy":"inspiration","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/inspiration?post=7143"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}