Barcelona’s perfect start to the new La Liga season has been interrupted by the first international break of the campaign.
While Hansi Flick’s side will not be in action for the next couple of weeks, there will still be plenty of Barça interest around the world.
A total of 17 Barcelona players have been called up by their national teams, with matches scheduled from September 24 through October 6.
For Barça fans, the international break means one thing: watching your favourite players represent their countries while hoping they all return to Barcelona healthy and ready for the next challenge.
Spain provides the biggest Barça contingent
As usual, Spain has the largest Barcelona representation.
Pau Cubarsí, Rodri, Eric García, Pedri, Fermín López, Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal have all been called up to the senior national team.
Spain’s schedule includes some interesting fixtures, beginning with a meeting with England at Wembley on September 26.
The Spanish side will then face Croatia, the Czech Republic and Croatia again during the break.
For Barça supporters, Lamine Yamal and Pedri will naturally be among the players attracting the most attention.
Yamal has already been one of the standout performers during Barcelona’s impressive start to the season, while Pedri remains one of the most important players in Flick’s midfield.
The international matches will give both players another opportunity to continue their strong form on the international stage.
Raphinha faces a long journey with Brazil
Raphinha is another Barça player who will have a particularly busy international break.
The Brazilian captain has been in outstanding form for Barcelona, scoring a hat-trick in the 3-1 victory over Sevilla that extended Barça’s perfect league start. He had already reached 12 La Liga goals in seven games.
Now, however, he will leave Europe and join Brazil for a series of friendlies.
Brazil will face Australia in Townsville on September 25 before meeting them again in Brisbane on September 29.
Raphinha will then travel to India for Brazil’s match against India in Kolkata on October 3.
It will be a demanding trip for the Barça captain, with thousands of kilometres of travel involved.
For Barcelona fans, the hope will simply be that Raphinha returns to Catalonia in the same condition he left.
João Cancelo returns to Portugal duty
João Cancelo will represent Portugal during the break.
Portugal’s schedule begins against Wales in Lisbon on September 24 before they travel to Norway.
Cancelo will then face Denmark before Portugal return home to play Norway again on October 4.
The experienced full-back has become an important part of Barcelona’s squad, and his performances will be closely followed by Culers throughout the break.
Koundé prepares for a busy schedule with France
Jules Koundé is also set for several demanding fixtures.
France will face Türkiye on September 25, Belgium on September 28, Italy on October 2 and Belgium again on October 5.
That means Koundé could potentially be involved in four international matches in less than two weeks.
For Flick, his return to Barcelona will be particularly important given the number of games waiting for Barça after the international break.
Livaković leads the Croatian contingent
Barcelona goalkeeper Dominik Livaković will be representing Croatia.
His schedule includes matches against Czechia, Spain and England before another meeting with Spain.
One of the most interesting moments for Barça fans will come on September 29, when Livaković’s Croatia face Spain, putting him directly against several of his Barcelona teammates.
The same situation will happen again on October 6.
More Barça players on international duty
The international call-ups don’t stop there.
Anthony Gordon will represent England, while Karim Adeyemi joins Germany.
Egypt have called up Hamza Abdelkarim, while Jesse Bisiwu will represent Belgium’s Under-21 side.
Barcelona’s young players Marc Bernal and Xavi Espart will also be involved with Spain Under-21s.
For Bernal in particular, these matches are another important step in his return to competitive football and his continued development.
The full Barça international schedule
Here are the main fixtures involving Barcelona players during the break:
September 24
- Portugal vs Wales — João Cancelo
- Belgium U21 vs Belarus U21 — Jesse Bisiwu
September 25
- Australia vs Brazil — Raphinha
- Türkiye vs France — Jules Koundé
- Egypt vs Angola — Hamza Abdelkarim
- Finland U21 vs Spain U21 — Marc Bernal, Xavi Espart
September 26
- England vs Spain — Cubarsí, Rodri, Eric García, Pedri, Fermín López, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal
- Czechia vs Croatia — Dominik Livaković
September 27
- Norway vs Portugal — João Cancelo
September 28
- Belgium vs France — Jules Koundé
September 29
- Australia vs Brazil — Raphinha
- Spain vs Croatia — Spain’s Barça players and Livaković
- Czechia vs England — Anthony Gordon
- South Sudan vs Egypt — Hamza Abdelkarim
- Belgium U21 vs Wales U21 — Jesse Bisiwu
October 1
- Denmark vs Portugal — João Cancelo
- Germany vs Serbia — Karim Adeyemi
- San Marino U21 vs Spain U21 — Marc Bernal, Xavi Espart
October 2
- France vs Italy — Jules Koundé
October 3
- Spain vs Czechia — Spain’s Barça players
- India vs Brazil — Raphinha
- Croatia vs England — Livaković and Gordon
October 4
- Portugal vs Norway — João Cancelo
- Greece vs Germany — Karim Adeyemi
- Egypt vs South Africa — Hamza Abdelkarim
October 5
- France vs Belgium — Jules Koundé
October 6
- Croatia vs Spain — Livaković and Spain’s Barça players
- England vs Czechia — Anthony Gordon
- Spain U21 vs Romania U21 — Marc Bernal, Xavi Espart
- Denmark U21 vs Belgium U21 — Jesse Bisiwu
The full schedule published by FC Barcelona runs through October 6.
Now comes the waiting game for Culers
Barcelona couldn’t have asked for a much more interesting start to the season, but the international break arrives at a time when Flick’s team has plenty of momentum.
The club has sent 17 players away with their national teams, leaving Flick with a smaller group of players in Barcelona during the break.
For the players, it is an opportunity to represent their countries.
For Barcelona, however, there is another priority: getting everyone back safely.
The next few days will see Barça players travelling across Europe, Africa, Asia and beyond. Some will play competitive Nations League matches, others will feature in European Under-21 qualifiers, while Raphinha and Brazil will play friendlies.
Culers will be watching the results, the performances and, perhaps most importantly, the fitness reports.
Because when the international break finally ends, Barcelona’s season starts moving again — and Flick will want his squad ready.
