October internationals: Who's playing when?
Manchester United’s Premier League fixture schedule may be clear for 10 days, but our players are still in action as they join up with their respective national teams.
Qualifying for next summer’s European Championship approaches its denouement, with several Reds on the verge of booking a place at the finals in Germany.
Over in South America, meanwhile, the 2026 World Cup qualifiers continue.
There are also plenty of friendlies interspersed among the competitive fixtures and here’s your breakdown of who is playing when…
EUROPE
England manager Gareth Southgate has called up Harry Maguire and Marcus Rashford, as the Three Lions test themselves against Australia, in a friendly, before the vital meeting with Italy at Wembley. Victory over the Azzurri would guarantee a place at next summer’s finals with two games to spare.
Scott McTominay and Scotland could also be celebrating, as the Tartan Army are just two points away from making it to a second straight European Championship. Steve Clarke’s side travel to Spain and, even if they don’t win there, any dropped points for Norway in their fixtures with Cyprus and Spain will stamp Scotland’s ticket anyway.
Portugal (Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes) need a maximum of four points from games against Slovakia and Bosnia-Herzegovina to make an eighth straight finals, while Denmark (Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Hojlund) will hope to have increased the one-point cushion between themselves and the chasing pack after meetings with Kazakhstan and San Marino.
In the same group, Jonny Evans and Northern Ireland are playing for pride but could have a big say on qualification as they host Slovenia, who sit top of the group from Denmark, on goals scored.
Victor Lindelof is captain of Sweden but the Scandinavians are looking unlikely to make it to next summer’s tournament, as they need to bridge a seven-point gap to Belgium and Austria in their last three games.
Turkey (Altay Bayindir) are assured of a play-off spot due to their Nations League ranking and currently sit in the second of two qualifying berths in Group D, three points clear of Armenia and Wales with three games to play.
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SOUTH AMERICA
The World Cup qualifiers continue in South America and Casemiro’s Brazil face off against Facundo Pellistri’s Uruguay in the early hours of Wednesday 18 October. Brazil have a 100 per cent record in the early stages of the competition and the Selecao also have a home game against Venezuela on the agenda. Uruguay’s other qualifier involves a tricky looking trip to Colombia, who currently sit third in the group.
New father Alejandro Garnacho is involved for Argentina, who also recorded two wins in their two opening fixtures. The World Cup winners host Paraguay at Estadio Mas Monumental, before travelling to Peru.
AFRICA
Sofyan Amrabat had to withdraw from Morocco’s squad in September due to injury, but the on-loan midfielder is available for the Atlas Lions this month. The north Africans face a friendly with Ivory Coast, before hosting Liberia in their final Africa Cup of Nations qualifier – a game postponed due to last month’s earthquake near Marrakesh.
Morocco have already qualified for the tournament and need just a point to overtake South Africa and top Group K.
Andre Onana has made himself available for Cameroon again and is in his nation’s squad to play Russia, in Moscow, and Senegal, in Lens. Hannibal will travel to the Far East as Tunisia have games against South Korea and Japan, the latter as part of the Kirin Challenge Cup.
Onana’s two key saves
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FULL FIXTURE LIST
THURSDAY 12 OCTOBER
Russia v Cameroon (17:00)
Sweden v Moldova (18:00)
Croatia v Turkey (19:45)
Spain v Scotland (19:45)
Colombia v Uruguay (21:30)
FRIDAY 13 OCTOBER
Argentina v Paraguay (00:00)
Brazil v Venezuela (01:30)
South Korea v Tunisia (12:00)
England v Australia (19:45)
Portugal v Slovakia (19:45)
SATURDAY 14 OCTOBER
Northern Ireland v San Marino (14:00)
Ivory Coast v Morocco (18:00)
Denmark v Kazakhstan (19:45)
SUNDAY 15 OCTOBER
Turkey v Latvia (19:45)
MONDAY 16 OCTOBER
Senegal v Cameroon (19:30)
Belgium v Sweden (19:45)
Bosnia v Portugal (19:45)
TUESDAY 17 OCTOBER
Japan v Tunisia (11:10)
England v Italy (19:45)
Northern Ireland v Slovenia (19:45)
San Marino v Denmark (19:45)
Morocco v Liberia (20:00)
France v Scotland (20:00)
WEDNESDAY 18 OCTOBER
Uruguay v Brazil (01:00)
Peru v Argentina (03:00)
All kick-off times in BST.