On the senior international stage, Chelsea will be represented across three continents, in a mixture of tournament qualifiers and friendlies.

Closest to home, qualifying for Euro 2024 has reached the halfway mark, with countries vying for a spot at the tournament which will be hosted by Germany next summer.

In South America, qualifying is already under way for the 2026 World Cup, to be held across Canada, the USA and Mexico, with matchdays three and four of the round-robin format to be played during the October international break.

Qualifying for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, starting in the Ivory Coast in January, has now been completed. Alongside the group-stage draw taking place next week, attention turns to warm-up friendlies on that continent.

Euro 2024 qualifiers

Albania

Armando Broja – The Group E leaders could give their qualification chances a big boost when they host second-placed Czechia on Thursday 12 October, before taking on Bulgaria in a friendly on Tuesday 17 October. Broja returns to the national side for the first time since November last year, following a lengthy spell out with a knee injury.

England

Levi Colwill and Conor Gallagher – Chelsea will have two representatives in the Three Lions ranks. They have two matches, both at Wembley, hosting a friendly against Australia on Friday 13 October before a crucial qualifier with Italy on Tuesday 17 October. England currently top Group C, with Italy six points behind in second with a game in hand.

France

Malo Gusto – The Blues defender was a late call-up for France, joining the senior squad for the first time. They travel to the Netherlands on Friday 13 October knowing a victory would guarantee them a spot at Euro 2024, and even a draw would be enough if Greece lose to the Republic of Ireland on the same day. The French will then host Scotland in a friendly on Tuesday 17 October.

Netherlands

Ian Maatsen – The Chelsea left-back steps up from the Under-21s to the senior Dutch squad for a pair of crucial qualifying games. They host Group B leaders France on Friday 13 October, needing at least a point to keep their chances of catching the French alive, and then travel to Greece on Monday 16 October. The Netherlands and Greece are currently tied in second place on nine points each, with the top two qualifying automatically.

Serbia

Djordje Petrovic – Serbia’s back-to-back qualifiers begin with a massive away trip to Hungary on Saturday 14 October, with the two sides going into that match level on points at the top of Group G. They then host Montenegro, who are only two points further back in third place, in their second match of this break on Tuesday 17 October.

Ukraine

Mykhailo Mudryk – Alongside England in Group C, Ukraine and North Macedonia are level with Italy in third place on seven points, and face each other in qualifying in the Czech capital Prague on Saturday 14 October with everything still to play for. Mudryk and Co then travel away to bottom-placed Malta, who are still looking for their first point, three days later.

World Cup qualifiers

Argentina

Enzo Fernandez – As one of two sides to win both their opening matches in the South American section of 2026 World Cup qualifying, without conceding a goal, defending champions Argentina will be hoping to continue their 100 per cent record with two more games in October. They host Paraguay on Thursday 12 October before travelling to Peru on Tuesday 17 October.

Ecuador

Moises Caicedo – After opening their qualifying campaign with a narrow defeat to Argentina, Ecuador are hoping to pick up where they left off with a win over Uruguay last time out when they travel to Bolivia on Thursday 12 October and host Colombia on Tuesday 17 October.

Under-21 Euro 2025 qualifiers

England Under-21s

Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer – The younger England side opened their own qualifying campaign with a 3-0 win over Luxembourg last month and will hope to continue that form against tougher opposition when they host Serbia in Nottingham on Thursday 12 October and then face Ukraine in Slovakia on Monday 16 October.

Finland Under-21s

Lucas Bergstrom – The Finns will be hoping to bounce back from their opening home defeat to Switzerland as they continue their qualifying campaign against Albania on Friday 13 October and Romania on Tuesday 17 October.

France Under-21s

Lesley Ugochukwu – France began their campaign with an emphatic 4-0 away win over Slovenia and will be looking for more of the same as they continue with a trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday 13 October followed by a home tie with Cyprus on Tuesday 17 October.