The provisional Premier League plans for the 2022/2023 season, one punctuated by the World Cup in Qatar, have been announced.
With the global extravaganza taking place in the winter for the first time there will be a very different feel to the tournament and very different preparations for Gareth Southgate and his fellow international managers.
Usually given a number of weeks to get his squad together, play warm-up matches and acclimatise to the host country, the current Premier League plans could see a round of domestix fixtures played on 12 November 2022, just 9 days before the scheduled start of the competition.
Although relations between the FA and the Premier League appear to have improved in recent years, resulting in the introduction of a short winter break for the first time this season, negotiations over the release of players are likely to cause tensions.
With the provisional calendar also including Premier League matches on Boxing Day what is clear is that, in terms of scheduling as well as location, this will be a World Cup like no other.