The Premier League allowed 89 clear days between the 2025–26 and 2026–27 seasons.
The longer gap was built into the 2026–27 schedule because the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup took place during the summer. The Premier League stated that the later start would provide 89 clear days from the end of the previous season and 33 days from the World Cup final on 19 July.
The new league season began on 21 August 2026, with Arsenal hosting Coventry City in the opening fixture. The additional rest period was intended to help players and clubs recover after an unusually demanding international tournament involving 48 teams.
This figure refers to clear days between seasons, not the number of days in the entire summer break or the number of days between the World Cup final and the first league match. Those are different measurements. The 2026–27 campaign was also scheduled to finish later than usual, on 30 May 2027, reflecting the revised calendar.