The Premier League allowed 89 clear days between the 2025–26 season and the 2026–27 season.
The extended gap was part of the planning for the 2026–27 campaign. The league began on 21 August 2026, later than the usual mid-August opening, after the calendar was affected by the expanded FIFA World Cup.
The Premier League also noted that 33 days separated the 2026 World Cup final on 19 July from the start of the domestic season. This helped protect players’ recovery time after an international tournament involving 48 teams.
The figure refers to clear days between league seasons, not the number of days between the last Premier League match and the opening fixture in a simple inclusive count. It is therefore different from the separate 60-hour minimum rest rule announced for the Christmas and New Year period.