How the Qatar World Cup will affect the European calendar

Europe will experience a World Cup being held during winter for the first time in the upcoming season.

A gap in the domestic schedule is unfamiliar in England but the French, German, Italian and Spanish leagues have an annual Christmas break without football while the Premier League is usually jam-packed with festive fixtures.

We take a look at how the Qatar World Cup will impact domestic football and continental competitions.

Premier League 2022-23 schedule

The Premier League season is due to start a week earlier than it did for the 2021-22 campaign and will finish a week later.

The teams will play until the weekend of the November 12-13 before returning to action from the World Cup just eight days after the final.

August 6-7: First weekend of the 2022-23 Premier League season.

November 12-13: Last round of games before World Cup.

December 26: League action resumes.

May 28: Final round of fixtures for 2022-23 season.

La Liga 2022-23 schedule

LaLiga is scheduled to kick off on the same weekend as the 2021-22 season but will finish later.

Action is set to resume shortly after the Christmas period.

August 12: LaLiga season commences.

November 12-13: Last round of games before World Cup.

December 29: League action resumes.

June 4: Final round of fixtures for 2022-23 season.

Bundesliga 2022-23 schedule

Things will be done differently in Germany, as there is set to be a two-month break between the players leaving for the World Cup and returning to domestic action.

There are not as many fixtures to schedule as 18 teams compete in the Bundesliga in comparison to 20 in the other major European top-flight leagues, meaning four fewer games a season per team.

August 5: Bundesliga season commences.

November 13: Last round of games before World Cup.

January 20: League action resumes.

May 27: Final round of fixtures for 2022-23 season.

Serie A 2022-23 schedule

There is no confirmed date yet for when domestic action will resume following the World Cup and when the season will finish.

Italy may have not qualified for this year’s tournament but there are plenty of Serie A players representing their countries in the tournament.

Ligue 1 2022-23 schedule

The French top flight is scheduled to start on the same weekend as the 2021-22 season as the nation hopes to successfully retain their status as world champions.

August 6-7: Ligue 1 season commences.

November 12-13: Last round of games before World Cup.

December 28: League action resumes.

June 4: Final round of fixtures for 2022-23 season.

Champions League 2022-23 schedule

UEFA have had to make some changes to the traditional Champions League schedule.

Normally, some group-stage matches are played in December but some will be pushed back into October in order to accommodate the winter World Cup.

The group stage will start a week earlier than it did in the 2021-22 season.

September 6-7: Champions League group stage commences.

November 1-2: Last round of group-stage matches to be played.

February 14-15: Knockout matches begin.

June 10: UEFA Champions League final held at Ataturk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul.

Europa League and Conference League 2022-23 schedules

The Europa League and Conference League will follow a similar timetable to European football's elite competition with their traditional Thursday slot maintained.

September 8: Group stage begins.

November 3: Last round of group-stage matches to be played.

February 16: Knockout matches begin.

May 31: Europa League final held at Puskas Arena, Budapest.

June 7: Conference League final held at Sinobo Stadium, Prague.