The first international break of the season is coming up at the end of this month in a new format that will see most national teams play four matches instead of just two.

For most European nations, they'll be taking part in UEFA Nations League matches in the first international competition since this summer's World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

There are plenty of interesting matchups and storylines on tap for the matches set to come at the end of this month into the beginning of October.

Spain will take on England, Croatia, and the Czech Republic, Jurgen Klopp will take charge of his first matches as Germany manager, and we'll also get a look at a handful of teams that weren't at the World Cup.

Thibaut Courtois Confirms Belgium Nations League Absence

For the Belgian national team, they'll reportedly have to make do for their quartet of matches without Real Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois, who has recently confirmed he will not be playing any Nations League matches. He is instead focusing on making a return to the national team when the qualifying campaign for Euro 2028 begins in March of next year.

After Real Madrid's 2-1 Champions League win over Inter at the Santiago Bernabeu, the Belgian keeper confirmed his intentions to not play in the Nations League matches for the Red Devils.

"No, I’m not going to play any Nations League matches, not even the final four, unless the coach needs me because there are too many injuries."

Additionally, Courtois has said that, in discussions with Belgium manager Mark van Bommel, there's no guarantee that the Real Madrid man will return straight to the starting spot for Belgium once Euro 2028 qualifying starts.

If he doesn't slot right back in, it's presumed that Manchester United's Senne Lammens would be the starting keeper, as it was he who replaced Courtois after the latter picked up an injury in the World Cup quarterfinals loss to Spain in Los Angeles.

"I will remain available for the European Championship qualifying campaign ‌with the national team, and I understand that I will have to fight for my place just like the other goalkeepers. Physically, I don’t know if I can maintain the ⁠same schedule for another four ⁠years," Courtois stressed.

Why Thibaut Courtois Is Skipping the Nations League

For now, the goal for Courtois is to stay fit for Los Blancos and not disrupt the progress he'd made returning from the injury he suffered at the World Cup.

He's made a total of five appearances so far for Jose Mourinho's side and has only kept one clean sheet, but he's hardly at fault for any of the goals they've conceded so far this season.

As far as the Nations League is concerned, opinions are rather split as to whether or not that competition is more or less glorified friendlies for the majority of nations competing in it, which certainly plays a role in Courtois' decision to forego those matches.

After the international break, matches comes thick and fast across all competitions for Madrid and Courtois does not want to jeopardize his club form for the Nations League, even though those matches can technically have an impact of Belgium's seeding and standing for the Euros.

While this isn't quite drama to the level of Courtois' feud with former Belgium manager Domenico Tedesco back in 2023 over the captain's armband, there's certainly pundits and Belgian fans alike that might not like the keeper's decision to skip the Nations League.