Nations League Returns as Messi Farewell and New Coaches Headline International Window The first international window since the World Cup features the Nations League, Messi's Argentina farewell, and new coaches like Jürgen Klopp and Zinédine Zidane. The first international window since the World Cup is a three-week break in which countries can play up to four matches each, and most soccer leagues will not resume until Oct. 9. The Nations League competition begins Thursday, qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations starts, and several new national team coaches take charge of their team for the first time. Lionel Messi has one game left for Argentina, Cristiano Ronaldo is still in Portugal's squad, and the U.S. and Mexico are using the window to give opportunities to teenagers. Messi set for Argentina farewellMessi announced his retirement from international soccer after the World Cup, and Argentina's federation organized a farewell match for him on Oct. 6 against Benin in Buenos Aires. Messi finished the World Cup with eight goals, did not score in Argentina's last three games, and lost the final to Spain. He is expected to appear only in the Benin match. The two games before it, against Bolivia and Burkina Faso, will be the first look at Argentina without him.Ronaldo and Portugal under new coachPortugal is the reigning Nations League champion and Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, is in Portugal's squad for new coach Jorge Jesus's first games, starting Thursday at home against Wales. New coach Jorge Jesus replaced Roberto Martínez and has kept most of the group that lost in the round of 16 at the World Cup. Portugal lost to eventual champion Spain in the World Cup. Ronaldo started at the World Cup, and some pundits have called for Portugal to move on from Ronaldo. He has scored three times for Al-Nassr this season. Ronaldo has 146 goals for Portugal, and is 21 short of his stated goal of 1,000 career goals. Portugal's other two opponents in group play are Norway and Denmark, and the Norway matches put Ronaldo opposite Haaland twice, first in Norway on Sept. 27 and then in Portugal in early October.Spain begins title defense against EnglandSpain is the team to beat as the Nations League begins, and its opener is a trip to Wembley on Saturday to face England in a repeat of the Euro 2024 final. Spain won the World Cup this summer by beating France in the semifinals and then beating Argentina 1-0 in extra time on a goal by Ferran Torres, and it conceded once in eight matches. The core of the squad has barely changed since Euro 2024, with World Cup golden ball winner Rodri, Marc Cucurella, Pau Cubarsí, and Barcelona standout Lamine Yamal still operating as the base of the team. The main risks are complacency and keeping Yamal content. The Barcelona forward arrived at the World Cup after a hamstring injury and has said he was not fully satisfied with how he played. England finished third at the World Cup, its best result in 60 years, but the squad will have some new faces, including Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer, who many believed should have been at the World Cup.Mbappé and Haaland lead attacksKylian Mbappé won the World Cup Golden Boot with 10 goals and became the first player to win the award at two World Cups. Mbappé also became the tournament's all-time leading scorer with 22 goals. France opens the Nations League on Friday at Türkiye, the first match for Zinédine Zidane as coach. Mbappé remains captain, but he missed training Tuesday with flu-like symptoms and has not been ruled out. France plays four matches in 11 days: Türkiye, Belgium on Sept. 28, Italy on Oct. 2 and Belgium again on Oct. 5. Erling Haaland had an unforgettable summer in the States as he scored seven goals at his first World Cup, leading Norway to the quarterfinals for the first time before losing 2-1 to England in extra time. Haaland looks to lead Norway to more history as the nation now plays in the top division of the Nations League for the first time. It hosts Denmark on Thursday in Oslo and hosts Portugal on Sept. 27 before playing at Wales and at Portugal in early October. Haaland has 62 goals in 55 appearances for Norway and scored seven goals in his first seven games for Manchester City this season.Klopp and Zidane make coaching debutsJürgen Klopp and Xavi Hernández both make their debuts on Thursday when Germany visits the Netherlands. Klopp is taking his first national team job after Germany's exit in the round of 32 at the World Cup. He named an extended 44-man squad that will be split across two groups for this block of four matches. Hernández will have longtime Netherlands captain Virgin Van Djik, but has left off former national team regulars like Memphis Depay and Wout Weghorst from his first roster as the boss of the national team. France icon Zidane replaces Didier Deschamps, who coached France for 14 years and won the 2018 World Cup and runners-up in 2022. Zinedine Zidane is one of several new high-profile coaches.