Which Manchester United players are in action during the March international break? Fixtures in full

Manchester United’s players may have an 18-day break from club football, but a significant number of the first-team squad face huge matches over the international break.

The Red Devils have 18 players who have been called up by senior international squads over four continents, with a range of matches over the next 10 days.

Those games involve World Cup qualifiers, play-off matches and a few friendly matches, so we’ve rounded up everything you need to know, and which players will be involved.

Argentina

Youngster Alejandro Garnacho was included in the Argentina squad, as reported recently.

He’ll join the likes of Lionel Messi over the upcoming international break, although Argentina have already secured their place at the World Cup.

They face Venezuela and Ecuador over the international break.

Brazil

The five-time World Champions are in action twice over the break when they face Chile this Thursday and Bolivia on 30 March, both in World Cup qualifiers.

However, Brazil go into those games without much pressure, as they’ve already secured their place at the World Cup later this year.

United’s Alex Telles and Fred have been selected by Brazil manager Tite.

England

Gareth Southgate’s squad caused a few surprises last week, partly due to his inclusion of United duo Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw.

But the Three Lions boss also opted to leave out Jadon Sancho, and perhaps less shockingly, Dean Henderson and Marcus Rashford.

England host Switzerland and Ivory Coast in friendlies at Wembley on Saturday and then the following Tuesday.

France

Like England, France have secured their place at the World Cup, so it’s two friendlies for the 2018 champions over the international break.

They play Ivory Coast in Marseille on Friday, while South Africa travel to Lille for a fixture four days later.

Raphael Varane and Paul Pogba have been included in the latest squad, although on-loan Anthony Martial has been omitted.

Ivory Coast

The Elephants missed out on a World Cup spot so they aren’t involved in competitive action.

United defender Eric Bailly has been called up to the latest squad, although Amad has been left out.

Bailly will come up against his defensive colleagues Varane and Maguire over the break, when Ivory Coast play France and England.

Iraq

Zidane Iqbal continues his involvement with the Iraq national squad, who beat Zambia 3-1 last week.

They play United Arab Emirates and Syria over the break, but Iraq already know they cannot qualify for the World Cup.

Portugal

It’s the Portuguese who have more United representatives in their squad than any other national, with Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo selected for their World Cup play-offs.

They play Turkey on Thursday in their semi-final clash, with the winner set to face Italy or North Macedonia in a final on 29 March.

The winner of that clash will ultimately secure their place at the World Cup.

Scotland

Steve Clarke’s men were initially due to play Ukraine on Thursday in a play-off semi-final, but that has been postponed until June given the crisis in eastern Europe.

The winner of that game will play either Wales or Austria for a spot at the finals later this year.

As a result, Scotland have arranged a friendly with Poland, who were originally due to play Russia in their semi-final, on Thursday.

Scott McTominay is United’s only representative in the Scotland squad.

Spain

The Spanish have friendly games against Albania and Iceland, but they won’t involve David De Gea, who was left out of the latest national squad.

Luis Enrique hinted this was due to playing style last week and said his replacements David Raya and Robert Sanchez have ‘the necessary profile to play with us’.

Sweden

Anthony Elanga received a first senior call up last week, alongside defender Victor Lindelof.

The Swedes host Czech Republic in a World Cup semi-final play-off on Thursday, and the winner will face Poland on Tuesday the following week.

Tunisia

Youngster Hannibal has been named in the squad for Tunisia’s crucial World Cup qualifying double header against Mail.

The winner over two legs will progress to the tournament, along with four other African nations.

The matches will be played on 25 and 29 March.

Uruguay

It’s two pivotal matches for Uruguay over this international break, as they play their final games of the South American qualifiers.

Diego Alonso’s men sit fourth in the 10-team table, a position that would see them progress to Qatar. However, Peru and Chile would overtake Uruguay with three points, and that’s exactly who they end their campaign against.

Uruguay host Peru on Thursday and then play Chile in the early hours of 30 March.

Should La Celeste slip up, they may have to play in June’s inter-confederation play-offs, a fate which will meet the side who finish fifth in the table. However, the top four progress to the World Cup, meaning there’s so much riding on Uruguay’s next two games.

United duo Facundo Pellistri and Edinson Cavani have been called up for the double header and will be hoping to earn hero status in their homeland by helping the team advance to Qatar.

Wales

Dylan Levitt has been called up to the Welsh squad, and they face Austria on Thursday in a play-off semi-final.

The winner of that clash will face either Scotland or Ukraine in the final, although that has been pushed back to June given the ongoing war.

Fixtures in full

(listed in UK times)

Thursday 24 March

Iraq v United Arab Emirates (5pm) - Asian World Cup qualifiers

Portugal v Turkey (7:45pm) - European World Cup play-offs, semi-final

Scotland v Poland (7:45pm) - Friendly

Sweden v Czech Republic (7:45pm) - European World Cup play-offs, semi-final

Wales v Austria (7:45pm) - European World Cup play-offs, semi-final

Brazil v Chile (11:30pm) - South American World Cup qualifiers

Uruguay v Peru (11:30pm) - South American World Cup qualifiers

Friday 25 March

Mali v Tunisia (5pm) - African World Cup qualifiers, first leg

France v Ivory Coast (8:15pm) - Friendly

Argentina v Venezuela (11:30pm) - South American World Cup qualifiers

Saturday 26 March

England v Switzerland (5:30pm) - Friendly

Tuesday 29 March

Syria v Iraq (5pm) - Asian World Cup qualifiers

England v Ivory Coast (7:45pm) - Friendly

Poland v Sweden/Czech Republic (7:45pm) - European World Cup play-offs, final

Portugal/Turkey v Italy/North Macedonia (7:45pm) - European World Cup play-offs, final

France v South Africa (8:15pm) - Friendly

Tunisia v Mail (8:30pm) - African World Cup qualifiers, second leg

Wednesday 30 March

Bolivia v Brazil (12:30am) - South American World Cup qualifiers

Chile v Uruguay (12:30am) - South American World Cup qualifiers

Ecuador v Argentina (12:30am) - South American World Cup qualifiers