When are European teams returning to action after the FIFA World Cup?

The FIFA World Cup final took place on 18 December, but there was little let-up in the action as many clubs from Europe's biggest leagues returned to domestic duties before the end of the calendar year.

Europe's women's clubs were in action throughout the World Cup, with the final UEFA Women's Champions League games of the year played on 21 and 22 December.

The first UEFA games of 2023 will be in the UEFA European Under-19 Futsal Championship on 18 January, while the first outdoor matches of the new year in UEFA's club competitions will be on 7 February in the UEFA Youth League, when Young Boys take on Salzburg and Hibernian welcome Dortmund in their one-legged play-off games.

When are the first Champions League games of 2023?

A week later, on Tuesday 14 February, the UEFA Champions League returns as Paris face Bayern and AC Milan take on Tottenham in the first games of the round of 16.

When are the first Europa League and Europa Conference League games of 2023?

The UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League return on Thursday 16 February.

When do Europe's domestic leagues return following their winter break?

Many European domestic competitions go into hibernation over the winter, but plenty of club sides returned to action before the end of the year. Indeed there were English League Cup and Spanish Copa del Rey games featuring top-flight sides on 20 and 21 December.

See when Europe's top 20 leagues return to action here.
Leagues are listed in country coefficient order

England: 26 December (League Cup games from 20 December)
Spain: 29 December (Copa del Rey games from 20 December)
Germany: 20 January
Italy: 4 January
France: 28 December
Netherlands: 6 January
Portugal: 28 December
Belgium: 23 December (Belgian Cup games from 20 December)
Scotland: 15 December
Austria: 10 February (Austrian Cup games from 3 February)
Serbia: 4 February
Türkiye: 23 December (Turkish Cup games from 20 December)
Switzerland: 21 January
Czechia: 28 January
Norway: 10 April
Ukraine: 4 March
Denmark: 17 February
Croatia: 18 January
Greece: 21 December (Greek Cup games from 14 December)
Israel: 17 December (Israeli Cup games from 12 December)

Orange balls will be at the ready when the UEFA Champions League returns in February 2023Getty Images