Do you organise friendlies while the World Cup Qatar 2022 is on?

I'm managing Stoke and I'm now in my 4th season, 3rd season in the Prem.

I'm in the top 4 and I've just got to the point where the World Cup 2022 is on in Qatar. I haven't played a match since November 6 and my next game is on Boxing Day on 26/12/2022.

My players now are all lacking match practise and I made the very naive decision not to organise friendlies. Not many of my players are playing in the World Cup and they are now all lacking match practise.

Has anyone else has this experience and what did you do to make your squad fit and ready for when it returns?

if the league shuts down for the world cup you can't schedule friendlies with your senior team. your reserve teams and youth teams may still be playing so schedule a few and let a few first team members be available.

I had two friendlies come up automatically, presumably because I'd allowed the AssMgr to organise friendlies when I first started up, although I haven't checked.

I think it’s a good opportunity to give your team a couple of weeks rest. The competition will mean leagues get postponed for over a month, so the latter couple of weeks can then be used for friendlies and building up fitness. It’s basically a mandatory winter break which I would always look to take advantage of.