It's been billed as a break for club football but teams certainly aren't going into hibernation during the World Cup.
Celtic are among a host of clubs with a jam-packed schedule during the winter break which sees them head Down Under for the Sydney Super Cup. It's a homecoming for Ange Postecoglou as he takes his Scottish Premiership side back to his homeland for clashes with Sydney FC and Everton. And the manager himself has obligations outwith the match action as he gets set to entertain punters on consecutive evenings and meets his public with a pair of 'Audience with...' events in Sydney and Melbourne.
The players will likely receive a break after the trip to Australia as Postecoglou has stated he will head home to spend time with family and friends in Melbourne. But it won't be an extended break as Celtic are primed for a training camp in Portugal with a friendly with Rennes on December 10 poised to be announce.
Then it will be back to Lennoxtown where the rolling hills of East Dunbartonshire could well be glistening in snow ahead of their return to Premiership action against Aberdeen on December 17. A winter with a difference but Postecoglou and Co are aiming to minimise the upheaval of the first ever winter World Cup.
And Celtic are boosted in terms of personnel with Daizen Maeda and Aaron Mooy selected with Josip Juranovic set to star for Croatia. Cameron Carter-Vickers is hoping to make the United States of America but the rest of Postecoglou's squad will remain focused on club commitments, however, there are international friendlies scheduled before the trip to Sydney.
Key Celtic dates during the World Cup
November 12 - Final fixture vs Ross County before heading to Australia
November 17 - First Sydney Cup Super Cup fixture vs Sydney FC
November 20 - Second Sydney Super Cup fixture vs Everton
November 22/23 - Fan events with Ange Postecoglou in Sydney and Melbourne
December 10 - Proposed friendly with Rennes during Portugal training camp
December 17 - Return to Premiership action vs Aberdeen
READ NEXT
