Until 2007, the World Cup took place in the Southern Hemisphere nation of Brazil, during the summer months (November to February), leaving the European summer of June to September free for the EBSL to take place uninterrupted. However, in 2008, FIFA organised the first World Cup to take place in France, taking advantage of the Northern Hemisphere summer, in July – right in the middle of the typical EBSL season. This greatly affected the scheduling of the EBSL as BSWW could not organise as many rounds of regular season fixtures as usual due to European teams in preparation for, participation in and recovery from the World Cup over the course of July and beginning of August.