FIFA officially acknowledged on Monday that the controversial 2022 World Cup in Qatar is likely to be moved to the winter months of that year to dodge the Middle East nation's searing summer heat.
A FIFA task force met on Monday in Zurich to begin planning the international calendar from 2018 to 2024, with the Qatar showcase at the center of their focus after myriad criticisms of the game's biggest event taking place amid some of the hottest temperatures in the world.
And while top executives sound ready to shift to a winter schedule, European club officials opposed to that idea have prevailed upon FIFA to contemplate a spring timetable in order to reduce clashes with major club competitions like the UEFA Champions League.
“We are getting closer to narrowing the dates for the FIFA World Cup to two options – January-February 2022 or November-December 2022 – but FIFA has also been asked to consider May 2022,” said FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke (pictured above) in a press release.
“We will summarize what we've heard today and provide feedback to all parties in order for them to prepare for the next meeting as we progress towards a final decision.”
The task force was briefed by FIFA chief medical officer Jiří Dvořák on the health risks posed to players if the event is held between May and September, while the negative affects of scheduling during the Muslim holiday of Ramadan in April 2022 were also broached.
Qatar 2022's Local Organizing Committee CEO Hassan Al Thawadi said that the hosts view a winter World Cup as “the ideal situation” but are prepared to meet FIFA's needs, whatever is decided.
