FIFA set to decide on moving 2022 Qatar World Cup to European winter

Jérôme Valcke, Secretary General of world football governing body FIFA has paved the way for the 2022 FIFA World Cup to be held during the European winter, advising this week that the tournament in Qatar will not take place in the summer.

There has been concern about the soaring summer temperatures in Qatar, which can reach 50C, since the Arabin Gulf state beat Australia in 2010 in the bid to host the tournament.

A FIFA working group is currently looking at the dates for the 2022 tournament, and although fears have been expressed surrounding the impact of the stifling Middle Eastern summer on players and fans, a decision on whether to shift the competition from its traditional June-July window was not due to be taken until after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

However, Valcke has given the clearest signal yet that the Qatar tournament will be moved to November 2022, amid a day of farcical mixed messages from world football's governing body.

Confirming publicly what many in football have privately suspected for some time that the Qatar World Cup is most likely to be held in November 2022 - Valcke stated the tournament "will not be in June or July."

He added "I think it'll be played between 15th November and 15th January at the latest. If you play between November and the end of the year that's when the weather is at its most favourable."

Major European football leagues are concerned about the ramifications of a November World Cup for their media deals, player contracts and schedules, while US broadcasters are unhappy about a potential clash with the NFL season.

The International Olympic Committee has already made it clear that the tournament should not clash with the 2022 Winter Olympics, despite the President of European football governing body UEFA, Michel Platini, favouring January because it does not clash with the Champions League group stages.

Football Federation Australia has warned a season-switch may prompt it to seek compensation from FIFA for its failed bid investment.