FA Chairman: Impossible to host summer World Cup in Qatar

FA chairman Greg Dyke

The English FA chairman, Greg Dyke, has stated that it is ‘impossible’ to host the summer World Cup in Qatar.

Dyke said to BBC: “Even if all the stadia are air-conditioned, I think it will be impossible for the fans. Just go out there and wander around in that sort of heat. I just don’t think it’s possible.

“My position, and I suspect the FA’s position, will be: You can’t play it in the summer.

The Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee told BBC: “It was the right decision to award the World Cup to the Middle East for the first time in 2022.

“We are ready to host in summer or winter. We have always maintained that this issue requires the agreement of the international football community.

“A decision to alter the dates of the 2022 FIFA World Cup would not affect our infrastructure planning.”

The Premier League will join hands with the FA to oppose the change of date.

The Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore, had said in July that the change of dates of the World Cup will hamper the schedule of football leagues all around the world. It will affect the broadcast deals of the leagues too.

Dykes also mentioned:

“I understand the reaction of the Premier League in not wanting to move it.

“We didn’t have to choose to give it to Qatar in the summer. But that’s where it is, and I think it will either have to be moved out of the summer or moved to another location.

“I suspect that the former is more likely than the latter.”

In 2010 Qatar overcame bids from South Korea, Japan, Australia and the United States to be awarded the 2022 World Cup.