FIFA World Cup 2022 cannot be played in the summer - FIFA Medical Chief

It looks increasingly likely that the 2022 FIFA World Cup to be held in Qatar will be moved to the winter (inhabitat.com)

The Chairman of FIFA’s medical committee, Michael D’Hooghe, says that the FIFA World Cup to be held in Qatar in 2022 must be switched to the winter.

D’Hooghe will advise FIFA that the risks posed to travelling supporters are too great. FIFA president Sepp Blatter is already in favour of a switch from summer to winter – summer temperatures can reach 50C in Qatar.

“The World Cup is about more than games and players,” said D’Hooghe.

“I am sure the Qataris have the technical skill to organise a tournament where teams could play and train in a stable, acceptable temperature, but it’s about the fans.

“They will need to travel from venue to venue and I think it’s not a good idea for them to do that in temperatures of 47C or more.”

The Premier League is opposed to a move from June/July to November/ December as playing the games in the winter would disrupt the domestic season in England.

However, the European Club Association, who represent some of Europe’s top clubs, has said that it is “open to a move” and the Football Association’s (FA) chairman has also expressed his belief that holding the games in the summer would be “impossible” in the Middle East.

FIFA’s executive committee meets in October and they are expected to agree, in principle, to move the 2022 FIFA World Cup to winter months and then start a six-month exercise to work out how it will affect the international calender and domestic leagues.