It’s barely been two weeks since the voting ceremony to decide who is hosting the prestigious 2022 World Cup, and already doubts are being raised about the scorching temperatures in the Oil-Rich Arab Emirate of Qatar. Questions are now being asked as to whether the world is ready for its first winter World Cup.
Only recently in a worldwide press conference, Fifa President Sepp Blatter was quoted as saying, “I definitely support to play in winter here [in the Middle East]. To play when the climate is appropriate and I’m thinking not only about the footballers, but also the fans.”
June & July are the hottest months of the calendar in the Middle East as temperatures reach between 40-50 degrees Celsius. So the talk about staging a first winter World Cup doesn’t come as much of a surprise. But you can only think of the implications this will bring upon the football fraternity.
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Firstly, United States & Australia, countries that competed with Qatar for the right to host the 2022 World Cup, who are already sore from the bidding process, will now feel a greater sense of injustice. Not only was Qatar’s bid rated high-risk by the Fifa’s technical inspectors, it was also said to be a health hazard for players, officials and spectators alike. But all of this does make sense, after all prevention is better than cure, right? So now those precautions seem to involve moving the event to a cooler time of the year.
Secondly, Europe’s biggest leagues and clubs function during the festive period. Leagues in England, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and Germany amongst others, all are at the half way mark of their respective seasons, and the idea of moving the World Cup from the traditional June/July installment to the January Edition falls smack in the middle of their season. Clubs will resist any attempt to move the tournament, and for all you know, the Champions League format might also have to be adjusted.
That’s why maybe; the blueprint for the 2022 ‘winter’ World Cup is being drawn this early. Twelve years is a long time. Only time will tell, or maybe even Blatter is right and we actually may have our first winter World Cup.
