The 2022 World Cup in Qatar seems destined to be held in the winter months after FIFA general secretary Jerome Walcke revealed that the tournament would not be held in June-July.
Debate has raged over when to stage the quadrennial tournament ever since the Gulf nation were awarded the hosting rights back in December 2010.
A host of influential figures in the game, including FIFA president Sepp Blatter, UEFA president Michel Platini and UAE FA chief Yousef Alserkal, have also voiced their support for the event to be moved from its traditional summer staging to the cooler winter months.
Now Walcke, the second most powerful man in international football’s governing body, has made it clear that the World Cup simpy will not take place during the traditional summer months.
"The dates for the World Cup (in Qatar) will not be June-July," Valcke told Radio France. "To be honest, I think it will be held between November 15 and January 15 at the latest.
"If you play between November 15 and the end of December that's the time when the weather conditions are best, when you can play in temperatures equivalent to a warm spring season in Europe, averaging 25 degrees.
"That would be perfect for playing football."
Should the decision be made to hold the World Cup in November and December then a host of major European leagues would be forced to implement a winter break which has drawn the ire of some who have called into question the legitimacy of Qatar's bid should the tournament be moved to the winter months.
Indeed, Christian Seifert, the Bundesliga's chief executive, warned recently that any such move could result in a legal challenge from the the affected European leagues to force a re-vote.
The debate as to when and where the World Cup will be held will continue to rage for some time and the UAE could even emerge as a genuine option, with UAE football chief Alserkal insisting that the region would be willing to assist Qatar.
“We have a close relationship with the Qatar federation,” said Alserkal late last year.
“We supported Qatar [in the bid] to host the World Cup. We will support them if they need any kind of support at any time, but as far as I know with my experience of the Qatari federation, they are capable, they have the knowledge, they have the know-how, they have hosted large events like the Asian Games, and they were very successful.
"I’m sure they can succeed in hosting the World Cup in 2022. [But] if they need help then we will help.”
