Beckenbauer wants World Cup in January 2022

Outgoing FIFA executive committee member Franz Beckenbauer believes the 2022 Qatar World Cup should be played in January.

The international football tournament is traditionally held in June and early July – the close season for most domestic club competitions.

An immediate concern arising from the decision to award the 2022 tournament to Qatar is the temperature, which can rise to as high as 50 degrees Celsius in June and July in the Persian Gulf.

Beckenbauer, a former World Cup winner as a player and manager with West Germany, who also organised the 2006 tournament in his home country, recommends a departure from the norm when FIFA’s showcase heads to the Middle East.

“One should think about a different solution,” Beckenbauer said.

“In January or February you have a comfortable 25 degrees there (Qatar). Plans for the biggest leagues would have to change for 2022 but that would not be a major undertaking.”

“It would be an alternative to using climate control at great expense for stadiums and fan zones.”

The bidding process for 2018 and 2022 has been criticised around the world after the announcement of the winners – Russia and Qatar respectively – in Zurich on Thursday.

Beckenbauer added to the chorus of dissent, disagreeing with FIFA’s decision to decide the location of both tournaments simultaneously.

“It was a mistake to do both 2018 and 2022 on the same day but now it has happened,” he said.

“I would be happy to leave the 2022 decision to the next generation.”

Beckenbauer announced last month that he would step down from FIFA’s executive committee in 2011 for personal reasons.