Blatter backs January 2022 World Cup

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has thrown his support behind the 2022 World Cup in Qatar being staged in January rather than June-July.

Summer temperatures in Qatar can soar above 40 degrees while the winter months can be almost half that.

Blatter, speaking in Doha ahead of the opening match of the Asian Cup, said: “I expect it will be held in the winter.”

“We have time to look at this question, it is still 11 years away but we must decide the most adequate period for a successful World Cup which means January or the end of the year.”

Blatter said that the Qatari Football Association is now responsible for organising the World Cup and they would work closely with FIFA in the years ahead to guarantee a successful tournament.

“Do not forget there is still 11 years to go and although we have the basic conditions of their bid for a June and July World Cup, the FIFA executive committee is entitled to change anything that was in the bid,” he said.

“When you play football you have to protect the main people – the players.”

FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke and UEFA president Michel Platini have already voiced their support for the 2022 tournament being rescheduled to January.

“Why not? It means you open the World Cup to countries where they can never play it in June and July because it’s never the right period of time,” Valcke said.