FIFA to resist change for 2022 World Cup

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has all but guaranteed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be not be moved to January.

Blatter had previously suggested the tournament could be played in the Qatari winter rather than in June and July – when the World Cup is normally held – to avoid the searing temperatures in the Middle East nation at that time of year.

But speaking on BBC Radio on Monday, Blatter revealed FIFA were not currently looking at moving the date for the 2022 tournament and said he expected all 64 World Cup matches to be held in Qatar in the summer.

“I think for the time being the matter is on ice. Everything is settled for summer,” Blatter said.

“Who said first that we should play in winter? It was Franz Beckenbauer, second Michel Platini and the world footballers’ union. ”

“I am not in favour of one or the other. What I did say, winter is not only January or February. I think for the time being the matter is on ice.”

“Everything is settled now for summer and all the 64 matches will be played in the territory of Qatar.”

Blatter said the only way the dates for the World Cup could be changed was if a request was made by the Qatari organising committee, a move which seems unlikely at this stage.

“In the bidding documents it was clearly established that the executive committee reserved the right to change anything in the bidding process, but here in this case it must come from Qatar,” Blatter said.

Qatar controversially won the right to host the 2022 World Cup ahead of rival bidders Australia, the United States, Japan and South Korea.