FIFA U-turn as they establish task force for 2022 World Cup

FIFA will postpone a decision on whether to move the 2022 Qatar World Cup to winter until a task force has reported on whether the controversial switch is possible, it emerged today.

Members of the ‘FIFA family’, broadcasters and representatives of the European leagues will be part of the group and the move is a remarkable U‑turn by the world governing body.

Their executive meeting, which began in Zurich this afternoon, was expected to announce the competition would be staged during a European winter for the first time because summer temperatures in Qatar regularly top 40˚C.

However, one highly placed FIFA source told Standard Sport: “It was always media hype to expect the executive to come to such a decision this week without looking at all the consequences. The World Cup is nine years away and there is no need to rush to make a decision.

“Indeed the agenda for the meeting merely says we should ‘discuss’ the Qatar World Cup not whether we should move it. Indeed it is at the moment such low priority that it is item 25 in a 27-point agenda. So it is not even likely to be discussed today.”

Standard Sport understands one reason for FIFA backing away from an immediate decision is that several television companies, particularly in North America, who have paid huge sums to broadcast the World Cup, have told Blatter that a winter tournament would not suit their schedules. A World Cup in late June and early July is ideal as it is the slack sports season for these broadcasters. Their agreement with FIFA is believed to include clauses which gives them the right to be consulted about the date.