Sepp Blatter has affirmed FIFA’s intent to stage a summer World Cup come 2022, saying “there has been no movement” toward a winter final which would avoid Qatar’s summer heat.
Speaking to FOX Soccer, the FIFA president said soccer’s world governing body “has never received any demand or request from Qatar to change the dates to organize (the 2022 World Cup).”
While Qatar’s current plan is to develop air conditioned stadia to compensate for June and July temperatures that average 106 degrees Fahrenheit, many have called for the event to be staged during the Qatari winter. The most prominent proponent of a switch is UEFA president Michel Platini, who advocates staging a November-December World Cup in 2022.
International players union FIFPro also supports a winter World Cup, while two-time Ballon d’Or winner Franz Beckenbauer and England manager Fabio Capello have also publically endorsed the shift.
For Blatter, a summer World Cup was part of the package Qatar inherited when it was awarded the finals in December 2010.
“According to the list of requirements, the World Cup has to be played in June-July,” Blatter said. “It’s also according to the international calendar.”
In 2010, FIFA required clubs to release World Cup-selected players on May 16, with the event in South Africa running from June 11 to July 11.
While Blatter confirmed Qatar is still planning to observe that schedule, he also said planning for the 2022 World Cup is not currently a top priority.
“For the time being, [FIFA] have enough problems to be solved in Brazil,” Blatter explained, alluding to the 2014 World Cup. “Then we are looking to Moscow (and the 2018 World Cup).
“Give us a little time to attach our attention to (the) World Cup in Qatar.”
“For the time being … (the Qatar World Cup is) not a priority.”
While climate is among the reasons FIFA has been questioned about awarding the 2022 finals to Qatar, Blatter sees the choice as part of a legacy of the since-abandoned policy that rotated the event between continents.
“Going around the different continents in the world with the World Cup was an idea of the former Development Officer of FIFA – that’s me,” Blatter said. “When [FIFA] took the decision to [award] `18 and `22 together in one package, then it was obvious for the majority of the Executive Committee members that we go to new territories.
“The new territory in 2018 was Russia, and this was a logical approach.”
For Blatter, the decision to award 2022 to Qatar was the result of the Executive Committee’s intent to put the event back in Asia.
“For the 2022 (decision), it was a little bit different … we had four [nations] from the Asia region. Australia is [now a part] of Asia. We had, again, Japan, South Korea and Qatar.
“And so [Asia] wanted to have this World Cup, and finally the decision went to Qatar in the last ballot, when there was only [the Untied States] and Qatar remaining.
“That was the decision of the Executive Committee. You have to accept it.”
Blatter conceded that the United States, while beaten by Qatar for the 2022 World Cup, is still a contender for future finals.
“[The United States] have to wait for the next possibility to organize it, but I think they are on the good track.”
