By Marcus Kwesi O'Mard
It’s official: The 2022 FIFA World Cup will take place in Qatar during the winter months.
FIFA announced Thursday that the 2022 World Cup final will take placeon Dec. 18 of that year, according to FIFA.com. The executive committee of world soccer’s governing body ratified a proposal to stage a “Winter World Cup,” which a FIFA task force officially recommended last month, in host nation Qatar.
The tournament will begin in November, and the final will be contested on Qatar National Day.
FIFA also reportedly plans to stage the tournament over 28 days, instead of 31 or 32, as it traditionally does. FIFA is expected to adopt the compressed timetable in the coming months.
FIFA has decided to stage the 2022 World Cup in the winter months to avoid Qatar’s searing summer heat. The controversial move threatens to disrupt major domestic leagues, which generally run from August through May.
FIFA traditionally holds the World Cup in June and July, but times are changing.
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