‘No concrete plans’ to switch Qatar World Cup to winter

Fifa insists it has “no concrete plans” to switch the Qatar 2022 World Cup to winter following suggestions the tournament should be staged in January to avoid searing summer temperatures.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter had fuelled talk of a switch earlier this month by stating that he “expects” the 2022 tournament to be held in winter.

However, a Fifa statement released on Thursday read: “At this stage there are no concrete plans to change the international match calendar.

“Any potential move of the 2022 Fifa World Cup from a summer to a winter period would have to be initiated by the football association of Qatar and would have to be presented to the Fifa Executive Committee.”

The decision to award Qatar the right to host the tournament has come under fire with critics claiming that summer temperatures of up to 45C would make staging the competition in the summer dangerous for players and travelling fans.

Despite the Qatar bid’s vow to combat the heat with air-conditioned stadiums and fan parks, many football chiefs have called for the tournament in 11 years’ time to be switched to winter.