FIFA's executive committee has decided that the 2022 World Cup final will be held on Dec. 18, world football's organizing body confirmed on Thursday.

The climax of the winter World Cup will take place a week before Christmas. The final, set for a Sunday, is also Qatar's National Day, a celebration of independence.

The 2022 World Cup is to be played in the winter to avoid the fierce heat of June and July, and it will be a shortened tournament over 28 days instead of the usual 32.

UEFA had pushed for the final to be as late as Dec. 23, but that option attracted opposition from FIFA members who feared it would cause problems for fans and players getting home in time for Christmas, as well as affecting club football's festive programme.

The Dec. 18 decision will allow traditional Boxing Day club matches to take place in England.

UEFA president Michel Platini said the decision was acceptable -- but warned that FIFA must now re-arrange the calendar to protect up to four international dates that might be affected.

"Dec. 18 is a good date for the final -- perhaps Dec. 23 would be too late if you are trying to get all the fans back on Dec. 24," Platini told Press Association Sport. "Dec. 18 is fine for UEFA -- we can accommodate any changes to the Champions League.

"But FIFA must now protect the international dates for the national associations -- there are four international matches that could be affected and those are the lifeblood for the national associations.

"FIFA must look at the international calendar and make sure those dates are protected for the national associations."

A FIFA task force last month recommended that the 2022 tournament should take place in November and December.

The task force, led by Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa, ruled out the possibility of playing the tournament in May and said a clash with the Winter Olympics, held in January, would be undesirable.