Confirmed: Next World Cup in winter

By Football Italia staff

FIFA has confirmed that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be played between November 21 and December 18.

Gianni Infantino’s announcement on Friday means Roberto Mancini’s Italy will have to wait until 2026 for another crack at a summer World Cup, although the FIFA chief admitted a 48-team competition was still not a certainty.

“The World Cup in 2022 will be played from November 21 to December 18: the idea is to involve 48 teams,” Infantino said at the closing Press conference for Russia 2018.

“We have agreements and a contract with Qatar, but it’s still too early to know if there will be 32 teams or more.

“For now, anything is possible. With 48 teams, many ‘regional’ tensions would be solved so I don’t want to close the door on this opportunity.”

Accuweather reports temperatures in Qatar between June and July can hit as high as 41.3°C, forcing FIFA into the controversial reschedule.

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