The Premier League was close to an agreement last night (Tuesday) for the 2022 World Cup to be switched to November and December, according to FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke.

Valcke, who is leading the review into whether the tournament in Qatar should be moved to the winter, confirmed that - barring unforeseen circumstances - it would be played at the end of 2022. And he revealed that his review had begun with a meeting with Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore and Football Association general secretary Alex Horne last month.

"I can tell you that, with the Premier League, we are close to an understanding," said Valcke, who insisted that a spring World Cup was "impossible" after FIFA president Sepp Blatter also ruled out a January-February tournament.

Valcke revealed that the FA and Premier League were determined to preserve English football's traditional Christmas programme. He told The Telegraph: "That was part of the discussion, that we have to protect your specific period, which is Boxing Day and these very specific 10 days, which are part of the history of English football."

Valcke also explained for the first time the process involved in his review, which will see him visit all FIFA's major stakeholders affected by any switch. Only once these visits are complete will those involved meet, probably around September, to thrash out the international calendar.