The Executive Committee today confirmed that the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ will be staged in November/December with the Final to be on 18 December 2022, Qatar’s National Day.

In principle, it was agreed that the tournament should be played over a reduced timeframe, for instance 28 days.

The working group for the international match calendar will meet in due course to finalise the international match calendar for the 2019-2022 cycle.

“We welcome the decision of FIFA's Executive Committee in relation to the timing of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar," said a statement on behalf of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. "We are satisfied the process has reached its conclusion.

“Regardless of the change in dates, we will continue to develop the cooling technology promised during the bid, ensuring our commitment to deliver a true legacy as a result of the first World Cup in the Middle East remains."