FIFA President Sepp Blatter has admitted for the first time that FIFA made 'a mistake' when appointing Qatar as the host nation for the 2022 World Cup.

The revelation came during an exclusive interview with Insideworldfootball.com on issues surrounding the two tournaments set to follow Brazil 2014.

When questioned on whether FIFA were aware that Qatar's climate would prevent a summer tournament taking place before they were announced as 2022 host on December 10, 2010, Blatter said: 'That may well be so, and it may well be that we made a mistake at the time.'



Mistake: Blatter has admitted that FIFA always knew a summer World Cup in Qatar would be impossible

However Blatter confirmed that he will press ahead with plans to switch the tournament to winter, a move which would mean an enforced mid-season break for the Premier League.

Blatter told Insideworldfootball.com: 'First, we need to see whether the owner of the FIFA World Cup - FIFA - actually agrees with my recommendation, one that I shall table at the October 3/4 ExCo meeting, and whether it follows my advice to change the dates from summer to winter.



'Once the Executive Committee of FIFA has agreed to that, we can take the next steps which will include a close look at the international calendar and establish what consequences the change would have. And we would naturally need to speak to and consult with all interested parties and stakeholders.'



Blatter expects his executive committee to agree that the 2022 tournament should be switched from the searing heat of summer.



Speaking to the Associated Press last month, Blatter said: 'I would be very much surprised, more than surprised, if the ExCo will not accept the principle you cannot play in summer in Qatar.



Blatter announces that Qatar will hold the 2022 World Cup back in 2010

'What will be following, this would be then decided later.'

Blatter says consultations will involve leagues, clubs, national associations and players, through their international union FIFPro but he set no timetable.

Qatar's suitability in June and July was questioned even before FIFA's board chose it in December 2010 in a contest with the United States, Japan, South Korea and Australia

However, Qatar's World Cup organizing committee has repeatedly stated its confidence in developing stadium air-cooling technology, though the committee also said it will change plans if FIFA formally requested it.

An artist's impression of the Qatar University Stadium, one of the 2022 World Cup venues

FIFA and Blatter have gradually shifted their position from previously insisting that Qatar must ask for a change - a scenario interpreted as protecting FIFA against potential legal challenges.

Now, some of the same FIFA board members who helped choose Qatar - in a decisive 14-8 vote over the U.S. - are set to change the tournament hosting plan.

'Those that have taken the decision at the time, they knew there is problems with the heat. They knew it, because it was in the (technical) report,' Blatter said.



'It was wrong to say, 'Now we have to play in summer,' because in summer you cannot play there.'

'Therefore the ExCo now shall take the decision - and they will take it - that in summer you can't play in Qatar.'

The Khalifa Stadium in Doha will be renovated to host World Cup games

Blatter has previously suggested November as a possible start for the month-long tournament while recent speculation has focused on May. A January-February slot is unlikely because of a clash with the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Finding new dates could be led by the 27-member FIFA board in its duty to set the fixture schedule for international matches, when clubs must release their players to national teams.