Fifa has confirmed it will be at least February 2015 before it decides when to play the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and said the tournament may yet clash with the winter Olympics.

Last year, the Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, was poised to announce a switch to December 2022 in the face of concerns over the health of players and spectators in temperatures that regularly reach 45C in June.

Following an outcry by professional leagues in Europe, US broadcasters and others over a lack of consultation, Blatter announced a new task force would examine all the options.

After meeting for the first time the world game’s ruling body reiterated on Monday that playing the tournament in January and February is still an option, despite the International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach saying last year that he had reached agreement with Blatter that there would be no clash with the winter Games. However, moving the tournament to November and December 2022 remains by far the most likely option.

The first meeting of the task force was chaired by the Asian Football Confederation president Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and attended by representatives of confederations, clubs and leagues as well as player’s union and Qatar 2022 organising committee chief executive Hassan al-Thawadi.

“This is the first meeting and there will be future meetings on this matter,” the sheikh said. “As the Fifa executive committee has emphasised, the consultation process should not be rushed but instead be given the necessary time to consider all of the elements relevant for a decision. We have made progress at today’s meeting and will continue to work together to find the best solution for football.”

The Fifa secretary general, Jérôme Valcke, who has been leading the work of the task force, reiterated that the tournament had to be played within the calendar year of 2022.

The task force will meet again in November 2014, with each of the representatives asked to provide detailed information on how the different proposed dates for the 2022 World Cup will impact their relevant competitions. It is expected that another meeting will be held in February 2015.

The high summer temperatures, which have been declared unsafe by Fifa’s medical committee, are just one of the obstacles faced by organisers of the tournament.

Widespread corruption allegations have surrounded the bidding process and the organisers. Fifa has also come under fire over Qatar’s treatment of migrant construction workers.