MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

FIFA confirms Nov/Dec for 2022 Qatar World Cup and compensation to clubs

“...yes, we are going to play in November and December and, yes, the final is going to be played on Dec. 18” De Gregorio announced

FIFA has ended more than four years of uncertainty over the timing of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar by announcing that it would be played in November and December with the final on December 18. It also anticipated that it will release funds to clubs for release of players.

 Spokesman Walter De Gregorio said the winter tournament would probably last 28 days, instead of the 32 for last year's finals in Brazil, but this was still to be decided.

“The executive committee today ... decided that, yes, we are going to play in November and December and, yes, the final is going to be played on Dec. 18,” De Gregorio told reporters at FIFA headquarters.

“It's a Sunday and it's also the national day of Qatar and, in principle, we try to play in 28 days.

”The next steps will be to have different talks especially related to the match calendar,“ he added, referring to the 2019-22 cycle of international fixtures and the 2023 African Nations Cup in Guinea that is scheduled to be played in January.

The news was widely expected after the November/December period had been recommended by a task force of soccer's ruling body FIFA. It will be the first time the tournament has been played outside the European summer.

Qatar was awarded the event in December 2010 on the basis it would take place in the summer in air-conditioned stadiums.

FIFA also confirmed that they will distribute 209 million dollars to clubs for release of players during 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

”A total of $209 million will be distributed among the clubs releasing players to the participating teams in the 2018 FIFA World Cup (in Russia),“ FIFA said in a statement.

”The same amount has been agreed for the 22nd edition to be staged in Qatar in 2022.”