English football and FIFA closing on deal to see 2022 World Cup shifted to winter Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and his wife Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned with Sep Blatter. THE Barclays Premier League is closing in a deal that would secure a northern winter FIFA World Cup 2022. According to the Telegraph.co.uk, the agreement would see the sport's pinnacle event shifted to November and December. FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke is leading the charge and has been meeting with English football heavyweights - including EPL chief executive Richard Scudamore and FA general secretary Alex Horne. "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. It is understood the EPL and FA are determined to keep their traditional Christmas period fixture. "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 said. Once Valcke completes his review, major stakeholders will meet to try and design a new international calender. However, one of the biggest issues will be the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, which would normally begin in January of that year. There are a number of things still to work on but the final goal is to try to have either in December 2014 or, at the latest, in March 2015, a final decision. Does it make sense to have the Africa Cup of Nations three weeks after the World Cup? Is it not too much with regards of the release of players? He also highlighted the problem of winning over TV networks, which have already signed broadcast deals for the 2022 World Cup.