THE dates for the Qatar 2022 World Cup have been confirmed by Fifa. Fifa are sticking to their plans that it will indeed be the first-ever winter edition of the tournament. 8 Fifa have confirmed the dates for the Qatar 2022 World Cup Credit: Getty 8 Fifa president Gianni Infantino has hailed Russia's hosting as the greatest ever Credit: EPA The 2022 World Cup will kick off on November 21 with the final played on December 18 – just a week before Christmas. The news was confirmed as Fifa president Gianni Infantino hailed the 2018 competition in Russia as the best ever. He said: “For a couple of years I have been saying that this will be the best World Cup ever and today I can say that with conviction – it is the best World Cup ever. “I would like to thank everyone. The main actors are on the pitch – the players, referees and coaches – but, of course, there are also all those who have worked to make sure everything has worked smoothly. The amazingly futuristic plans for the Qatar 2022 World Cup 8 The World Cup in Qatar will start in late November 8 The tournament will end on December 18 - just a week before Christmas Day FIFA president Gianni Infantino asked by CONMBEOL leader for World Cup to expand to 48 teams for Qatar 2022 tournament “A big thank you to the Russia government and Vladimir Putin, the local organising committee, the Russian Football Union, the volunteers, the heart and smile of the World Cup, all those people, more than 100,000 who helped in one capacity or another. “Everyone discovered a beautiful country, a welcoming country, that is keen to show the world that everything that has been said before might not be true. “A lot of preconceived ideas have been changed because people have seen the true nature of Russia.” The Swiss also revealed he is pushing ahead to expand the competition to 48 teams for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Amazing Ras Abu Aboud Stadium made up of blocks of shipping containers being built for Qatar World Cup - that can be dismantled and built elsewhere 8 There could be 48 teams competing in Qatar Credit: Getty 8 There are 32 teams in the current World Cup system Credit: Getty While Fifa have set in stone the 28-day window between November 21 and December 18, Infantino is still determined to force through the expansion. “We will decide whether it’s 48 or 32 teams in the next few months. We must have discussions with the Qataris and then if there is a possibility with the Fifa Council and stakeholders. Then we will decide calmly and quietly what the decision is. “For now it’s a World Cup with 32 teams but everybody is open-minded and we will have a frank and open debate.” That would include playing games in other Gulf states outside Qatar - despite the current trade and border blockade between the tiny country and it’s Saudi-backed neighbours. FIFA president Gianni Infantino hails World Cup 2018 as ‘best ever’ 8 There are many spectacular stadiums being built Credit: Getty 8 Whether fans will approve of the dates remains to be seen Credit: Getty FIFA President Gianni Infantino thinks VAR at the World Cup has been ‘extremely positive’ Most Read in World Cup NO HARD FEELINGS Man dumped by Gareth Southgate's wife insists he holds no grudge 'i want a girl' England star Kyle Walker's model girlfriend reveals she wants FOURTH baby Infantino added: “I will be happy if it stays at 32 teams as previously established. Qatar could insist on 32. “But if everybody comes on board and thinks it might be positive to change to 48 we can have a look. All options will be on the table. “Maybe, through Fifa and football, we could bring countries together and allow them to start having dialogue. Football can open up the doors to communication between nations.”<doc-sep>2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar to run from November to December The World Cup shift is sure to come with criticism, specifically from European clubs. CAPE TOWN - Fifa president Gianni Infantino has announced that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will take place from 21 November to 18 December. This a seismic decision considering it will split the usual European football season. However, the summer heat of Qatar is considered too much of a risk. The World Cup shift is sure to come with criticism, specifically from European clubs. In recent months, Infantino has supported calls to add 16 more teams to the 2022 tournament, a plan likely to make Qatar share hosting duties because it is building only eight stadiums. Infantino hopes that sharing the matches across the Middle East region would help to ease tensions in the area.<doc-sep>You are going to have to wait more than four years for the next World Cup. About four years and four months, actually. FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed the dates for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, saying it will be played from November 21 to December 18. Moving away from the summer due to the extreme heat of Qatar, this will be the first winter World Cup in the Northern Hempishere, with all World Cups played in June and July in the Southern Hemisphere being during their winter season, just like Brazil in 2014. It's not quite clear just yet how it will impact the club seasons throughout the world, but Europe and South America, at least, are expected to split their season up, and domestic leagues could begin a little earlier as a result. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Infantino also said the tournament could feature more than 32 teams, but a decision has not been made. A vote was expected at the FIFA Congress in June, but no vote occurred and in the next few months there should be a decision, Infantino said. There's not a lot of time to change their minds with World Cup qualifying set to begin next year.<doc-sep>Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally passed the torch to Qatar for the World Cup in 2022 but when exactly is the next tournament and how will it work? England, surprise semi-finalists at Russia 2018, will be back in action in September when the new UEFA Nations League kicks off - live on Sky Sports - while a special Euro 2020 will take place in 12 cities across 12 countries, concluding at Wembley. But if you're already hankering after the next World Cup, here's what you need to know... Where is the 2022 World Cup? The World Cup is heading to the Middle East for the first time. Qatar, a peninsula in the Persian Gulf, will host the 2022 tournament after controversially winning the right in 2010. Image: FIFA President Sepp Blatter names Qatar as the winning hosts of the 2022 World Cup finals The small Gulf kingdom, which stretches only 180km from one end to the other, has a population of just over 2.5m. When is the tournament? For the first time, the World Cup will not be held during the months of May, June or July. That's because Qatar is surrounded by desert and average summer temperatures can soar to 45 degrees. FIFA has taken the decision to move the tournament to cooler winter months and has confirmed a start date of November 21, 2022. It will still be hot, though - Qatar boasts average temperatures of 24 degrees in November and 20 in December. Because the next World Cup will fall during the normal domestic schedule for the majority of European club sides, the 2022 competition will take place over a reduced time frame of 28 days. The final is due to be played on December 18. Image: Computer-generated artist's impression of Qatar 2022 World Cup venue, the Al Thumama Stadium, in Doha How many teams will there be? Whether the 2022 World Cup will be a 32-team event or expand to 48 sides is still to be decided. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said that Qatar can insist on keeping a 32-team format, though he admitted towards the end of Russia 2018 that he was "pretty sure that all options will be on the table." Hassan Al Thawadi, head of Qatar's World Cup 2022 committee, said: "It will be a common decision taken between FIFA and Qatar and we are now studying the feasibility of expanding it to a 48-team World Cup. However, all preparations are on the basis of 32 teams." Were the number of teams to increase, so would the likelihood of Qatar sharing hosting duties in the region. What will be the impact on the Premier League? Top-flight football for the 2022-23 campaign could kick-off in July to accommodate the break for the World Cup. But outgoing Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has repeatedly said his priority is to try and keep the Christmas and New Year programme intact and the Premier League campaign could resume as early as Boxing Day. Image: The 2022 World Cup's effect on the Premier League schedule is still to be confirmed The season could run on until the beginning of June, meaning a shorter break before the following campaign starts, although no decision has yet been made. Though altering the timing of the tournament has seemingly set FIFA on a collision course with powerful European clubs, the Qataris are seeking to put a positive spin on the change. "Players will be mid-season, not at the end of their seasons, at a time when they can be at their peak of their performance levels," Al Thawadi has said. Where are the stadiums? Qatar is planning eight new stadiums for the tournament, with one completed, two more due this year and the rest scheduled to be finished by 2021. None is more than 35km from the centre of the capital Doha and all will be air-conditioned, as well as being serviced by a brand new metro system. Image: Computer-generated artist's impression of Qatar 2022 World Cup venue, the Al Wakrah stadium, in Al-Wakrah What will the fan experience be like? Qatar is set to relax laws on the consumption of alcohol, planning areas for visiting fans where alcohol can be consumed to ensure they replicate the party atmosphere of past tournaments. Image: England fans relished their experience in Russia despite pre-tournament concerns Addressing concerns over the potential impact of cultural differences on the experience, Al Thawadi told Russia Today: "Let's address the elephant in the room - alcohol. Alcohol will be served, it just won't be served in public places, in the streets and so on, but there will be designated areas, open areas where people will be able to have alcohol. "It's a different culture, it's not a restrictive culture as people think it might be." Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar but Al Thawadi insists "everybody's welcome". "We're used to hosting major events, we're used to welcoming people from different walks of life and different parts of the world into our country," Al Thawadi said. "Simply put, everybody's welcome, everybody will be having a good time." The FA signed a "memorandum of understanding" with the hosts earlier this year and despite drawing criticism, says they hope they can "positively influence" football, as well as engaging on social issues. 1:52 LGBT+ fans group Pride in Football asked for a meeting the FA after expressing 'shock' at their decision to sign a memorandum of understanding with Qatar What's Qatar's football background? Qatar has little sporting tradition and has never played at a World Cup. The Qatar Stars League - formerly the Q-League - is the highest professional league. The current champions are Al-Duhail SC but the most decorated is Al Saad - the current side of Spain legend Xavi. Image: Xavi, captain of Al Sadd, celebrates winning the 2017 Emir Cup at Khalifa International Stadium on May 19, 2017 A big-money drive to boost football development came in the early 2000s and saw Pep Guardiola, Gabriel Batistuta, Marcel Desailly and Frank and Ronald de Boer play out their careers in Qatar.<doc-sep>
FIFA announce dates for 2022 World Cup in Qatar and nobody's happy Well, that was a real nice competition we had once. FIFA's decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar has been the subject of much controversy. It was suspected from the outset that the sweltering heat of Qatar would force the tournament to be played in winter rather than summer for the first time in its history. Today, FIFA confirmed the dates. Whereas most World Cups take place between June and July, 2022 will begin on November 21 and the final will be held on December 18, exactly one week before Christmas day. It remains unclear how the World Cup will fit the schedule of domestic leagues, most of which play through November and December. The 2022 World Cup will be the last World Cup to feature 32 teams before the tournament is expanded to include 48. The 2026 World Cup will be held across Canada, Mexico and the USA. Match of the Day host and former England striker Gary Lineker has voiced his opposition to the move, writing: "FIFA’s 2022 World Cup in Qatar will take place between November 21st and December 18th. The World Cup has always been a welcomed spectacle during a long football free summer, rather than an interruption of the football season. Darn shame we have to wait 8 years." FIFA’s 2022 World Cup in Qatar will take place between November 21st and December 18th. The World Cup has always been a welcomed spectacle during a long football free summer, rather than an interruption of the football season. Darn shame we have to wait 8 years. — Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) July 13, 2018