Qatar World Cup 2022 Dates: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

FIFA is close to agreeing upon a winter schedule for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar amid speculation that the tournament will be moved to a November kickoff.

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2022 FIFA World Cup Final to Be Played on December 18

Thursday, March 19

The Telegraph reported that the 2022 World Cup final will be played on December 18 of that year.  

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Rumenigge Comments on Task Force Recommendation

Tuesday, Feb. 24

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rumenigge discussed FIFA's task force recommendation to move the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to November, according to Bayern's official website:

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"Today's recommendation of the Task Force regarding the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar [not to stage the finals in the summer of 2022] does not come as a surprise; it was rather expected.

For the football family the rescheduling of the 2022 FIFA World Cup presents a difficult and challenging task. All match calendars across the world will have to accommodate such a tournament in 2022/23, which requires everyone's willingness to compromise.

However, the European clubs and leagues cannot be expected to bear the costs for such a rescheduling. We expect the clubs to be compensated for the damage that a final decision would cause." 

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November World Cup in Qatar Reportedly a 'Done Deal'

Wednesday, Feb. 18 

According to Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated, the tournament will take place throughout November and December 2022, with the FIFA executive committee preparing to make a final decision in March.

Wahl details that the plan is to see only one European club season impacted by the change in timetable, which has been mooted in an attempt to lessen the impact of Qatar's extreme temperatures.

Sergei Grits/Associated Press

UEFA president Michel Platini spoke to BBC Sport in November, backing the idea of the competition being moved to a winter date: "It'll never be in April, May or June. It will be in winter. It's not the clubs that are playing, it's the players and it's not possible to play in May when it's 40 degrees."

As Wahl states, international competitions will be disrupted if FIFA decide on a November-December contest, and the 2021 Confederations Cup is also at risk of being moved.