2022 Qatar World Cup to be held in winter

FIFA's secretary general has stated that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar 'will not be in June or July'.

Jerome Valcke, who has been given the task of looking at alternative dates due to the fierce heat of the summer in Qatar, says it is likely to be held sometime between November 15 and January 15.

Valcke told France Info (radio station): 'It will not be in June or July. Frankly I think it'll be played between November 15 and January 15 at the latest."

Temperatures can exceed 40 degrees in the summer in the middle-eastern country, compared to a more comfortable 17 degrees in the winter.

President Sepp Blatter had already said the tournament would be in November or December but organisers had still hoped to host it in June and July.

The scheduling of the tournament has been debated since it was controversially awarded to Qatar in December 2010.

Fears have been raised that the summer heat in the Gulf emirate would be dangerous for players and fans alike.

"If you play between 15 November and the end of December that's the time when the weather conditions are best, when you can play in temperatures equivalent to a warm spring season in Europe, averaging 25 degrees.

"That would be perfect for playing football," the FIFA secretary-general said.

The Africa Cup of Nations is already scheduled for January 2023.

Blatter said two months ago that a firm decision on dates for the World Cup will be made in December 2014.

The Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee has indicated it would be happy to switch to a winter World Cup.