Sepp Blatter, the FIFA president, has today given his strongest signal yet that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be played in January rather than its usual June or July slot.
Blatter, who is in Doha presently, ahead of the opening match of the Asian Cup, said this morning: "I expect it will be held in the winter. We have time to look at this question, it is still 11 years away but we must decide the most adequate period for a successful World Cup which means January or the end of the year.
"Do not forget there is still 11 years to go and although we have the basic conditions of their bid for a June and July World Cup, the FIFA executive committee is entitled to change anything that was in the bid.
"When you play football you have to protect the main people, the players."
Summer temperatures in Qatar can soar to over 40 degrees celsius while those in the winter months are far more comfortable, usually between 20 and 30 degrees.
FIFA awarded the 2022 World Cup to Qatar on December 2, the first time the tournament will be hosted in the Middle East.
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