PARIS, Jan 8 — The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will not be held in June-July and would best be held in the winter time, FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke said today.

The scheduling of the tournament has been hotly debated ever since it was controversially awarded to Qatar in December 2010, especially over fears that the summer heat in the Gulf emirate would be dangerous for players and fans alike.

“The dates for the World Cup (in Qatar) will not be June-July,” Valcke, the second most powerful man in international footbal’s governing body, told Radio France.

“To be honest, I think it will be held between November 15 and January 15 at the latest.

“If you play between November 15 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.” — AFP