FIFA urges end-of-year World Cup for 2022

A FIFA task force recommended on Tuesday that the 2022 World Cup soccer tournament in Qatar should be played at the end of that year to avoid the summer heat.

Temperatures in the Gulf emirate routinely top 40 C in June when the World Cup traditionally kicks off.

A Dec 23 final in Doha, the Qatari capital, is possible, as FIFA aims to shorten the tournament from the current 32-day schedule to ease disruption for players, clubs and leagues worldwide.

The plan should be approved by the FIFA executive committee, chaired by President Sepp Blatter, at a March 19-20 meeting in Zurich.

Blatter, an International Olympic Committee mem- ber, has long favored November and December to avoid clashing with the Winter Olympics, scheduled for February 2022.

FIFA said its task force chose the “most viable period” over other proposals to play in January, April or May, dates favored mostly by European soccer officials.

European clubs and leagues oppose FIFA’s proposal, which shuts them down for several weeks in midseason.

Compensation deals must now be agreed upon with the influential European Club Association and European Professional Football Leagues groups.

UEFA, which organizes the lucrative Champions League, finally fell into line with FIFA on Tuesday.