FIFA proposes Jan-Feb, Nov-Dec as possible dates for Qatar WC in 2022

FIFA has revealed that it has proposed January-February and November-December in 2022 as possible dates for the Qatar World Cup.

FIFA said in a statement that the dates were offered at the first meeting in Zurich of a special task force dealing with the international match calendar 2018-2024, and added that the tournament must be played in 2022.

FIFA also said that Qatar's original plan to stage the event at the traditional June-July slot is widely opposed because of the intense summer heat at the time, Sport24 reported.

As a result, FIFA has invited all stakeholders to help search for alternative dates, with January-February and November-December now put forward for discussion.

However, with the Pyeonchang Winter Olympics to open on February 9 and football's world governing body's boss Joseph Blatter reportedly having assured Olympic supremo Thomas Bach that the events won't clash, a November-December slot could be likelier for the World Cup.

A winter World Cup will disrupt the season in key European leagues and continental events such as the Champions League in mid-season for around two months and also lead to a changed calendar the season before and after the World Cup.

Further talks are set to be held later in the year and early 2015 before the FIFA executive committee is to reach a decision in March 2015, the report added.