Johannesburg : The top priority on the FIFA executive committee’s agenda next week is choosing the playing dates for the 2022 World Cup, with the 2026 hosting contest also under discussion. FIFA has revealed that it would start talks during its March 19-20 meeting on a timeline for 2026 bidders, which are expected to include Canada and the United States. However, the most important item on the agenda is confirming that the 2022 tournament in Qatar would be played in November-December to avoid the heat of June-July, Sport24 reported.
The exact playing dates for the tournament must be decided, with FIFA suggesting a 28-day tournament instead of the usual 32 days. FIFA President Sepp Blatter has said that he wants the final on Sunday, December 18, which is also Qatar’s national day, over UEFA’s proposal for a Friday, December 23, final.
