In what is steadily shaping up to be one of the most controversial World Cups in recent memory, the next edition of the global tournament to be held in Qatar in 2022 will be moving to a winter schedule.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed the move as the tournament in Russia comes to a close, in what will become a first for many generations of football lovers.

The 2022 World Cup will now take place between the 21st of November and the 18th of December

Of course, the main reason behind his decision is Qatar’s climate, which is as hot as they get. In June and July when the World Cup is usually held, it’s not unusual for temperatures in the Western Asian peninsula to go up to the mid 30s, and even into 40°C territory.

Having said that, Qatar’s temperature still averages around 20°C in November, so don’t expect a wintery wonderland come 2022.

One of the biggest issues with the change in schedule, of course, is the fact that leagues will have to be disrupted to accommodate the upcoming World Cup. However, Infantino has already addressed these concerns in his latest statement.

“Leagues around the world have been informed already, and of course the will have to adapt,” the FIFA President said. It is now being reported that while some teams will just start some three weeks earlier than usual, others will have to break for several weeks before the tournament to allow players a proper respite.

And while the post-final break won’t be much of an issue for some leagues, others like the beloved Premier League will suffer due to the very busy spell it usually gets around Christmas. Then again, that would now arrive just a week after it finally comes home.

David Grech Urpani

Lovin Malta's Head of Content, Dave has been in journalism for the better half of the last decade. Prefers Instagram, but has been known to doomscroll on TikTok. Loves chicken, women's clothes and Kanye West (most of the time).