British Study: Football Players Will Need Month Of Acclimatization Ahead Of Qatar 2022

A report by the University of Bedfordshire said that "teams contesting the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will need a month to prepare for the country's sweltering heat," according to the AFP. The study recommends that teams arrive in Qatar at least four weeks in advance of the tournament, "which is currently scheduled to take place amid temperatures that could reach as high as 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit)." University of Bedfordshire Director of Sport Professor John Brewer said, "Physical performance and decision-making will be impaired in hot conditions. ... The results are unsurprising; but we've also found that players' bodies could adapt to the extreme conditions if the squad arrives in Qatar early enough." Brewer said that in order for England to prosper at the Qatar tournament, "the entire domestic footballing calendar would have to be rejigged" (AFP, 8/22).