FIFA President Sepp Blatter Wants 2022 World Cup In Qatar To Start In Mid-November

FIFA sources said that FIFA President Sepp Blatter "imagines the 2022 World Cup final to take place on Dec. 18 in Qatar," according to Rainer Franzke of KICKER. The new plans mean the World Cup would start mid-November instead of January and become a "Christmas fairytale" (KICKER, 7/25). LATINOS POST reported the tournament "is usually hosted in June when European domestic leaves are on their annual break." The leagues "usually resume in August and finish their first half in January for a month-long break." Many believed that the World Cup "could fit in the January break." While this "would certainly anger teams it would not disrupt the season." However, a move to November "would alter season schedules and would also cripple the yearly Champions league; group stage matches take place in November." A number of organization representatives "have already voiced their disapproval for this plan" (LATINOS POST, 7/25).