FIFA has confirmed that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be played from November 21 to December 18.
The tournament was widely expected to be scheduled for the winter months due to health concerns over the extreme heat in the summer, which is when the World Cup is traditionally played.
The decision to award the tournament to Qatar has been met with controversy as Swiss and US authorities are currently investigating the bid in their probe into allegations of corruption.
Following a FIFA executive committee in Zurich this afternoon, the dates of the 2022 World Cup were announced, with the final being held a week before Christmas on December 18, according to PA.
The decision to shift the tournament to winter will disrupt numerous domestic divisions, including the Premier League, which contains a busy schedule over the festive period.
Meanwhile, outgoing FIFA president Sepp Blatter was due to address the media in a press conference following the committee meeting, but it was cancelled five minutes before it was due to begin.
Danielle Joynson
