Although Fifa is now going to engage in a period of ‘deep consultation’, it seems inevitable that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be rescheduled either to November and December or January and February. Dates later in the spring have been mentioned, but would cause even more disruption to league programmes.
Air conditioning would cost tens of millions of dollars per match if the tournament was held in the summer. It would also be difficult to provide safe conditions for fans.
Although Fifa is now going to engage in a period of ‘deep consultation’, it seems inevitable that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be rescheduled either to November and December or January and February. Dates later in the spring have been mentioned, but would cause even more disruption to league programmes.
Air conditioning would cost tens of millions of dollars per match if the tournament was held in the summer. It would also be difficult to provide safe conditions for fans.
Fifa now faces multi-million dollar legal actions if it does move the date. There may be compensation claims from the US and other losing bidders, including Australia and Japan, who would argue that the bidding competition specified a June event.
Broadcasters might also have to be compensated. US network Fox paid $400m for the 2018 and 2022 rights and would have to schedule a winter World Cup against NFL games.
However, this has to be balanced against the wrath of Qatar if the World Cup had been moved elsewhere. Qatar’s investment in football at Paris Saint Germain and Barcelona is substantial. The US would not consider it worth jeopardising its own strategic relations with Qatar for a soccer tournament.
The Premier League is upset about the potential disruption to its schedule, but may be partially mollified by the prospect of an al Jazeera bid for television rights in 2016.