FIFA Officially Confirms Winter World Cup In Qatar

Well, we've gone with a snowy picture but actually it'll still be really warm won't it?

FIFA's executive committee today finally confirmed the dates for the 2022 World Cup, which will take place in that legendary footballing hotspot of Qatar - and it will indeed be firmly in the English winter.

The 28-day tournament will kick off on 21 November, with the final taking place on Sunday 18 December, Qatar's national holiday.

The dates have been picked firstly in order to make sure that the players don't burn alive, as they would have done in the summer, and to try and minimise disruption to the major national leagues which will now have to shut down while the tournament is played.

Outgoing - at some point, maybe - president Sepp Blatter was due to face the press in Zurich after the announcement, but the press conference was called off, with 170 journalists present being left high and dry. It would have been his first public appearance since his right hand man, secretary general Jerome Valcke, was placed on leave after allegations over ticket sales at the last World Cup. We're sure there's no substance to it whatsoever.

What knock-on effects could this have for England? They won't have the excuse of being tired after a long hard season, but it will still be warm - the temperatures in Doha in November range from 20 to 28 degrees Celsius. It'll be quarter-finals again won't it? Yes it will.

(Image: Rex)