FIFA president Gianni Infantino has claimed football needs to have an ‘open mind’ about when the World Cup takes place, as he floated an end to its traditional summer timeslot.
The World Cup has typically been held in the northern hemisphere summer, but the tournament shifted to the winter for 2022 showpiece in Qatar.
Matches were played in November and December due to the high temperatures in the gulf nation, with the dates forcing Europe’s major leagues to have a mid-season break.
The prospect of another winter tournament has been raised with Saudi Arabia having been awarded the 2024 World Cup.
A FIFA report last year noted that best temperatures in Saudi Arabia are ‘between October and April.’
Temperatures during the month average between 15°C and 30°C, while the average ranges from 17°C to 38°C between May and September.
The FIFA World Cup could movefrom the northern hemisphere summer, FIFA’s chief revealed
Gianni Infantino suggested there needs to be an ‘open mind’ over when World Cups are held
Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup with temperatures optimal in the winter months
Previous editions of the World Cup have largely taken place in June and July, where temperatures in Saudi Arabia ‘can exceed 40°C at the hottest times of the day in Riyadh’.
Speaking at the European Football Clubs’ general assembly in Rome, Infantino claimed there needs to be an ‘open mind’ about the calendar, as he suggested the World Cup could be move from its traditional timeslot.
‘It’s not just about one World Cup, it’s a general reflection, even to play in some European countries in July is very, very hot, so maybe we have to think,’ Infantino said.
‘Actually, the best month to play football, which is June, is not used very much in Europe.
‘Maybe there are ways we can optimise the calendar, but we are discussing it and we will see when we come to some conclusions. We just have to have an open mind.
‘It is a fact that in the world, if you want to play at the same time everywhere, you can play in March or in October, most likely. Because in December you cannot play in one part of the world and in July you cannot play in another part of the world.
‘We need to consider all these elements when we speak about national team competitions, national team release, about club competitions, and see how we can make it better for the benefit of everyone.’
The international match calendar is currently fixed until 2030, with the next two editions of the men’s World Cup taking place in the northern hemisphere summer.
The Qatar 2022 World Cup was held in November and December to combat intense heat
England, if they qualify, could play matches at 2am in North America to combat extreme heat
The United States, Canada and Mexico are hosting next year’s event in June and July.
Kick off times are expected to be 5pm BST, 8pm, 11pm and 2am, mirroring this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup.
That tournament was beset by heat issues, so the marquee matches at the World Cup are set to be in the later slots to aid player welfare.
Speaking about what the World Cup could learn from the Club World Cup, FIFA vice president Victor Montagliani admitted it was ‘kick-off times’.
Elaborating further, he told the Leaders Conference in Twickenham: ‘Kick-off times are always an issue in our region because summers are hot in Canada and US.
‘We’re having conversations daily with European media and other world media, in terms of what’s best and which are the stadiums that you can play at 3pm. That’s all in the mix now.
‘Once the actual schedule comes out after the draw, we will do our best to ensure it’s taken into consideration. Will it be that every game will be absolutely perfect from a kick-off time, from a TV perspective? I don’t know.’
Morocco, Portugal and Spain have been confirmed as co-hosts of the 2030 tournament.
Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay will also hold matches to mark the centenary edition of the World Cup, which was won by the latter.
