FIFA's executive committee that is currently meeting in Zurich to decide the dates of the 2022 World Cup has decided the final will be played on 18 December. This comes after Sepp Blatter had originally suggested that day for the tournament to be over.
Qatar was awarded the honor to host the World Cup back in 2010. Immediately after that, people like Michel Platini and Franz Beckenbauer advocated in favor of moving the tournament which is normally played in the summer, to make it happen over the winter months. Many European clubs were opposed to the idea.
In September of 2013, FIFA created a special task force to investigate the issue about the climate and weather conditions in Qatar. By the end of last year, that same group reported that changing the traditional dates of the tournament was the way to go. Another suggestion was shortening the duration of the competition.
In response, the European Clubs Association (ECA) is planning to demand compensations to FIFA for having to modify the domestic seasons for around £150m. Four years later, even Platini stands by what he said right from the start.
"I am totally coherent with what I said four years ago. I vote for what I am convinced is good for football," Platini
This Thursday, FIFA has finally come to the conclusion that there will be a winter World Cup in 2022. With the tournament ending one week before Christmas, there is a possibility that the Boxing Day tradition of the English Premier League stays alive.
