The countdown to the 2022 World Cup is on

Qatar World Cup 2022: What date does it start? All you need to know, including host venues and qualifying

By Sporting Life

Football

Thu November 22, 2018 · 6y ago

Today marks four years to the day until the start of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Here's all the information you need to know about the tournament.

With the 2018 renewal in Russia having been considered a success, attention is already turning towards the 2022 edition which will be a momentous occasion with the World Cup taking place in winter rather than at the height of summer.

Here's everything you need to know about the 2022 World Cup.

When is it taking place?

For the first time in the tournament's history, the World Cup will not be played in the summer. It will be played over a reduced time frame of 28 days from November 21 to December 18, with the final held on Qatar's National Day.

The controversial decision to switch to cooler months later in the year is because of the soaring summer temperatures of up to 45 degrees Celsius on the Persian Gulf peninsula, meaning the entire football calendar has to be rearranged, disrupting many domestic club seasons.

A rendered image of the the Qatar Foundation Stadium, a 2022 World Cup venue to be built in Doha

What will be the impact on the Premier League?

Top-flight football for the 2022/23 campaign could kick-off in July to accommodate the break for the World Cup.

But outgoing Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has repeatedly said his priority is to try and keep the Christmas and New Year programme intact and the Premier League campaign could resume as early as Boxing Day.

The season could run until the beginning of June, meaning a shorter break before the following campaign starts, although no decision has yet been made.

Though altering the timing of the tournament has seemingly set FIFA on a collision course with powerful European clubs, the Qataris are seeking to put a positive spin on the change.

"Players will be mid-season, not at the end of their seasons, at a time when they can be at their peak of their performance levels," said Hassan Al Thawadi.

Where will matches be played?

A rendered image of the Al Wakrah stadium, a Qatar 2022 World Cup venue

Qatar is planning eight new stadiums for the tournament, with one completed, two more due this year and the rest scheduled to be finished by 2021.

None are more than 35km from the centre of the capital, Doha, and all will be air-conditioned, as well as serviced by a brand new metro system.

What can fans expect from the Qatar World Cup?

Qatar is set to relax laws on the consumption of alcohol, planning areas for visiting fans where it can be consumed.

Addressing concerns over the potential impact of cultural differences on the experience, Al Thawadi told Russia Today: "Let's address the elephant in the room - alcohol. Alcohol will be served, it just won't be served in public places, in the streets and so on, but there will be designated areas, open areas where people will be able to have alcohol.

"It's a different culture, it's not a restrictive culture as people think it might be."

Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar, one of many concerns which have made FIFA's decision to play the World Cup there a controversial one, but Al Thawadi insists "everybody's welcome".

"We're used to hosting major events, we're used to welcoming people from different walks of life and different parts of the world into our country," he said. "Simply put, everybody's welcome, everybody will be having a good time."

The FA signed a "memorandum of understanding" with the hosts earlier this year and despite drawing criticism, the UK governing body hopes to "positively influence" football, as well as engaging on social issues.

When does World Cup qualifying start?

The 2022 World Cup could yet be expanded to a 48-team event, and a feasibility study is under way, although that could mean FIFA may have to look at a co-host to accommodate the additional matches.

Under current plans, Europe are set to have 13 qualifying slots, the largest of any region - with holders France having to secure the chance to defend their title.

Hosts Qatar will be given an automatic place and will be competing at a World Cup for the first time. The draw for World Cup 2022 qualifying is scheduled to take place in July 2019.