Europe’s soccer federations on Thursday agreed it would be “impossible” to stage the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in the summer as currently planned. Speaking after 54 European soccerfederations met in Dubrovnik, Croatia, to debate the issue on Wednesday, FIFA vice president Jim Boyce said: “Obviously there are certain reservations regarding the World Cup in Qatarbut everyone agrees that it would be impossible to play in the severe heat of Qatar in the summer.” A task force will now be set up to find an alternative.
Boyce added: “It is veryimportant that we get this right. They all agree that to play the World Cup, to take thousands of fans to the biggest sporting event in the middle of summer would be impossible.” FIFA is expected toagree in principle to the switch to winter at its next executive committee meeting in October.