Can Qatar withstand the heat as World Cup host?

It began with attacks on the decision to play the tournament in the blistering June to July heat of the Gulf state. Critics have demanded that it be moved to the much cooler winter months. Over recent months, the host country has been hit by allegations of exploitation of migrant construction workers, repression of homosexuals and accusations of corruption in the voting to win the bid.

After experiencing the summer heat of the Middle East first hand, Fifa president Sepp Blatter quickly hinted that the event could be shifted to winter.

The hints came after the hosts promised to build air-conditioned stadiums for the players and covered walkways to allow spectators shaded access to the stadiums. But problems still remain.

Fears are growing that World Cup 2022 will see the lowest ever attendance of foreign fans, who will be put off by summer temperatures that reach 50 degrees Celsius in Qatar. The whole experience looks set to be a major hassle for travelling supporters, especially those who fail to get match tickets and have to watch from outside the stadium. And this is just one of many compelling reasons for fans not to travel to the country.

And while the hot weather would certainly be a major problem, switching the dates could create an even bigger headache, bringing fights between Fifa’s major stakeholders and resistance from European football leagues and winter sports.

Moving the tournament to January and February would clash with the Winter Olympics and the Africa Cup of Nations. However, January is the favoured date of Uefa president Michel Platini and others, who want to protect the Champions League.

Meanwhile, moving the tournament to December would wipe out a traditional highlight of the English football season – the 10-day flurry of fixtures around Christmas. Furthermore, it would bring problems for media broadcast deals in several countries.

A final decision on World Cup 2022 dates is expected after next year’s World Cup in Brazil, but we might have to wait until 2015.

However Blatter did reiterate earlier this month that the tournament will definitely take place in Qatar, and not in January and February when it would clash with the Winter Olympics. One reason to keep the two events apart is that they share the same sponsors and media partners, who want to get the most for their money.

Fifa’s president also reportedly brushed aside an idea that the Qatar World Cup be spread across the Gulf and Iran, though he later denied saying so.

Despite demands for a rethink over hosting one of the world’s biggest sporting events in the desert heat of the Gulf State, chances are slim that the host will be changed. To do so Fifa would need to hold a new bid, which would take time. Instead, we can expect to see some sort of compromise made over the timing of the tournament. The annual June-July feast of football looks set to be wheeled to a cooler time of year.