Soccer Ruling Body FIFA To Consult Media Rights Holders On 2022 World Cup Dates
The 2022 soccer World Cup is to be played in Qatar beginning in June that year and FIFA is discussing a proposal to shift the games due to extremely high temperatures — as much as 122° Fahrenheit — that could adversely affect players. Last month, Fox Sports had balked at a potential move. It paid a record $425M for U.S. broadcast rights to the 2018-2022 World Cup package and is concerned that moving the competition would clash with its broadcast of NFL games. After a meeting in Zurich, FIFA said today that its executive committee would work with the main World Cup stakeholders including leagues, clubs, players and business partners who hold media rights, to determine a course of action. But FIFA said no decision will be forthcoming until after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil next summer. The English Premier League also opposes a date change since it would force European soccer timetables to shift. The national World Cup teams are made up of players who, in many cases, make their daily living with clubs outside their home countries.
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