FIFA president Gianni Infantino wants the global football community to have an open mind towards World Cup scheduling in a bid to tackle the challenges climate poses to the football calendar, Afrosport reports.
The World Cup is typically held during the summer months of June and July when most European leagues have their off-season, however the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was held in November and December due to extreme heat conditions in the Arabian Gulf in the summer months.
Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 World Cup which could alter the football calendar once again but Infantino is open to having the tournament at any time of the year as long as it is climate friendly.
“It’s not just about one World Cup, it’s a general reflection,” he said at the general assembly of the European Football Clubs ( EFC) in Rome.
“Even to play in some European countries in July is very, very hot, so maybe we have to think.
“We have summer and winter and in the world, if you want to play at the same time everywhere, you can play in March or in October. In December you cannot play in one part of the world and in July you cannot play in another part.
“We need to consider all these elements and let’s see how we can make it better for everyone. Maybe there are ways we can optimise the calendar. We are discussing, we have to have an open mind.”
The 2026 World Cup will be held in the North American nations of the United States, Canada and Mexico during the June to July window.
However a report has suggested that 10 of the 16 venues are at a high risk of extreme heat conditions, some of which was experienced at the FIFA Club World Cup this summer in the United States.
