2022 World Cup final to be played on Dec. 18

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar is to be played in November and December and the final will be held on Dec. 18, FIFA spokesman Walter de Gregorio said on Thursday.

De Gregorio told reporters the decision was made by the executive committee of soccer’s ruling body FIFA following a recommendation by a task force that was set up specifically to discuss the issue.

He added the starting date had yet to be decided but the intention was the tournament would last four weeks.

“I can confirm the executive committee today, based on the proposal of the task force...decided that, yes, we are going to play in November and December and, yes, the final is going to be played on Dec. 18,” De Gregorio said at FIFA headquarters.

“It’s a Sunday and it’s also the national day of Qatar and, in principle, we try to play in 28 days. “Next steps will be to have different talks especially related to the match calendar.”

The announcement ended more than four years of indecision.

Qatar was awarded the 2022 finals in December 2010 on the basis it would take place in the summer in air-conditioned stadiums.

But within days Franz Beckenbauer, an executive committee member at the time, and UEFA president Michel Platini suggested a winter World Cup would be possible.

The decision could set FIFA on a collision course with the European clubs who had suggested staging the tournament in May.

The European Clubs Association (ECA), which represents more than 200 teams, previously said they would demand compensation for having to alter the domestic season.