It would probably be the first time in the history of the soccer world cup that so many discussions have been taken place in last couple of months and still there is no consensus over whether world cup would visit in the middle east or not. Though, both UEFA and FIFA presidents are now agreed on playing the event in winter, Qatar still want to organize the mega event during its traditional time period. As far dates change is concerned, FIFA has asked Qatar to submit a formal request to shift the timing while Qatar look nowhere interested in accepting their inability to host the world cup during the month of June. According to recent media reports, Qatar has planned a comprehensive plan to convert all world cup sites into fully conditioned ones so both players and fans could enjoy the game without fearing heat of the dessert. In fact, Qatar organizers have replied Blatter’s advice to submit a formal request by saying that they are still committed to what they had promised when they were chosen as the host of 2022 world cup. Now, the matter becomes an issue of pride for both: on one side, Qatar doesn’t want to show their incompetence and at the same time FIFA also do not want to initiate the timing change on its own, which would put a question mark over the basis it has chosen Qatar knowing all the facts about environment there.
Qatar organizers issued a statement recently and said, “Our bid was based on the sole intent of hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup in the summer. Various figures from the world of football have raised preferences for hosting in the winter. We are ready to host the World Cup in summer or winter. Our planning isn’t affected either way, as we are committed to the cooling technologies. We committed considerable resources during the bidding process to prove that the cooling technology works. The technology is already in use since 2008 at Al Sadd Stadium. We are offering solutions to keep players and fans cool and comfortable – and developing those solutions to ensure that they are environmentally sustainable.”
So, it looks there is no end of disparity at the moment, coz on one side everyone, except CONCACAF, wants to organize the world cup in winters, but who would take the initiative to come in front and say, yes this is the new timings for 2002 world cup. It has now become more a pride and ego issue than a matter of world cup timings.