FIFA confirms dates for Qatar 2022 World Cup

The football world's governing body FIFA has announced on Friday that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar would start on 21 November, kicking off a 28-day tournament that will conclude on 18 December.

FIFA's executive committee confirmed the 2022 dates on Friday, six months after choosing 18 December - Qatar's national holiday - for the day of the cup final.

In March, FIFA finally decided to switch the 2022 tournament from June-July to avoid Qatar's summer heat.

A 28-day World Cup is four days fewer than usual and is designed to cause less disruption to clubs and leagues which must shut down for several peak midseason weeks.

FIFA had delayed choosing a kickoff date in Qatar while it held talks on the 2019-2024 schedule of national team fixtures.

The calendar approved on Friday means clubs must release players to the 32 World Cup teams by Monday, 14 November 2022 - one week before the opening match.