Qatar 2022: "It can't be in January or February, because of the Olympics" (Joseph Blatter, FIFA)

"We will not play the 2022 World Cup in January and February out of respect to the Olympic Games, as the Winter Olympics will be held at that time," said FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) president Joseph Blatter, in Doha (Qatar) on the 09/11/2013.

The FIFA executive committee meeting in Zurich (SWI) on the 03 and 04/10/2013 had instructed Joseph Blatter to meet the Qatari authorities to discuss the best time in which to organise the 2022 World Cup and to address also the issue of working conditions and labor law in Qatar.

At a joint press conference with Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, director general of the Supreme Committee of Qatar 2022, the president of the international federation reiterated that "there is no doubt that the World Cup in 2022 will be organised in Qatar and this decision is not reversible".

"They are aware of the problem but they are already reacting to that. The labour laws are in the process of being amended," added Blatter.