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By Phil Carling, Managing Director Octagon Football
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QATAR – THE WINTER WORLD CUP By Phil Carling, MD Octagon Football
Qatar – The Winter World Cup
FIFA has announced the rescheduled dates for the 2022 World Cup
which, as had been much predicted, will see the final tournament
played across 4 weeks of November and December, with a final on the
18th December. The traditional June slot was deemed unsuitable
because temperatures in the host country routinely reach 50 degrees
Celsius. The consequences of this development will be major disruption
to the International and domestic football calendars throughout the
World and from a commercial and marketing perspective it is also worth
considering some of the issues FIFA’s enforced discussion is likely to have
for sponsors of the sport.
www.octagon-uk.com | T: 020 7862 0000
2 Waterhouse Square, 140 Holborn London, UK EC1N 2AE
THE FIRST CONSEQUENCE WILL BE A LONG TERM IMPACT ON INTERNATIONAL DATES AND THE GLOBAL FOOTBALL CALENDAR.
The current arrangements are built on a long and difficult set of
arrangements and compromises between the Federations and the
professional leagues. FIFA’s decision will create 2 to 3 years of disruption
because the qualification tournaments will have to be moved, as will all
professional level Club competitions both domestic and International. In
England this will affect The Premier league, Football league Cup and The
Champion’s league group stages. Federation sponsors should be
mindful of a potential reduction in International match inventory
(particularly friendlies and squad ‘get togethers’. The professional Clubs,
particularly at the elite level, will be seeking compensation in terms of
claw backs, particularly in respect of International demands on their
players and possibly the elimination of FA Cup replays to further free up
the disrupted calendar.
www.octagon-uk.com | T: 020 7862 0000
2 Waterhouse Square, 140 Holborn London, UK EC1N 2AE
FROM A PURELY UK PERSPECTIVE the Premier league will most
probably seek to extend its season into June of 2023, with a
commencement in July 2022 and cease matches in a 6-8 week window
around the World Cup dates. UEFA will experience least disruption and
will begin their UCL group stages early and recommence in the
traditional late February period. Many European leagues already have
winter breaks so the disruption is likely to be less marked. It is unlikely that
Premier league Clubs will be fielding their International stars if the
League recommences on Boxing day, since the recovery period post a
major tournament is normally anything between 4-6 weeks. This
development will harden the antipathy between professional Clubs and
the federations and the Clubs will seek recompense.
www.octagon-uk.com | T: 020 7862 0000
2 Waterhouse Square, 140 Holborn London, UK EC1N 2AE
THE OTHER SIGNIFICANT EFFECT WILL BE ON POTENTIAL AUDIENCES FOR THE EVENT, which actually should be mostly beneficial. In England,
World Cups are appointment to view television, however, the addition
of dark, cold nights should build television and media audiences still
further. The time difference with the Middle East is also relatively small so
most significant matches will be broadcast around tea time and early
evening which is good scheduling for optimal audience. The most
disrupted market from a TV perspective will be the USA where the dates
will provide a major clash with climax of the NFL season. In a straight
shoot out for audience there will be only one winner in that battle.
www.octagon-uk.com | T: 020 7862 0000
2 Waterhouse Square, 140 Holborn London, UK EC1N 2AE
IN SUMMARY.
The benefits of taking the tournament to a part of the world which has
never hosted such an event and from a political perspective can be
said to offer a significant humanitarian role to football, comes with
substantial challenges. Football is now obliged to find an
accommodation which has consequences for the status of
International football, the relationship between federations and
Professional leagues and Clubs and potentially on the number of
International match days offered in the International football calendar.
There will inevitably be some redrawing of the relationship between
International and elite Club football and the manoeuvres have already
begun, starting last week with the announcement of a significantly
enhanced compensation package to the Clubs for the involvement of
their contracted players. Expect more developments.
www.octagon-uk.com | T: 020 7862 0000
2 Waterhouse Square, 140 Holborn London, UK EC1N 2AE
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