World Cup on agenda in Zurich

FIFA's World Cup organising committee, chaired by UEFA president Michel Platini, will primarily discuss preparations for Russia 2018.

However, Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of Qatar 2022's supreme committee, will also attend the meeting in his capacity as a committee member, the month after a FIFA Task Force recommended that the competition is held in 'late November-late December'.

Any decision on dates can only be formally approved by FIFA's executive committee, which meets from Thursday. 

Platini held informal talks with executive committee members on Tuesday night, as Qatari officials arrived at their base elsewhere in Zurich.

Senior figures within FIFA have told Sky Sports News HQ they do not expect the proposed date switch for Qatar 2022 to be officially discussed, and approved, until Friday morning.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter will open proceedings today but will not be part of the organising committee discussions.

Blatter will chair the two-day executive committee meeting from Thursday, after telling journalists last month that he did not want a winter World Cup played any later than December 18, 2022.

Proposals for a winter World Cup in 2022 have been met with consternation by many European leagues who claim a break halfway through the season will cause maximum disruption for clubs and fans.

Posted in: Football