ZURICH — FIFA's executive committee Thursday decided that the final of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be held on Dec. 18, a top official said. FIFA spokesman Walter De Gregorio confirmed the date Thursday, but did not say when the tournament would start. He says the governing body's executive committee prefers a 28-day tournament — starting Nov. 21.
De Gregorio said the executive committee could confirm the kickoff date Friday.
By rejecting UEFA's preferred Dec. 23 final, the FIFA executive committee helped protect the English Premier League's traditional Dec. 26 program. A 28-day World Cup, four days fewer than usual, cuts the time clubs must release players to national teams.
Qatar had bid to stage the tournament in the traditional June-July slot when it was chosen as host in December 2010.
France, meanwhile, will host the 2019 women's World Cup and the Under-20 women's tournament in 2018 after beating off competition from South Korea for the hosting rights.
Five countries had originally declared an interest in staging the events but England, New Zealand and South Africa fell by the wayside last year leaving France and South Korea to battle it out.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter announced the decision Thursday, bringing the tournament back to Europe after Germany served as host in 2007.
The 2015 tournament kicks off in Canada on June 6 with 24 teams for the first time. Japan is the defending champion after winning a 16-nation tournament in Germany four years ago.
Blatter earlier rejected the chance to debate with his three FIFA presidential election rivals on live television.
London-based BBC and Sky say they have been told that 79-year-old Blatter wouldn't take part in their planned “fans' congress.”
Blatter's rivals had quickly accepted the invitation from broadcasters to debate live ahead of the May election.
FIFA Vice President Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, Portugal great Luis Figo and Dutch football association chief Michael van Praag want to end Blatter's reign, which began in 1998.
The secret election of the 209 national associations is on May 29. The TV event is unlikely to take place without Blatter.
“I believe that this election campaign is an opportunity for an open and mature debate about the future direction of FIFA and all four candidates have a responsibility to football to engage in this debate,” the Jordanian, a member of FIFA's executive committee, said in a statement Thursday. — Agencies
