Michel Platini on 2022 World Cup: 'It will be in winter'

A winter World Cup appears to be in store.

With FIFA having recently confirmed November to December and January to February as the most likely sets of dates for the competition, which is set to be hosted in Qatar, UEFA president Michel Platini stressed on Wednesday that a World Cup during summer months will never take place.

"It'll never be in April, May or June," said Platini, who added that clubs will accept whatever decision is made. "It will be in winter. It's not the clubs that are playing, it's the players and it's not possible to play in May when it's 40 degrees."

The extreme heat of Qatar is behind FIFA's search for alternative World Cup dates as temperatures rise to dangerous levels during the summer months, jeopardizing the health of footballers as well as supporters.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said on Monday that football's governing body had been asked to consider May as an alternative date for the World Cup, as it would cause European clubs the least disruption. However, winter months are emerging as the most likely solution.

Concerns over the extreme heat have also led to absurd suggestions that matches could kick off as late as 1 a.m. local time, an option that seems chaotic and that would be met with widespread criticism.

Another meeting will take place in January where FIFA will continue to find an answer to what is proving to be a massive headache for the footballing community.