FIFA confirmed on Wednesday that the 2022 Men’s World Cup in Qatar would kick off on November 21st. The final will take place on December 18. The World Cup has been held between May-July since 1930. 

The late start had been suggested for some time in order to combat the extreme heat during the summer in Qatar. 

The new date also buys FIFA more time during the qualifying process as international soccer has hit a standstill due to the global outbreak of COVID-19. In March, FIFA approved a handful of changes to the international calendar in response to the pandemic including postponing the September 2020 window for Concacaf qualifying as well as extending the window in June 2021 to seven days for more qualifying games then. FIFA also moved the intercontinental play-offs from March 2022 to June 2022. 

The draw for the 2022 Men’s World Cup is scheduled for March 2022. 

Concacaf changed the format to qualifying for the 2022 Men’s World Cup with the top six teams based on FIFA rankings participating in the Hex. The top three advanced to the World Cup and the fourth place team entered an international playoff. 

However, Concacaf announced on June 25 that due to the COVID outbreak the format would be changed again.  

“The challenges presented by postponements to the football calendar, and the incomplete FIFA rankings cycle in our confederation, means our current World Cup qualifying process has been compromised and will be changed.” 

Concacaf has not released any updated information about the new format.