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2022 Qatar World Cup should be moved: North

Roar Guru
8th February, 2011
5

Socceroos defender Jade North has hit out the decision to play the 2022 World Cup in the middle of summer in Qatar.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter confirmed this week that the tournament would be played in the northern hemisphere summer, just weeks after suggesting it could be moved to winter.

North, who spent a month in Qatar with the Socceroos at the Asian Cup, said the it would result in a sub-standard World Cup,” North said.

“I’ve played in qualifiers in June-July and it (the heat) is just dreadful.

“You can’t play world class football in that heat.”

Australia made the final of the Asian Cup, played in January where the temperatures are typically in the mid-20s Celsius, conditions North found to his liking.

“They’ve got to move it so it was like it was when we were there. It would be fantastic if they could because you can’t play in 45-degree heat.”

But Blatter said there were no plans to stage the World Cup in the European winter months.

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“Everything is settled now for summer and with all 64 matches in the territory of Qatar,” he told the BBC.

Qatar controversially won the right to host the tournament in December defeating bids from Australia, Japan, South Korea and United States.

They plan to use air-conditioned stadiums to combat the stifling desert heat.

While the timing of the tournament does not sit well with North, he was impressed with the facilities in Qatar.

“It was first class. At the training facilities the grass was like carpet.”

The quality of the stadiums also got his seal of approval and he felt the compactness of the emirate could be an advantage for fans.

“You could watch two World Cup games in one day. Every stadium is only 10 minutes from each other,” he said.

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