It comes after a FIFA taskforce recommended last month the tournament should be switched from summer to winter to avoid the searing heat of the Gulf¹ in June and July, where temperatures can exceed 40C. 

 

The decision to hold the first ever winter World Cup was taken more than four years after the most controversial award of a sporting event in history. 

 

Confirming the date for the 2022 World Cup final, Walter De Gregorio, FIFA's director of communications, said: 'This is for us an important step. 

 

'Finally we know the end of the tournament. It's a Sunday and, by the way, it's the national day inQatar, so it fits perfectly².' 

 

He added: 'You have enough time to do your Christmas shopping.' 

 

FIFA has indicated the 2022 tournament will also be shortened to 28 days, instead of the usual 32. The competition is likely to begin (featuring the hosts'Qatar) on November 21.

 

The decision means the traditional and popular Boxing Day club matches will take place as usual – which will come as some comfort to the Premier³ League who have strongly opposed the switch. 

 

UEFA - the body that governs European football - had pushed for the final to be as late as December 23. 

 

The Qatar World Cup has been mired⁴ in controversy⁵ ever since the shock decision to stage the tournament in the desert kingdom which has no footballing history and a questionable⁶ human rights record. 

 

Sepp Blatter, FIFA's long-standing president, even admitted last year that staging the tournament in Qatar was a 'mistake' – justifying⁷ it by saying 'but one makes lots of mistakes in life'. 

 

Allegations of widespread corruption⁸ and collusion dogged the process from the outset. 

 

A report by investigator⁹ Michael Garcia into allegations of corruption remains¹⁰ secret, unpublished and subject to dispute between its author and FIFA.

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