Gary Neville Supports First Ever Winter World Cup in Qatar
While club football fans often enjoy nine months of practically nonstop action, this year will be extremely different due to the possibility of a Winter World Cup.
The division will have a six-week break in November before returning to its regular schedule for the holidays.
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It will give the campaign a new aspect, and it will be intriguing to observe which clubs handle the drastically changed schedule better.
For the first time ever, the FIFA World Cup will take place this year during the winter.
Gary Neville, a former Manchester United player, and Sky Sports analyst, thinks the Premier League season's scheduling change to accommodate the 2022 Qatar winter World Cup is fair.
The country of Qatar experiences extreme heat during the summer, with temperatures peaking beyond 40°C, as a result of its desert climate. The FIFA World Cup was moved from Qatar to January, when temperatures are at a more comfortable 15°C, in order to safeguard spectators and athletes.
“If we are truly being fair, the World Cup should be played fairly throughout a 20 or 30-year span on all continents, regardless of how it was awarded or which country won it. Another World Cup should be held in the Middle East in 20 or 24 years. In the Middle East, it is too hot to play soccer in the summer. Players will struggle greatly if they visit Qatar in the thick of the summer when the temperature is 40 or 42 degrees. Additionally, you're in serious problems with your fans,” he stated.
To create room for the first-ever winter World Cup, several football leagues, including the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, and the UEFA Champions, are starting their seasons earlier this year.
Heatwaves, wildfires, and flooding are all potential effects of climate change, according to scientists.
Western countries saw severe heat waves and other extreme weather this summer, which scientists fear is just the beginning of what the future holds for the global climate.
Neville's remarks are in line with the ominous future that will force sporting organizations to review their event schedules.
Due to the hot and humid weather in Japan, a number of events for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo were rescheduled. Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics, discussed how the weather affects athletes.
"The planet is becoming hotter, and you don't have to believe in climate change or deny it... A worldwide debate about the calendar and how we stage events is likely to result, according to Coe.
On November 21, Qatar's national team will play Ecuador in the first game of the Qatar World Cup.
The World Cup was first held in the Middle East in Qatar, but there is a good chance it may come back again in the future.
The tournament will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026, while favorites Spain and Portugal will host the event in 2030.