FIFA strips Qatar of Confederations Cup
World Cup dress rehearsal to be held in "Asian country"
The Confederations Cup, considered an important dress rehearsal, will not be held in Qatar in the lead-up to the 2022 World Cup, FIFA announced Wednesday.
Earlier this week, a FIFA task force recommended that the Qatar World Cup be played in November and December (rather than the traditional June and July) in order to avoid the brutal summer heat in the host country.
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said Wednesday that the 2021 Confederations Cup, which is usually held one year before the World Cup, will be played “in an Asian country,” though the host nation has not yet been decided.
Valcke also said club teams wouldn't be compensated for the World Cup taking place during their seasons.
"We are doing nothing which destroys football," Valcke said of the move away from a summer tournament. "There is seven years to reorganize football around the world for this World Cup.”