FIFA picks Nov. 21 as kickoff for 28-day World Cup in Qatar

ZURICH (AP) FIFA says the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will start on Nov. 21, kicking off a 28-day tournament that will finish on Dec. 18. FIFA's executive

ZURICH (AP) FIFA says the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will start on Nov. 21, kicking off a 28-day tournament that will finish on Dec. 18.

FIFA's executive committee confirmed the 2022 dates on Friday, six months after picking the Sunday, Dec. 18 date - Qatar's national holiday - for the final.

In March, FIFA finally decided to switch the 2022 tournament from June-July to avoid Qatar's summer heat.

A 28-day World Cup is four fewer than usual and is designed to cause less disruption to clubs and leagues which must shut down for several peak midseason weeks.

FIFA had delayed choosing a kickoff date in Qatar while it held talks on the 2019-2024 schedule of national team fixtures.

The international calendar mandates when clubs must release players for national-team duty.