ZURICH:FIFA ended more than four years of uncertainty over the timing of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar by announcing on Thursday that it would be played in November and December with the final on December 18. Spokesman Walter De Gregorio said the winter tournament would probably last 28 days, instead of the 32 for last year’s finals in Brazil, but this was still to be decided. “The executive committee today decided that, yes, we are going to play in November and December and, yes, the final is going to be played on December 18,” De Gregorio told reporters at FIFA headquarters. “It’s a Sunday and it’s also the national day of Qatar and, in principle, we try to play in 28 days. “The next steps will be to have different talks especially related to the match calendar,” he added, referring to the 2019-22 cycle of international fixtures and the 2023 African Nations Cup in Guinea that is scheduled to be played in January. Thursday’s news was widely expected after the November/December period had been recommended by a task force of ruling body FIFA. It will be the first time the tournament has been played outside the summer.