Every four years, the World Cup takes center stage and plays out to billions of spectators all around the world. In most years, the World Cup kicks off in June. But why is this the case?
And why is the 2022 World Cup in Qatar the first time in history that the World Cup won’t be held in the summer? Let’s find out.
So, why does the World Cup always start in June?
The World Cup begins in June because it falls in the middle of the off-season for most major soccer leagues. Most soccer leagues run from August to May, meaning players are free to play for their national teams.
The first-ever World Cup was actually held in July in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo. However, as the number of teams participating in the competition increased, FIFA decided to start the tournament in June to cater to the increased number of matches.
How long does the World Cup last?
In most years, the World Cup runs for approximately one month, starting around June 10 and ending in the second week of July. As mentioned, this is because most players have finished their season with their clubs and are free for international duty.
Due to contractual obligations, soccer players prioritize games for their clubs as this is where they earn most of their money. It’s for this reason that the World Cup is scheduled for the off-season to ensure the matches don’t clash with club schedules.
Logistically, it would be really difficult for FIFA to organize a World Cup during the main soccer season in Europe and other major leagues, so a month in the summer is widely accepted as the best time to host soccer’s signature tournament.
Why is the 2022 World Cup being held in November?
For the first time in the tournament’s history, the World Cup is being held in one of the Arab states. During the height of summer, temperatures in Qatar often reach 45C (113F).
FIFA, therefore, decided that it was unsafe for Qatar to host the World Cup during the months of June and July, and they made the decision to move the World Cup to the cooler months of November and December.
Temperatures in the winter typically reach highs of 80F in Qatar, which is much more temperate for soccer. Although it has thrown everyone’s schedules out, a winter World Cup certainly makes sense as far as player welfare is concerned.
So, for the first time in the competition’s history, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be held from November 21 to December 18. In other words, it will be a Christmas World Cup – something that we’re very much in favor of!
Has there ever been a winter World Cup before?
FIFA’s decision to move the 2022 World Cup to November and December is a first for the competition. It will be the first time ever that a World Cup match has been played outside the months of May, June, or July.
For most countries – depending on where you live, of course – the World Cup is seen as a summer festival of soccer that coincides with most people’s summer breaks.
That being said, the 2010 World Cup was held in the winter in South Africa, even though it played out during the normal dates in June and July.
Essentially, any time the World Cup is held in the southern hemisphere, it is technically a winter World Cup. As such, it will be interesting to see if Australia ever gets the tournament!
Interested to learn about how a host nation is selected by FIFA? Check out this recent post, where we take a look at how a country is selected to host the World Cup.
When will the next US World Cup be held?
We were delighted to hear of FIFA’s decision to award the 2026 World Cup to the USA, Canada, and Mexico. It will be the first time since 1994 that the World Cup returns to US soil, and we couldn’t be more excited!
The 2026 World Cup is set to run from June 8 to July 3, signifying a return to the normal scheduling for the competition. Technically, it will also be the first time that a World Cup has been separated by 3.5 years as opposed to four.
So, although we get to enjoy a Christmas World Cup in 2022, it’s not something that we should get used to. FIFA is likely to return to the normal months of June and July for all future competitions unless weather plays a role in the scheduling once again.
Why does the World Cup only happen once every four years?
The World Cup is undoubtedly the most special soccer tournament on the planet. Only the best players and teams can compete in the tournament, and it’s always a wonderful showcase of the beautiful game.
The primary reason that the World Cup occurs once every four years is that the host nation requires at least that amount of time to prepare for the tournament.
Arranging a World Cup is a logistical challenge for all host nations, so the four-year gap allows them sufficient time to prepare.
Also, the qualification campaign for the World Cup takes several years to complete, as nations can only play games during specific times in the domestic season. This is because players are committed to club soccer for most of the year.
What’s more, the World Cup is not the only international competition that is played. Each confederation also organizes its own tournament, which also runs at four-year intervals.
So, soccer fans can enjoy an international tournament every two years, even though the World Cup is only held once every four years.
Recap: Why does the World Cup always start in June?
The World Cup always starts in June because it is played during the off-season in most major soccer leagues around the world. It makes scheduling the tournament much easier, as most players aren’t involved in competitive games for their clubs.
However, the 2022 World Cup will be the first time in history that the tournament will be held in November & December, ensuring that the Qatar World Cup will be memorable for more reasons than one.
Keen to learn more about the World Cup? In this article, we explain what happens to the World Cup trophy after the winner is announced. Check it out!