Zurich, September 25

The controversial 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will start on November 21 and finish on December 18, governing body confirmed on Friday after their executive committee met in Zurich.

FIFA had already announced in March that the final would be played on December 18 — Qatar's national day — and the start date confirmed on Friday means the tournament will run for 28 days, four days shorter than the pevious editions.

The tournament, usually played in June and July, was moved to avoid the effects of the searing desert heat in the Gulf at that time of year.

The decision to award Qatar the hosting of the tournament, taken in 2010, along with that of the 2018 tournament to Russia has been the subject of a Swiss investigation centred around whether bribes were paid during the bidding process.

FIFA officials have said both countries could be stripped of their hosting rights if clear evidence of misconduct emerges.