A FIFA task force recommended on Tuesday that the 2022 World Cup soccer tournament in Qatar should be played at the end of that year to avoid the summer heat.

Temperatures in the Gulf emirate routinely top 40 C in June when the World Cup traditionally kicks off.

A Dec 23 final in Doha, the Qatari capital, is possible, as FIFA aims to shorten the tournament from the current 32-day schedule to ease disruption for players, clubs and leagues worldwide.