FIFA adapts schedule to Qatar 2022 playoffs

The FIFA Council approved changes to the international calendar of parties as a consequence of the health crisis, which include expand windows for international meetings this year and next and move the intercontinental qualifiers from March to June 2022 for the Qatar World Cup.

Unanimously, the Council endorsed the five proposals made by the FIFA-Confederations COVID-19 Working Group, after a long process of consultation with the confederations and interested parties, as detailed by the FIFA.

These involve moving the intercontinental heats to the Qatar World Cup 2022 from March of that year to June; postpone the September 2020 window to Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF), Central America, North and Caribbean (CONCACAF) and Oceania (OFC) and keep as set the window of September of this year for the UEFA and the CONMEBOL, subject to continuous analysis of the situation.

Too extend the windows of October 2020 and November 2020 in one day for UEFA, to facilitate playing three games instead of the current two, and extend the June 2021 window by seven days for AFC, CAF, CONCACAF and OFC to allow four encounters instead of two.

Updated Regulations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Tournaments It was another point approved by the Council, with no changes to the eligibility rules for players participating in the men's (i.e. Players born after January 1, 1997, with the exception of a maximum of three players per participating team), with its adaptation to the new dates (July 21 to August 7, 2021) and the adoption of VAR technology.

The dispute of a pan-Arab tournament in 2021 and an invitation competition for Arab men's national teams of Africa and Asia, only with local players and outside the International calendar to be played in Qatar from December 1 to 18, 2021, were other decisions of the Council.

A proposal was also presented to the Council to amend the FIFA Regulations that governs the application of the statutes, specifically in relation to the eligibility of the players to play in national teams.

The amendments include, among others, new provisions regarding exceptions to the general prohibition to change associations and access to national team football for stateless players. The Council has recommended that the statutory changes be submitted for approval by the FIFA Congress.

Finally it was approved the new FIFA Anti-Doping Regulations, in accordance with World Code to take effect on January 1, 2021. The next Council meeting is scheduled for September, 17th, the eve of the 70th Congress, and both will be held by videoconference.