FIFA’s executive committee today approved a task force recommendation to host the 2022 World Cup in November and December.

The final is due to take place on 18th December 2022, which is Qatar’s National Day. The length of the tournament will be finalised by a working group, but FIFA stated there is “the objective, in principle, of staging the tournament in 28 days”.

The decision was welcomed by the organisers of the tournament, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy. 

“We welcome the decision of FIFA's Executive Committee in relation to the timing of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. We are satisfied the process has reached its conclusion,” it said in a statement. 

“Regardless of the change in dates, we will continue to develop the cooling technology promised during the bid, ensuring our commitment to deliver a true legacy as a result of the first World Cup in the Middle East remains."

The daily average maximum temperature in November is around 30 degrees Celsius.

The timings of the event mean that British teams will be able to play their traditional boxing day fixtures. 

The prospect of a winter world cup has been fiercely challenged by the European football clubs and administrators. 

However, Luis Figo of Portugal, who is running for the presidency of FIFA, stated his support for the decision. 

“A decision on the hosts and dates of the World Cup has to be as consensual as possible, after consulting all the interested persons and organizations and having in mind above all the health of the players, officials and, of course, the supporters,” he said.

“I also think that people of Qatar deserve respect and now that there is a decision I hope they will have the time to concentrate in delivering a good World Cup.”

Two global sporting events. Tens of millions of eyes on the action that unfolds. Two months apart.

How did Aggreko power both the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and the 2018 Commonwealth Games in such a short space of time, not to mention providing temperature control in two wildly contrasting climates?

It seems like an impossible task, but Aggreko’s event services teams are specialists in mobile and modular power, heating, cooling and energy services for good reason.

The Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games of 2018 took place in average temperatures of -4^oC. Power totalling 140 MW was provided using Aggreko’s containerised generators as well as around 985km of cabling – 100 times taller than the height of Everest. This was sufficient to power 20 venues, overseen by 95 of Aggreko’s experts on site to ensure a smooth project.

Just two months later, the portable power, temperature control and energy storage specialist deployed 30 MW of power, stretched across 1700km of Australia’s beautiful Gold Coast, for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. This involved 120 experts on site and 34 venues in balmy temperatures of 23^oC.

Both occasions were enjoyed by millions. Spectators packed the stands at both locations, enthralled by the thrills and spills of sporting competition. Behind the scenes, Aggreko were hard at work, optimising output, making sure that every variable was monitored and performing to its maximum.

To get to this point involved months of planning and design. The respective sites shared no common ground, and the teams responsible for constructing a plan had to consider plenty before finalising a directive for action.

During the Gold Coast Games there was much more space to cover than in Pyeongchang, but in Pyeongchang, the average temperature and ice-cold mountain winds would require special preparations for equipment to face this extreme climate.

Aggreko works closely with organising committees and this collaboration helps to highlight pre-existing systems, the functionality of the local grid and various solutions that can work around these potential pitfalls. This forms a partnership rather than a conventional business setup, where trust is created, and the supplier can get the best idea of exactly what is needed.

Each project is different and with Aggreko’s extensive experience in this sector, they have the expertise – and the modular products – to mould their specialist solutions to perfectly fit the varying requirements.

This is how Aggreko overcame the odds to offer these global events the reliability they craved, ensuring that its reputation for excellence in the field of events is maintained and warranted.