Qatar to lose World Cup: FIFA official

Qatar will ultimately lose the right to host the 2022 World Cup over climate concerns, German FIFA executive Theo Zwanziger believes.

Zwanziger told Sport Bild Plus on Monday that football's ruling body can not afford any heat-related issues.

However, major European leagues are voicing opposition to a move into winter which is currently being discussed.

"My personal belief is that the World Cup 2022 will ultimately not take place in Qatar," Zwanziger said.

"Doctors say that they can not take responsibility for a World Cup to take place under these conditions in summer, and I have had this written down in the minutes.

"It may be possible in the stadiums because of special cooling techniques, but the World Cup doesn't take place in the stadiums alone. There will be fans from around the world, and they will be moving around in the heat.

"The first life-threatening incident would lead to investigations by prosecutors. No one in the FIFA-exco would take responsibility for this."

Australia was one of the losing bidders for the 2022 World Cup, with the bid process now under investigation by a FIFA ethics committee.

FIFA has proposed a start in January or November 2022 in its talks with all stakeholders.

Qatar organising committee chief Hassan al Thawadi meanwhile reiterated in an interview with Die Welt paper that a World Cup in summer or winter is possible.

"There is no basis to lose the World Cup," he said.

"The World Cup will be a platform bringing people together. It will leave a positive legacy. I am convinced the 2022 World Cup will take place in Qatar."

Al Thawadi spoke of "big progress" on the human rights front in the country and dismissed ongoing corruption speculation around the election of Qatar by the FIFA executive committee.

"I know what we did and why we won. We were the best bidder," he said.