The final match of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be played on Dec. 18, the country's national holiday.
FIFA spokesman Walter De Gregorio confirmed the date on Thursday, but did not say when the tournament would start. He says the governing body's executive committee prefers a 28-day tournament - starting Nov. 21.
De Gregorio says the executive committee could confirm the kickoff date on Friday.
By rejecting UEFA's preferred Dec. 23 final, the FIFA executive committee helped protect the English Premier League's traditional Dec. 26 program.
A 28-day World Cup, four days fewer than usual, cuts the time clubs must release players to national teams.
Qatar bid to stage the tournament in the traditional June-July slot when it was chosen as host in December 2010.
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