With the 2022 World Cup set to begin later this month, the Premier League is set for a mid-season break.
Having been agreed that the tournament will take place in Qatar's 'winter climate', temperatures are still expected to exceed 30C. The last round of domestic fixtures are set for November 13, with the Premier League then set to resume on December 27.
Running from November 30 until December 18, players whose nations proceed into the latter stages will have a quick turnaround as Christmas approaches, with just nine days scheduled between the World Cup final in Doha and the Premier League's return on December 27. So how will this affect England's top flight?
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Fatigue is the obvious cause for concern, with little to no rest set for some players following their return from the Middle East. If we take Chelsea for example, their plethora of talent will be set to compete on four fronts come January and February, with the Champions League springing back into action at the start of 2023.
Injuries may also begin to creep up given the hectic scheduling, with more demands having been placed on players over the past few years. Some have criticized the timing of the World Cup, insisting Qatar should have never been considered to host the games given its own issues respectively.
Germany manager Hanzi Flick has offered his view on the tournament, insisting not enough thought was given to the host nation. “Was it right to award the World Cup to Qatar? This questions should have been answered much earlier, with a no! Fact is that in Qatar when it comes to human rights, when it comes to sustainability, a lot is not right, it’s obvious,'' he said.
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