Thomas Tuchel: National team coaches would like winter World Cup – but not clubs

New England boss Thomas Tuchel believes national team coaches would relish another winter World Cup in Saudi Arabia, but accepted it would be much less popular with clubs and leagues.

The Middle East nation secured hosting rights to the 2034 finals on Wednesday, and while the timing of the finals is yet to be decided, it seems almost impossible they could be played in the traditional June and July slot, where daytime temperatures frequently exceed 40 degrees Celsius.

The 2022 finals in Qatar were played in November and December, which forced leagues to take a mid-season break.

Tuchel was asked about the prospect of a winter finals in 10 years’ time as he attended the 2026 qualifying draw in Zurich.

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He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “We just had a meeting with all the other coaches. I think there is not a decision made, but the coaches who were on international duty in Qatar were very happy about the winter World Cup because players came in November and December, so not after a tiring season but in the middle of it.

“The football quality in Qatar was very high, so from this point of view everyone was very positive about it, but I don’t know if this is a scenario that can be repeated.

“And of course, I know that for the clubs it is very difficult and for the leagues to adapt to it. I’m not the right person to answer that question because I simply don’t know if this is a possibility.”

Europe’s domestic leagues are already involved in a legal action against FIFA, which they accuse of abusing a dominant position with regards to the international fixture calendar, and they are likely to again oppose any move to play the tournament mid-season.

League sources point out a repeat in 2034 would create even more of a headache than Qatar did, with UEFA’s club competitions having expanded since then and the World Cup itself having grown in size from 32 to 48 teams.

Saudi’s staging of the finals is hugely controversial, both in terms of the bidding process followed by FIFA which left them as the sole candidates, and warnings from campaign groups about the human cost of taking the World Cup to the kingdom.

Tuchel was asked for his views on the tournament, and added: “The votes are made. The federations made their votes, the decision is done.

“The federations gave their statements. I have to say I am fully behind the statement of the FA, and from there on I think a coach has also the right to be a coach, and players have the right to be players.”

The Football Association gave its support to the Saudi bid after being given assurances that “all fans would be safe and welcome” in the country, including those from the LGBTQ+ community.

Like Qatar, same-sex relationships are criminalised in Saudi Arabia.