World football governing body FIFA has offered January and November in 2022 as alternative kick-off dates for the World Cup to be hosted in Qatar.

The tentative dates were presented when a FIFA consultation group met to seek alternatives to playing the 2022 World Cup in the desert heat of June-July.

However, a January-February option probably would not happen if the 2022 Winter Olympics are scheduled in the traditional February slot, with International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach already stating he has been assured by FIFA President Sepp Blatter that both events would not clash.

A November kick-off for the 2022 World Cup would however mean a major rescheduling of the European football season, especially the UEFA Champions League which sees the concluding group stage matches played in those months.

The FIFA consultation group will meet again in November and in February 2015 and members of the group are expected to provide details of how the tentative dates for the 2022 World Cup would ”impact their relevant competitions, activities and/or stakeholders.”

Following the consultation group’s meetings, FIFA’s executive committee is expected to confirm the 2022 World Cup dates at a meeting in Zurich in March 2015.