Could the International Olympic Committee and the governing body of Football’s World Cup, FIFA, be on a collision course and schedule both the 2022 Winter Olympics and the World Cup at the same time? It is possible and it will be interesting to see who actually is more powerful in the sports world. FIFA or the International Olympic Committee.
It is still seven years away but FIFA has a problem on its hands. The 2022 World Cup is scheduled for Qatar and it is probably too hot to play football at the normal time for the World Cup which is in June and July in the country. FIFA has not ruled out moving the tournament back to a cooler month in the desert, January or February, and that is a problem for the IOC.
The Olympic committee depends on getting money from American TV and it is unlikely Comcast, the American rights holder would like to have competition from the world’s biggest sport. Football. There is a lot of TV traffic in the US in February, there is the Super Bowl and the NBA All-Star Game. There is also the Oscars which is the second most watched TV show in America.
It all comes down to both American and International television and marketing partners. Two international mega events going up against each other might cost both governing bodies money. The International Olympic Committee has to select a 2022 venue and then dates, although given that Comcast has the TV rights in the US and February is a key ratings month; it is unlikely the IOC will move off a February date. FIFA would interfere with soccer leagues moving the World Cup to February. Normally sports organizations work out problems, in North America generally the NBA and NHL schedule final dates every other night so that the crown jewel of the sport is showcased and there is virtually no North American sport that schedules a game against the Super Bowl. FIFA and the IOC will work out their conflict because too much money is at stake for them not to do so.
This article was republished with permission from the author, Evan Weiner.