Jordan's Prince Ali calls for winter World Cup in Qatar

Sydney: Prince Ali of Jordan has called on FIFA to switch the 2022 football World Cup in Qatar from summer to winter and to allow neighbouring Arab nations to host games.

Prince Ali told the Australian Associated Press he understood concerns expressed by England and other nations at FIFA's decision to award the world tournament to the Middle East for the first time.

Concerns have been expressed around the ability of tiny Qatar to host such a mammoth sporting event, particularly during its summer when temperatures can reach 50 degrees Celsius.

Prince Ali said he understood Australians were upset at having lost the chance to host the 2022 World Cup, but he was not surprised FIFA awarded the tournament to a nation of 1.7 million people.