FIFA president Infantino calls for 'open mind' on World Cup scheduling

FIFA president Gianni Infantino wants football to keep an "open mind" about when World Cups are played as the global soccer body grapples with climate and calendar challenges for the tournament. The World Cup is usually held in June-July when most leagues in the northern hemisphere have their off-seasons, but the 2022 edition in Qatar broke with convention by taking place in November-December to avoid the desert nation's scorching heat. Any major changes remain distant possibilities with FIFA's International Match Calendar (IMC) fixed until 2030, but Saudi Arabia is set to host the 2034 tournament, becoming the second nation from the Middle East to do so. "It's not just about one World Cup, it's a general reflection. Even to play...