FIFA president Gianni Infantino has claimed football needs to have an 'open mind' about when the World Cup takes place, as he floated an end to its traditional summer timeslot.
The World Cup has typically been held in the northern hemisphere summer, but the tournament shifted to the winter for 2022 showpiece in Qatar.
Matches were played in November and December due to the high temperatures in the gulf nation.
The prospect of another winter tournament has been raised with Saudi Arabia having been awarded the 2024 World Cup.
A FIFA report last year noted that best temperatures in Saudi Arabia are 'between October and April.'
Temperatures during the month average between 15°C and 30°C, while the average ranges from 17°C to 38°C between May and September.
Previous editions of the World Cup have largely taken place in June and July, where temperatures in Saudi Arabia 'can exceed 40°C at the hottest times of the day in Riyadh'.
Speaking at the European Football Clubs' general assembly in Rome, Infantino claimed there needs to be an 'open mind' about the calendar, as he suggested the World Cup could be move from its traditional timeslot.
'It's not just about one World Cup, it's a general reflection, even to play in some European countries in July is very, very hot, so maybe we have to think,' Infantino said.
'Actually, the best month to play football, which is June, is not used very much in Europe.
'Maybe there are ways we can optimise the calendar, but we are discussing it and we will see when we come to some conclusions. We just have to have an open mind.
'It is a fact that in the world, if you want to play at the same time everywhere, you can play in March or in October, most likely. Because in December you cannot play in one part of the world and in July you cannot play in another part of the world.
'We need to consider all these elements when we speak about national team competitions, national team release, about club competitions, and see how we can make it better for the benefit of everyone.'