Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan admits he would be reluctant to see Scotland players participate in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in the height of summer.
Concerns over soaring temperatures in the Gulf state, which could reach 50C in summer months, means the possibility of switching the event to the winter has been discussed.
Regan said: “I think our preferred position would be that we would not want our players to be playing football in the height of the summer. That means you would have to consider another part of the year, potentially a winter World Cup.
“Whether that’s at the beginning of 2022 or at the end of 2022 would be subject to further discussions with our own league body and once we fully understand the practicalities of moving in totality.
“The Scottish FA were part of a Uefa conference that took place in Dubrovnik last week.
“The matter was debated at length and there was a feeling across the room that it would be very, very difficult to play a World Cup in the height of the summer, particularly with temperatures approaching 50C, not least for the players, but also supporters, sponsors and members of the media who are travelling across the country.
“There was a general feeling that the topic had to be thought through in a bit more detail.”
Regan did admit that discussions over Scotland’s participation in a World Cup would be a nice problem to have.
“As far as Scotland are concerned, we would quite happily play the World Cup in the North Pole on Christmas Day if we were part of the qualification,” he said.
“As far as we are concerned, we want to qualify. That’s our focus. The issue of where the World Cup is played, when it’s played, will be for FIFA to decide.”