“If it helps football, great. If as a side effect it has more positive effects in the region it’s even better, because this region is obviously, especially in the current climate, very important for the whole world.”

Asked if Saudi Arabia could become a host, he replied: “We need to take into account the geopolitical situation, hoping that matters will evolve, not for football but for the world. And if any discussion around the World Cup can help in any way whatsoever to make the situation evolve in that region, with regard to Saudi Arabia, it’s a nice impact maybe.”

Hassan al-Thawadi, general secretary of the supreme committee, responded to questions about expansion by stressing the extensive work Qatar is doing to organise the tournament for 32 teams, as they bid for. Talking to the Guardian in his office in Doha, Thawadi said: “Preparations for a 32-team format, with eight stadiums, state of the art, Fifa compliant” was “progressing very well”.

Infantino pointed as an example of football’s ability to promote social progress to the permission in Iran given to women, estimated by Fifa to be 1,000 in a crowd of 80,000, to attend the Asian Champions League final between Tehran’s Persepolis and Kashima Antlers from Japan on 10 November. Women have been banned from stadiums in Iran since 1981, following the conservative Islamic revolution in the country.

“I’m not pretending we are doing everything perfectly, by far not,” Infantino said. “We are making a lot of mistakes, but we are trying to work in an honest way.”

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