FIFA President says he’s open to North Korea hosting the World Cup one day

The FIFA boss added that any country could host the international tournament as his organization wants to help ‘unite the world’.

“We are football people, not politicians, and we want to bring people together.”

The president revealed that he had visited North Korea a few years ago to see if they would host the Women’s World Cup.

He said: “Any country can host an event. If North Korea wants to host something.

“I actually went to North Korea some years ago to ask the North Koreans if they were ready to host part of a Women’s World Cup with South Korea.

“Well, I was not successful, obviously, but I would go another 100 times if it would help.

“Only engagement can bring real change. We’re a global organization and want to remain an organization that unites the world.”

Mr Infantino said that he wanted the 32 countries competing to ‘focus on football’ while ‘understanding’ the different beliefs in Qatar.

He added: “That’s why if you come here and see something wrong, say it, but also say how we can rectify it, please, so maybe we can help.”

He said: “Football is a force for good. We are not naïve to believe that football can solve the world’s problems.

“We know that our main focus as a sports organisation is and should be sports, but because Football Unites the World, this particular FIFA World Cup, with five billion people watching it, can be a trigger for a positive gesture, for a sign or a message of hope.”

Mr Infantino added if a ‘temporary ceasefire’ wasn’t possible, he urged Russia to at least open humanitarian corridors during the tournament.

He continued: “You are the world leaders; you have the ability to influence the course of history.”