FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Friday described the ongoing 2018 World Cup as the best-ever.
The football administrator also added that the tournament would change the perception of the host nation Russia and hailed the success of video assistant referees (VAR).
“For a couple of years, I was saying it would be the best World Cup ever, today I can say that with more conviction,” he said
Infantino promised that the tournament would leave a lasting legacy and there were “concrete plans” to make sure the stadiums were used in the future.
“This country, Russia, has changed. Russia has become a real football country… where football has become part of the country’s DNA and the culture,” he said.
“We had 98 percent occupancy of the stadiums, one million fans from abroad to discover this country, more than three billion viewers on television and there will certainly be one billion for the final.
“Everyone has discovered a beautiful country, a welcoming country, full of people who are keen to show to the world that what maybe is sometimes said is not what happens here.”
Infantino, who is paid an annual salary of 1.5 million Swiss francs ($1.49 million) according to FIFA, faced an awkward question when he was asked why the 17,000-odd volunteers were not paid.
“We are all, as well, volunteers,” he said. “Maybe not at the World Cup, because we have a job, but as soon as we go back home we drive our children to their football or basketball tournaments and we help selling drinks, preparing sausages, or helping in the restaurants.”