Qatar's hosting of the quadrennial event has been scrutinised heavily because of the country's treatment of migrant workers, criminalisation of homosexuality and lack of women's rights.

Infantino likened his childhood experiences to those of gay people and migrant workers in a near hour-long monologue at a press conference in Doha, before taking aim at Western critics.

"Today I feel Qatari," the Swiss-Italian said.

"Today I feel Arabic.

"Today I feel African.

"Today I feel gay.

"Today I feel disabled.

"Today I feel [like] a migrant worker.

"Of course I am not Qatari, I am not an Arab, I am not African, I am not gay, I am not disabled.

"But I feel like it, because I know what it means to be discriminated, to be bullied, as a foreigner in a foreign country.

"As a child I was bullied - because I had red hair and freckles, plus I was Italian so imagine."

The 52-year-old then suggested that people from the West have no right to criticise Qatar because of atrocities from previous millennia.

Infantino also indicated that he hoped the World Cup would lead to positive change.

"We have told many, many lessons from some Europeans, from the Western world," he continued.

"I think for what we Europeans have been doing the last 3,000 years we should be apologising for next 3,000 years before starting to give moral lessons to people.

"I have difficulties understanding the criticism.

"We have to invest in helping these people, in education and to give them a better future and more hope.

"We should all educate ourselves, many things are not perfect but reform and change takes time."

Qatar has been under pressure to build a migrant workers' centre to help address the poor conditions many face and make it easier to seek compensation.

During his speech, Infantino said talks are underway for the International Labour Organization to have a permanent office in Qatar.

Infantino also insisted every worker that has an accident in Qatar will receive compensation by law.

"Depending on the magnitude, it can be several years of salary," Infantino said.

Infantino then went on to implore European nations to improve their own treatment of illegal migrants before attacking Qatar and FIFA.

"If Europe would really care about the destiny of these young people, Europe could do as Qatar did, create some legal channels where at least a number, a percentage of these workers could come," he said.

"This one-sided moral lesson is just hypocrisy. 

"I wonder why no-one recognises the progress made here since 2016."

Infantino has been slammed for his comments by various human rights organisations.

"Infantino's comments were as crass as they were clumsy and suggest that the FIFA President is getting his talking points direct from the Qatari authorities," said FairSquare director Nicholas McGeehan.

"Deflection and whataboutery have always been at the core of Qatar's PR efforts to defend its rank failures, and now they have the FIFA President doing their work for them."

Equidem chief executive Mustafa Qadri weighed in on the press conference, saying "history will not judge this moment kindly."

"Infantino's speech was an insult to the thousands of hard-working women and men who have made the World Cup possible."

At today's meeting, the President was joined by FIFA's director of media relations Bryan Swanson who claims not to be concerned over the safety of gay people in Qatar.

"I am sitting here as a gay man in Qatar," said Swanson.

"We have received assurances that everyone will be welcome and I believe everyone will be.

"Just because he [Infantino] is not gay, does not mean he does not care.

"He does.

"You see the public side and I see the private side.

"I have thought long and hard about whether I should say this.

"I do feel strongly about it.

"We care about everyone at FIFA.

"I have a number of gay colleagues.

"I am fully aware of the debate and fully respect people's opinions.

"When he says we are inclusive.

"He means it."

The World Cup is due to begin tomorrow as Qatar take on Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.