Gianni Infantino

"I'm not concerned about trouble and violence in 2018. I have full confidence in Russian authorities, they are taking this matter very, very seriously," he said in Doha on Friday (AEDT).

More than 100 England fans were injured following clashes with Russian supporters in Marseille before their group game at Euro 2016, causing UEFA to threaten the team with expulsion from the tournament.

There have been fears of more trouble at next year's tournament. But Infantino said the organisers were already putting plans in place to curb any hooliganism.

The 37-member FIFA Council, which makes strategic decisions for soccer's governing body, will on Tuesday decide whether to increase the tournament from the current 32 teams to either 40 or 48, starting in 2026.

Infantino, elected last February to replace the disgraced Sepp Blatter, pledged during his campaign to enlarge the tournament - a promise designed especially to appeal to the bulk of FIFA's 211 member associations that rarely or never qualify for World Cups.

Infantino now says he has "overwhelming support" for his plans.

In what represents a severe blow to President Gianni Infantino just three months into his tenure at world football's governing body, the Swiss-Italian has quit an important role at FIFA after the ruling Council was granted the power to dismiss the heads of the independent watchdog committees without consulting its membership.

The unprecedented move was approved at the Congress, the first to be held under Infantino's leadership, with an overwhelming majority of 186 votes to one during yesterday's meeting