The best World Cup ever - Infantino
Infantino was speaking at a news conference in Qatar after attending a Fifa council meeting.
With the third-place play-off and final to go, he said 3.27 million spectators had attended the games compared with an overall 3.3 million at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
"Thanks to everyone involved, Qatar, all the volunteers to make this the best World Cup ever," said Infantino.
"Matches have been played without incidents. It has been a very joyful atmosphere.
"There is something happening when we talk about football becoming truly global, with an African team [Morocco] reaching the semi-final for the first time.
"We also had a woman [Stephanie Frappart] referee a match for the first time.
"It has been an incredible success, approaching five billion in terms of viewing figures. The fans meeting the Arab world, it has been very important for the future of all of us."
A number of European nations planned to wear a OneLove armband during matches to promote diversity and inclusion but did not do so because of possible sanctions from world football governing body Fifa.
Germany manager Hansi Flick said his players covered their mouths during the team photograph before their World Cup opener against Japan "to convey the message that Fifa is silencing" teams.
"When it comes to regulations, prohibitions, it is not about prohibiting, it is about respecting regulations," said Infantino.
"Everyone is free to express beliefs as long as it is done in a respectful way but when it comes to the field of play, you need to respect and protect football.
"There are 211 football teams, not heads of state, and their fans want to come and enjoy football. This is what we are here for. I believe we are defending values, defending human rights, defending rights of everyone in Fifa, in the World Cup.
"But I also believe these fans who come to the stadium and all those billions watching on TV maybe - and we should think about that - they feel everyone has their own problems, they just want to spend 90 minutes without having to think about anything else than just enjoying a little moment of pleasure, joy or emotion.
Infantino was speaking at a news conference in Qatar after attending a Fifa council meeting.
With the third-place play-off and final to go, he said 3.27 million spectators had attended the games compared with an overall 3.3 million at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
"Thanks to everyone involved, Qatar, all the volunteers to make this the best World Cup ever," said Infantino.
"Matches have been played without incidents. It has been a very joyful atmosphere.
"There is something happening when we talk about football becoming truly global, with an African team [Morocco] reaching the semi-final for the first time.
"We also had a woman [Stephanie Frappart] referee a match for the first time.
"It has been an incredible success, approaching five billion in terms of viewing figures. The fans meeting the Arab world, it has been very important for the future of all of us."
A number of European nations planned to wear a OneLove armband during matches to promote diversity and inclusion but did not do so because of possible sanctions from world football governing body Fifa.
Germany manager Hansi Flick said his players covered their mouths during the team photograph before their World Cup opener against Japan "to convey the message that Fifa is silencing" teams.
"When it comes to regulations, prohibitions, it is not about prohibiting, it is about respecting regulations," said Infantino.
"Everyone is free to express beliefs as long as it is done in a respectful way but when it comes to the field of play, you need to respect and protect football.
"There are 211 football teams, not heads of state, and their fans want to come and enjoy football. This is what we are here for. I believe we are defending values, defending human rights, defending rights of everyone in Fifa, in the World Cup.
"But I also believe these fans who come to the stadium and all those billions watching on TV maybe - and we should think about that - they feel everyone has their own problems, they just want to spend 90 minutes without having to think about anything else than just enjoying a little moment of pleasure, joy or emotion.
