Prime Minister David Cameron has spoken of his frustration that Panorama will screen an investigation into FIFA just three days before the World Cup vote.
England 2018 bid chiefs fear the programme will cause a backlash among the 22 FIFA members who will vote on the World Cup hosts - a number have already been asked to respond to allegations by the BBC programme.
And the Prime Minister said in an interview with the BBC's Football Focus to be shown on Saturday: "Is it frustrating that Panorama's doing this programme a few days before? Of course it is. But it's a free country and you have to roll with that."
He added: "I think FIFA will understand that and I think we also have to try and convince them that, yes we've got a robust and independent media, but our media love football and when it comes to the World Cup in terms of audience, in terms of the press coverage around the world, actually the media will give it a fantastic boost here in this country."
Cameron said he and bid leaders would try to focus FIFA members' minds on the technical merits of England's campaign during their three-day visit to Zurich next week.
He continued: "I think the job that Andy Anson and others and myself are going to have in Zurich is to say to FIFA, let's look at the bids on their merits, look at the technical aspects, look at the stadia, look at the fans, look at the country, look at what England can offer and yes of course we have a free media, a democracy, but look at the upsides and the advantages and we just have to make that case."
One of the targets of Panorama's investigation is FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, the Trinidadian government minister who has been the subject of programmes in the past.
Earlier this week Warner told the Press Association that Panorama appeared to be deliberately undermining England's bid and he has now returned to the attack.
He told Trinidad newspaper Newsday: "I think they (Panorama) have a death-wish for the English FA and I hope they fail because it isn't too correct what they're trying to do."
Source: PA
