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England has retained the top spot in a 2018/2022 ‘Power Index’ despite the Lord Triesman scandal.

The English bid was ranked highest in World Football Insider’s (WFI) second World Cup Bid Power Index, ahead of Qatar and Russia – one of the countries Triesman allegedly suggested could be involved in a corruption plot at this summer’s World Cup, along with Spain.

The furore led to him stepping down as chairman of the English Football Association and the 2018 bid committee – but England still topped WFI’s index, scoring 65 out of a possible 100 points (up one from the previous index) across 10 categories.

Qatar was second with 63 (up 2 points), with Russia on 62 and the USA on 61 (both up 1 point).

WFI editor Mark Bisson said: "Some people might be surprised that England is still leading the World Cup Bid Power Index after the very public demise of bid chairman David Triesman who was forced to resign over bribery allegations he made about Spain and Russia.

"But England 2018 dealt with it smartly by quickly naming Geoff Thompson as his replacement. The appointment of the Fifa and Uefa vice-president will be well received in football's corridors of power.”

Australia was the biggest loser in the bid index, sliding out of the top four from the No 2 position it occupied in the February edition. It has dropped to seventh place and is now five points off its 2022 rival Qatar.

Bisson added: "Australia loses marks after a difficult few months during which the bid team has struggled to win domestic support and sort out its stadia plans, raising serious concerns about the country's ability to deliver a World Cup.”

WFI claims its Power Index is the only regularly published review of World Cup bids that is based on expert analysis and first-hand contact with the bid nations, including interviews with bid leaders and information and figures from each of the bid launches.

WFI says the rankings are not meant to predict the outcome of the Fifa vote, which takes place in December, but to show the merits and drawbacks of the bidding nations at regular intervals before the decision.

The 10 categories are: bid operations/leadership; wow factor and unique selling points; relations with Fifa executive committee members; cost and funding resources; government and public support; international PR; venue plans; security; transport and accommodation; and legacy.