Montagliani seeks another Concacaf term, ending Fifa presidency speculation
Victor Montagliani, president of Concacaf, has announced he will seek re-election as the confederation's leader rather than challenge Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency. This decision ends speculation that had positioned the Canadian businessman as a potential rival to the incumbent, particularly among UEFA members who believed a European candidate could not defeat Infantino in a ballot of FIFA's 211 member nations. The move reflects Montagliani's commitment to regional governance rather than pursuing the global football body's leadership.
Montagliani made the announcement at a Concacaf town hall meeting late last month, clarifying his intentions to the confederation's 41 member associations. Concacaf's presidential election will occur in the first quarter of 2027, ahead of FIFA's vote on 18 March in Rabat. Montagliani, 61, was elected to his current post a decade ago on a reform platform following a major corruption scandal involving Jeffrey Webb, his predecessor, who was arrested by the FBI and admitted accepting bribes and kickbacks. Alongside UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, Montagliani is expected to push for governance reforms at FIFA, including independent review of the controversial Forward Enterprise scheme and reforms that would strengthen stakeholder involvement in decision-making.
- Montagliani rules out FIFA presidency bid for confederation re-election
- He was considered potential challenger to incumbent Gianni Infantino
- Plans to pursue governance reforms at FIFA alongside UEFA president Ceferin
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Concacaf is the confederation that oversees football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean, with 41 member nations. FIFA is the global governing body for football, comprising all national associations. Leadership matters because presidents control the rules, funding and major competitions.
Victor Montagliani is the Canadian businessman who has led Concacaf for the past decade. He had been mentioned as a possible candidate to challenge Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency in the election scheduled for 18 March 2027. Some European football leaders believed an alternative candidate was needed to win broad support from FIFA's 211 member nations.
Montagliani has chosen to remain in his regional role rather than pursue the FIFA presidency, removing one potential challenger to Infantino. He is still expected to work with other football leaders on governance reforms at FIFA, particularly around how the global body operates and makes decisions.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Victor Montagliani eyes re-election at Concacaf that would rule out Fifa presidency run”.