Montagliani seeks third CONCACAF term, clearing path for Infantino

Canadian Victor Montagliani intends to remain at the helm of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) rather than launch a bid against FIFA President Gianni Infantino. This decision positions him to seek a full third term leading the continental body representing North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Multiple media outlets reported on Thursday that the Canadian businessman informed CONCACAF staff of his plan to pursue re-election. If confirmed, this move practically removes Montagliani from the potential competition against Infantino, who recently faced intense backlash over an abandoned initiative to establish a commercial subsidiary managing major FIFA events, including the World Cup.

Electoral timelines and confirmations

The next FIFA elections are scheduled for March, while CONCACAF voting is set to occur early in the coming year. A spokesperson for CONCACAF did not immediately verify these reports when contacted by AFP. The initial coverage stemmed from The Guardian, BBC, and ESPN, all citing unnamed sources.

Montagliani has served as CONCACAF president since 2016. His tenure brought stability to the organization following corruption scandals involving his two immediate predecessors, which shook the foundations of FIFA. He also holds the position of Vice President within FIFA.

Infantino’s shifting alliances

Although long considered a close ally of Infantino, Montagliani had signaled a differing perspective on FIFA’s purpose even before distancing himself from the cancelled private investment plan for the World Cup. Since the controversy erupted after last summer’s tournament, Infantino lost support from numerous member associations, including UEFA, the Asian Football Confederation, and CONCACAF itself.

UEFA has begun preparing legal actions regarding the aborted scheme. Despite this, FIFA confirmed last month that Infantino will seek a fourth term as the governing body’s president. Conversely, the African Union and CONMEBOL maintain their backing of Infantino, alongside several Asian federations such as Saudi Arabia—host of the 2034 World Cup—and Qatar, which hosted the 2022 edition.

Candidate field remains open

To date, only former Swiss international defender Ramon Vega has announced his intention to run against Infantino. The nomination window remains open until November 18.