Montagliani Confirms Re-Election Bid, Exits FIFA Presidential Race

Victor Montagliani is making it clear: he’s focused on re-election as president of Concacaf and won’t be challenging Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency. The Canadian football executive shared his plans with the 41 members of Concacaf, the governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean. With speculation swirling about his potential candidacy against Infantino, Montagliani’s announcement puts those rumors to rest. In a recent town hall meeting with Concacaf staff, he emphasized his commitment to serving the confederation amid ongoing governance issues within FIFA. Despite pressures for him to step into the presidential race, Montagliani is determined to continue his work in the region. Concacaf’s presidential election is set for early next year, just ahead of FIFA’s vote scheduled for March 18 in Rabat. This timing prompted Montagliani to clarify his intentions and focus on the upcoming election. Montagliani, who has been at the helm for a decade, was elected on a reformative agenda following a major corruption scandal that resulted in the arrest of former Concacaf president Jeffrey Webb. Webb's admission of accepting bribes left a significant mark on the organization. Next year also brings UEFA’s presidential elections, with Aleksander Ceferin confirming he will seek re-election. Montagliani and Ceferin are expected to collaborate on governance reforms at FIFA, especially in light of recent controversies surrounding the World Cup sell-off scandal. The FIFA council has been silent since July when the FIFA Forward Enterprise plan was scrutinized, despite numerous calls for an extraordinary meeting. This upcoming council session in Zurich marks their first gathering since the FIFA congress in Vancouver last March. During this important meeting, Montagliani, Ceferin, and Asian Football Confederation president Salman bin Ibrahim al-Khalifa are poised to push for an independent review of the FIFA Forward Enterprise and advocate for broader governance reforms that would enhance stakeholder involvement in decision-making. Additionally, their previous calls for FIFA to allocate a share of its substantial cash reserves to its members will be revisited, emphasizing the need for transparency and support within the global football community.