Victor Montagliani, president of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and FIFA vice-president, has emerged as a leading figure in discussions surrounding the potential replacement of FIFA president Gianni Infantino ahead of the organization’s presidential election in March 2027. Montagliani, based in Vancouver, has maintained a long-standing alliance with Infantino, supporting him throughout his tenure despite occasional disagreements.
However, tensions within the global soccer governing body escalated recently after Montagliani chaired an emergency meeting of CONCACAF’s 41 member federations last Saturday. Following the assembly, CONCACAF issued a sharply worded statement condemning Infantino’s proposal to sell a 20 percent stake in the FIFA World Cup. The confederation criticized the plan as “an egregious act of poor governance and leadership” and called for “a comprehensive reckoning with this presidency,” signaling growing discontent at the highest levels of soccer administration.
The shift in Montagliani’s stance is notable given his previous public praise for Infantino, including comments made at the April FIFA Congress in Vancouver. While Montagliani has not officially declared any intention to run for FIFA president, former Canada Soccer board members have recalled past remarks suggesting his ambition for the role. Earlier this year, Montagliani himself acknowledged feeling honored by speculation about succeeding Infantino, though he emphasized his current commitment to seeking a final term as CONCACAF president, a position he has held since 2012 and secured again recently by acclamation.
The controversy surrounding Infantino intensified this week amid a series of public setbacks. On Wednesday, Infantino held a meeting with FIFA senior officials in Morocco, after which FIFA released a statement affirming full support for the incumbent president as the organization’s only legitimately elected leader. The statement also warned against attacks on FIFA’s integrity, pledging to defend the organization’s reputation vigorously.
Despite this show of internal solidarity, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) reiterated its loss of confidence in Infantino’s leadership on Thursday. UEFA confirmed it would maintain its boycott of FIFA events until its conditions are met, including assurances against actions perceived to “disfigure the game,” a reference to the controversial World Cup stake sale plan.
The upcoming FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, scheduled to begin on September 5 in Poland, is the next major event under FIFA’s calendar and will be an early test of the organization’s stability amidst the leadership crisis. Montagliani declined to comment on his future ambitions or the ongoing disputes when approached this week, with his spokesperson confirming he was unavailable for interviews.
As FIFA faces mounting pressures from its member associations and confederations, Montagliani’s profile as a potential challenger to Infantino’s presidency has become increasingly prominent among stakeholders seeking change within the world’s governing football body.