Victor Montagliani is weighing a bid for FIFA presidency
CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani has until 18 November to decide whether to run for FIFA president amid dissatisfaction over recent commercial proposals.
On 1 August 2026 CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani is weighing a bid for the FIFA presidency and could become a leading challenger to current FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Montagliani must decide whether to submit an official candidacy by 18 November, the deadline for applications. Sources close to the organisation say his immediate priority remains re-election as CONCACAF president, but that he has long aspired to lead world football.
Two routes are reportedly under consideration: a direct run against Infantino at the next vote, or mounting collective pressure within the membership to persuade the incumbent to withdraw before the ballot.
Political backdrop and voting arithmetic
The move comes amid wider unease inside FIFA following Infantino’s controversial proposal to sell part of the World Cup’s commercial rights to private investors — an idea that met resistance from several associations, including UEFA and CONCACAF, and was subsequently abandoned.
If a bloc opposed to Infantino crystallises, it could present a strong challenge. UEFA counts 55 members while CONCACAF comprises 41 associations, a combination that would represent a substantial voting base at FIFA elections.
Victor Montagliani, 60, is a Canadian football official and businessman who serves as CONCACAF president and as a vice‑president on the FIFA Council. Before rising in football administration he worked in the insurance sector and studied at Simon Fraser University; as a player he appeared at amateur level for the Columbus club.
Photo: press material from the event
