Montagliani seeks final Concacaf term as FIFA challenger search continues

Victor Montagliani intends to seek a final term as Concacaf president rather than challenge Gianni Infantino for the leadership of FIFA, BBC Sport reported on Thursday. Citing sources, the BBC said Montagliani had told colleagues he wanted to remain in charge of the confederation covering North and Central America and the Caribbean. He had not previously declared a bid for the FIFA presidency.

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The Canadian had been regarded as a potential alternative to Infantino after opposition to a proposal to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. Infantino abandoned that proposal following widespread resistance. The BBC credited The Guardian with first reporting Montagliani's decision, which leaves the UEFA-led effort to find a challenger facing a candidate deadline of 18 November. Infantino has confirmed that he will seek a fourth term in March.

At the time of the BBC report, no confirmed opponent had emerged. Former Switzerland and Tottenham defender Ramon Vega has expressed an intention to run, but whether he can obtain the five supporting letters needed to reach the ballot remains uncertain. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has ruled out challenging Infantino himself, while continuing to support the search for a candidate able to attract backing across football.

Ceferin has instead announced that he will seek a fourth term leading UEFA. He informed representatives of all 55 national associations at a meeting in Berlin, reversing his February 2024 declaration that he would not stand again. First elected in 2016, Ceferin said the associations had asked him to continue and that further work remained, with European football's unity among his stated priorities.

The Berlin meeting also produced a 14-point UEFA programme for reforming FIFA. UEFA and 54 of its member associations supported the direction of the reforms, with Azerbaijan the exception. The proposals seek changes to governance, including limits on presidential powers and protection for bodies responsible for ethics and disciplinary oversight against interference from the president or other executives.

UEFA also called for FIFA resources not to be used for personal benefit or election campaigning, alongside at least $10 million in additional funding for each of FIFA's 211 member associations. Its position combines those institutional proposals with a demand for new leadership. Montagliani's reported choice does not settle the presidential election, but removes a potential challenger as the nomination deadline approaches.