In the quiet manoeuvring before FIFA’s presidential vote, Victor Montagliani appears set to step away from the biggest confrontation. The Canadian, long viewed as Gianni Infantino’s most credible potential challenger, is not expected to enter the race at the congress in Rabat on 18 March.
The move
Montagliani, who leads Concacaf and its 35 member associations across North America, Central America and the Caribbean, is instead expected to seek another term at the head of his own confederation.
His decision would significantly ease the path for Infantino, the current FIFA president, as he seeks to retain the post for a further four years. Montagliani had been considering whether to take on the Italo-Swiss administrator, but those doubts now appear to have ended in favour of remaining within Concacaf.
Infantino’s position had looked vulnerable amid controversy around his running of world football. Among the issues attached to his tenure are a proposed sale of World Cup stakes to private investment funds and FIFA’s Peace Prize being awarded to United States president Donald Trump.
Yet Infantino has strengthened his hand by travelling extensively to secure support while opposition figures have struggled to settle on a united candidate.
The possible challengers
- Gianni Infantino — FIFA president seeking to remain in office.
- Victor Montagliani — Concacaf president expected to pursue a new confederation mandate.
- Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa — Bahrain’s Asian Football Confederation president and a former Infantino opponent.
- Ramon Vega — former Switzerland international and former Créteil player who has declared his candidacy.
Sheikh Salman had been discussed as the alternative candidate capable of building a broader anti-Infantino coalition. The plan envisaged support from Asia, Europe’s 55 votes, Concacaf and selected associations in Africa and Oceania.
Under that scenario, Salman would have committed to serving only one four-year term before allowing Montagliani an opportunity to follow him. However, resistance inside the Asian Football Confederation has placed serious doubt over whether the Bahraini will stand.
For now, Vega is the only declared candidate against Infantino. The former Switzerland defender, who spent time with Créteil, is not considered a serious electoral threat.
The French season around it
Vega’s spell at Créteil provides the sole French-football link to an election that will be held in Morocco. His candidacy leaves Infantino facing little organised opposition as FIFA’s congress approaches, with Montagliani’s expected withdrawal removing the challenger most capable of assembling a wide voting bloc.
