Victor Montagliani foresees a transformative impact on North America as the World Cup approaches, suggesting that Major League Soccer could soon rival the Premier League’s supremacy in club football.
During an insightful discussion, the president of Concacaf and FIFA vice president covered several important issues:
- He defended the controversial ticket pricing strategy for the World Cup, asserting that hosting the event in North America represents FIFA’s most lucrative opportunity, which ultimately benefits football on a global scale.
- He insisted that Donald Trump will not influence the tournament, underscoring that FIFA operates independently of any one individual.
- He conveyed that discussions regarding an expansion of the World Cup to 64 teams are premature, despite a proposal from Conmebol.
- He expressed excitement about the potential to expand the Club World Cup to 48 teams, with the goal of enhancing competition and increasing revenue.
- He hinted at a possible run for the FIFA presidency in 2031, following Gianni Infantino’s expected re-election next year.
Montagliani reiterated the importance of the North American World Cup, claiming it will represent a significant financial milestone for FIFA.
He dismissed worries about Trump’s involvement, stating, “FIFA is more than one individual.”
He also stressed that it’s too early to consider increasing the World Cup to 64 teams, a suggestion originating from Conmebol.
Montagliani conveyed his support for the proposed expansion of the Club World Cup to 48 teams, believing it would elevate both quality and revenue.
His journey in football began in 2012 when he advocated for Canada’s bid to host the World Cup while serving as president of the Canadian Soccer Association. Since then, he has played a crucial role in the tournament’s development after becoming the head of Concacaf in 2016. Following the opening match of the tournament in Mexico City, where the hosts faced South Africa, Montagliani eagerly anticipates attending Canada’s inaugural match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, an event that holds great personal significance for him.
“This has been an extraordinary journey, one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional life,” Montagliani reflected. “It’s taking place in my homeland, within my confederation, and one of the host nations is Canada. It’s going to be something special.”
He highlighted the evolution of soccer in North America since Canada won the bid, pointing out that just eight years ago, the nation lacked its own professional league. Now, Canadian clubs are successfully transferring players to European Champions League teams and competing in the Concacaf Champions Cup. The arrival of Lionel Messi in Major League Soccer, along with speculation about him potentially purchasing a franchise, signifies this growth.
“Soccer has experienced tremendous growth, alongside the expanding American economy. These factors have converged to create an unprecedented mega event,” he confidently stated.
Montagliani believes this growth is only the beginning, asserting that the World Cup can herald a new era where football is genuinely embraced as a North American sport.
He forecasts that the World Cup will leave a legacy of cultural transformation in how soccer is perceived in North America, shifting from an outsider’s sport to one that truly belongs to the continent. “Soccer will be embraced as our own, and we will have a rightful place in the global football conversation. It will no longer be regarded merely as a sport we consume from afar. It will be ours as well. I believe that will be the true legacy of this World Cup,” he expressed.
Montagliani is optimistic about the future of MLS, asserting, “The potential for MLS is immense, and it could rise to become the second-largest league globally. Perhaps even the first. It may take time, but I genuinely believe this.”
He noted the strength and international diversity of the league’s ownership groups, highlighting, “The American mentality is not about settling for being eighth or tenth globally; instead, it’s about striving to be the best. There’s nothing holding them back from aspiring to be the top league in the world.”
He underscored the exceptional matchday experience at MLS stadiums and the world-class training facilities. Yet, he pointed out that the crux lies in the quality of play on the field. “All that is needed are a few more marquee players and a higher salary cap. There’s only one Messi, but if we had several players of that caliber across 30 teams, the possibilities would be limitless,” he remarked.
As discussions regarding World Cup ticket pricing continue, Montagliani remains hopeful, defending the pricing strategy by asserting that FIFA has a unique opportunity to maximize revenue, projected to reach $13 billion for this tournament.
“This could be the largest global event ever in terms of its size and scope,” he stated. “From every metric I’ve encountered, it is the most significant sporting event in history. It may be a long time before another event surpasses it. The scale, the host nations, and the economic realities of this region contribute to that.”
He pointed out the differences that will emerge when the World Cup returns to Europe in four years. “It will be a different economic reality, and I’m sure ticket prices will be lower there. FIFA operates as a member organization, governed by its members, and the council has the responsibility to generate revenue, which is fully reinvested into football,” he explained.
Montagliani expressed hope that increased revenue will create more opportunities for member organizations. He acknowledged that while this may be the peak for World Cup revenues, there are other avenues for growth. For example, he sees the Women’s World Cup as a significant area of potential, noting that previous editions often operated at a loss, but profitability is now within reach.
He also emphasized the success of the newly launched Club World Cup, indicating that there is substantial room for expansion. However, he remains cautious about surpassing the current World Cup’s achievements.
A considerable portion of the tournament’s growth can be attributed to its expansion to 48 teams, increasing the total number of matches from 64 to 104.
Montagliani admits he initially had reservations about this expansion and opposes Conmebol’s proposal for a further increase to 64 teams in 2030. Nevertheless, he is more open to the idea of expanding the Club World Cup to 48 teams.
“As a traditionalist who grew up with a 24- or 32-team World Cup, I had concerns, but the teams that qualified have earned their places here,” he noted, expressing comfort with the current format.
He believes that discussions about further expansion should be delayed until after experiencing a few cycles with the new format. “Changing the World Cup after just one edition wouldn’t be prudent,” he cautioned.
In contrast, he sees the potential for the Club World Cup to grow from its original 32-team format. He suggested that economic growth could significantly influence this potential expansion. He highlighted that as clubs in various confederations, including his own, compete at higher levels, national teams will also improve.
“This shift could alter mindsets, especially in Europe, where winning the Champions League is paramount for clubs, often more so than their domestic leagues. This sentiment is now reflected in MLS and the Mexican League, where the primary goal is to qualify for the Concacaf Champions Cup and subsequently the Club World Cup. This evolution in mentality is a positive development,” Montagliani observed.
With the World Cup approaching, Montagliani expressed confidence that political challenges will not overshadow the event, despite recent allegations from the US government concerning Iran’s attempts to infiltrate the tournament with terrorists, following visa denials for 15 of the team’s staff.
“President Trump will not influence the tournament in any way,” he asserted. “It’s a football event. He will attend games and enjoy the experience, just like my prime minister, Mark Carney, and Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum.”
He commended the efforts of all three governments to ensure a seamless operation for the event. “Politicians will always be politicians, but the cooperation at the administrative level has been exceptional,” he remarked.
Montagliani’s potential as a successor to Infantino is widely recognized, particularly with Infantino expected to be re-elected unopposed next year in Rabat, Morocco. While Montagliani’s immediate focus remains on his re-election as Concacaf president, he does not rule out the possibility of pursuing the FIFA presidency down the line, especially given the alignment of their terms.
“That’s still a long way off,” he acknowledged. “My priority is Concacaf. I have my own re-election to focus on next year. I want to complete that process, as I still have significant work to accomplish here. The future will unfold as it may.”
“Criticism is part of governance, but FIFA’s reputation has notably improved over the past decade. It is not merely about one person or a small group; FIFA comprises 211 members, and we serve them all,” he concluded.
“What has always safeguarded us in football is the game itself. When I refer to ‘us,’ I mean the entire football community, not just FIFA. The essence of the game transcends everything else. When the ball is in play, nothing else matters.”
